Okay Class, let’s begin Scratching!

Do you want to learn Scratch?

Sharing of ideas and collaboration. Their excitement as they create games they play and love, and their smiles and shiny eyes when learning something new, is priceless.

  • It started with Scratch

    The kids at my old Elementary school were looking to learn Scratch. I volunteered and have been teaching 4th- and 5th-graders for 3 years.

    For the 4th-graders, I teach a beginner Scratch class on setting up, give basic code and sprites to create a simple game, and have them follow along. Then, I give them freedom to create their own games and review and support if they have questions.

    For 5th-graders, we work on a medium-sized game together. The purpose is to teach them collaboration, the game development process, and live coding.

  • Code Editor

    As the Scratch editor was blocked on my students’ Chromebooks, I had to convert all my students’ ideas into code and graphics myself. Still, I made sure to frequently give progress updates on the progress I’d made in coding the game.

  • Let's Brainstorm

    The vote is in. 14 out of 28 want a Role playing Game (RPG). This is challenging as story, characters, equipment will add layers of complexity to a simple game.

    But this doesn’t stop their ideas from exploding and each give their input.

  • Brainstorm - Gameplay

    I took their ideas and summarized them into 2 categories - Gameplay, and Theming. The former encompasses all the game elements that directly affected how the game was played, such as moves and equipment.

  • Brainstorm - Theming

    Proposed game elements like art, music, and plotline that didn’t directly affect the gameplay would be put under the “Theming” category.

  • RPG on Scratch

    The students had voted to create an RPG game. I show them the screens we will have on Scratch and the key requirements in the Anatomy of an RPG game.

  • Anatomy of an RPG - Paper Mario example

    I use Paper Mario as an example of a simple RPG game so the students can have an idea of what we are creating. Key pointers on what we will create using Scratch and what they will have to information and ideas they have to provide to make this game.

  • Game development teams

    5th grade game developers. Groups voted for which team they wanted to be in:

    1. Plotline
    2. Art Direction
    3. Equipment
    4. Moveset
    5. Overworld design

  • Sharing ideas

    Kids are excited about sharing ideas and are working in their group on their roles and then talking to the other development teams - eg. the Plotline group has to work closely with Overworld designers