What is Scratch?

• Who made it?
• How does it work?
• What can it do?

What are the blocks and how they relate to coding?

• Can be dragged and placed
• Different shapes/colours represent different aspects
• Round ones are analogous to Functions
• Sharp ones are variables
• Control ones are Logic/Conditions

Why is this good?

• Allows kids to focus on logic and the mindset of coding without having to learn or care about Syntax/lines of code
• Allows for direct visualisation of what the code does

My own experience

• Started with blocks in Lego Mindstorm
• Evolved to C HTML/PHP and then Python

The workshop

• Kids made 2 games that covered all basics
• Triggers/Input
• Functions
• Variables
• Were all customised by them
• Explain that each kid made their version
• the football crazy one turned my cat and balloon game into a Football Match
• They got to take them home
• The games covered the basics on this way
• Input using keyboard for triggering functions
• Use Functions to modify location parameters
• If/Then Conditions for when sprites are touching each other/the walls
• Variables for storing points
• Operands to increase Points in variable
• End conditions
• Loops for permanently checking the If/Then Conditions
• Ask about the organisation
• Mora Mundus

Download and learn more about Scratch .