Introduction to Drag and Drop Coding Using Scratch
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Energy Content:
Learning Goal(s):
- Students will understand how to properly order basic blocks of code to program simple functions.
- Students will determine the steps needed to debug issues in block programming.
- Students will devise methods to achieve basic animation-focused block programming tasks.
- Students will combine music and animation to create music videos and simple games using block coding.
Unit:
Lesson Number:
1
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
Other Subjects Covered:
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Files Associated with this Activity:
Description:
Students go through a series of exercises and projects/challenges to gain familiarity with coding, specifically with drag-and-drop coding. Students will look at Scratch, a free introductory computer programming language, which focuses on creative computing. After working on a few Scratch drag and drop programs, participants will transition to Sphero Edu (formerly Lightning Lab), a comparable drag and drop program for Lesson 2 to prepare to program a Sphero SPRK+ ball to navigate through a maze.
Other Material(s) Used:
Scratch Learner workbook, computer or tablet
