Scratch

JH59 wrote:

Does anyone have any advice on the best way to start teaching 8 and 9 year old pupils how to use Scratch to create their own games?

Thanks

I forgot... WHat Grade is ages 8 & 9? grade 5,6?

Here are two scripts to use in a sprite for a simple tag game.  Kids can add their own context and expand the challenge, plus think about what are the parts to a game, what makes it fun.

[blocks]
<when green flag clicked>
<say[ Let's play tag ]for( 2 )secs>
<say[ Can you catch me? ]for( 2 )secs>
<forever>
<go to x <pick random( -200 ) to (200  ) : y (<pick random( -180 )to( 180)>
<wait( 1.5 )secsc>
<end>

<when[ sprite1 ]clicked>
<say[ Got me! ]for(  1)secs>

Last edited by room209 (2009-02-26 08:24:48)

JH59 wrote:

Does anyone have any advice on the best way to start teaching 8 and 9 year old pupils how to use Scratch to create their own games?

Thanks

Not sure about the best way but we do have a sample game and video at http://www.redware.com/scratch/fish.html which should help. We also have simpler games and some lessons on our scratch pages.

Teach them scrolling!!
   

Im 8 and I need help with projects,text,music,movements, and games.Help me please!

Start with a simple chase or avoid game with two sprites.

Get the kids to think about these questions:
1) Who is chasing who?
2) How will the player control his sprite?
3) How will the computer controlled sprite move?
4) What will happen if they hit an edge?

Get that running, and you can start thinking about how to add obstacles, extra sprites, shooting or any of the other complications.

I agree that simple animation is an easier start than games, but an interactive animation (like using the arrows to move the sprite around) is even simpler than a scripted animation.

I usually start kids off by having them walk the cat across the screen, giving them both the notion of costume changes and motion.  After that, I generally end up mainly answering how-to questions, rather than having a set lesson plan.  Of course, I've been working with after-school or summer students who *chose* to take the class because they wanted to learn how to do animations or game programming, and a very different style may be needed for those who are *forced* to take the class.