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#1 2012-05-10 11:44:18
Modifying the Scratch squeak image - removing blocks & changing the bl
I have worked with 4th - 8th graders for several years with Scratch and am recently introducing it to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd graders ..... I would like to modify a version of Scratch for these kids that removes many of the blocks we simply will not cover with these age groups and change the text on a few other blocks (change [x] to [left] & [right] ... y to [up] & [down] ) .... a training wheels version if you will .... I get into the Scratch source squeak image but (via [shift]+[mouse click]) ... open the [system brower] and go to the [Scratch-Blocks classes] but need a little help from there ..... I am also looking at the UI classes but not seeing what I expect to (o_O) ... Any help would be greatly appreciated !
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#2 2012-05-10 11:53:08
Re: Modifying the Scratch squeak image - removing blocks & changing the bl
From the little I know, I think you what you want to find is called the "blockspecs". There are separate copies for stage, sprites and both. There's a tutorial somewhere called "anatomy of a Scratch block" -- or I'm sure the wiki has something about it. Hope that helps a little... 
(I haven't checked, but I think it's stored on the classes ScriptableScratchMorph, ScratchStageMorph and ScratchSpriteMorph. Good luck!)
Last edited by blob8108 (2012-05-10 11:54:14)
Things I've made: kurt | scratchblocks2 | this cake
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#5 2012-05-10 13:31:46
Re: Modifying the Scratch squeak image - removing blocks & changing the bl
Aha! You can find the blockspecs (lists of blocks) under "class" > "block specs" > "blockSpecs" on each of the three classes ScratchStageMorph, ScratchSpriteMorph and ScriptableScratchMorph -- for stage, sprites and both, respectively -- which are found under "Scratch-Objects" (not "Scratch-Blocks", as one might think) in the browser.
You can edit these lists to remove blocks -- just delete everything inside the brackets, like ('move %n steps' #- #forward:) -- or change their text (which looks like 'move %n steps').
Things I've made: kurt | scratchblocks2 | this cake
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#7 2012-05-11 02:31:54
Re: Modifying the Scratch squeak image - removing blocks & changing the bl
richwhite wrote:
Got it .... Thanks man ! ! ... Ill share out what I end up with .... in the event others are working with 1st, 2nd, 3rd graders & Scratch !
You're welcome
Things I've made: kurt | scratchblocks2 | this cake
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#8 2012-05-11 07:57:26
- Hardmath123
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-02-19
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Modifying the Scratch squeak image - removing blocks & changing the bl
Hey richwhite,
I'm not sure how much you're intending to change, but I think you should pprobably create a modification of Scratch via the source code version rather than editing your own copy of Scratch. This way, you can distribute it and customize many other things, not to mention still run the original Scratch on your machines.
I'm really curious about how you're plannign to teach 1-3rd graders programming with Scratch. I picked it up in elementary school, and I distinctly remember struggling with trying to stuff a variable into a boolean slot... Good luck, and I do hope you share what all you did!
Hardmaths-MacBook-Pro:~ Hardmath$ sudo make $(whoami) a sandwich
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#9 2012-05-11 16:37:49
- s_federici
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2007-12-18
- Posts: 500+
Re: Modifying the Scratch squeak image - removing blocks & changing the bl
Hardmath123 wrote:
I'm really curious about how you're plannign to teach 1-3rd graders programming with Scratch. I picked it up in elementary school, and I distinctly remember struggling with trying to stuff a variable into a boolean slot...
Obviously you will NEVER speak about variables to 1-3rd graders. You won't need variables for most of what you need to create incredibly interesting projects. All you need are reporters, sensors, loops, a minimum of if-else (better to use "when" every time this is possible). Instead of using comparison operators (<, >, just use "touching" sensors whenever possible.
I have put a lot of effort in creating interesting projects without variables and complex conditions and by using just a minimum of blocks. Let me know if you need help.
Last edited by s_federici (2012-05-11 16:38:25)
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#10 2012-05-19 18:02:53
Re: Modifying the Scratch squeak image - removing blocks & changing the bl
Well... It's a bit hard to explain. If you want, maybe I could make a Scratch Jr. for you? If you want to just reply to this. We could do it together! If you/we do it, there should probably be one for each age group. Tell me what you think!
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