Introduction to ScratchJr

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Question:

What purpose does the "Explore" component in Lesson 4 serve for the students? 

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Core/Curricular Competencies

• Use trial and error to make changes, solve problems, or incorporate new ideas from self and others.

• Use materials, tools, and technologies in a safe manner in both physical and digital environments.

• Exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding

• Create and communicate.

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Content

• Metacognitive strategies

• Technology vocabulary

• Oral language strategies

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Goal

Through a series of 4 lessons, students will be introduced to the app ScratchJr. They will have the opportunity to explore, collaborate with their classmates, learn coding vocabulary and apply foundational programming skills. 

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Time

4 - 45 minutes class periods

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Materials Required

App: ScratchJr (iPad) 

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Lesson Plans

Note: lessons are adapted from ScratchJr Animated Genres

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Lesson 1: Exploration and Basic Sequencing 

(45 minutes)​

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1. Hand out iPads to students, introduce ScratchJr app and direct them to open a new project. (10 minutes)

2. Allow students to explore ScratchJr independently. (15 minutes).

3. Play Simon Says with the motion blocks (right, left, up, down) in the scripting area. Have students press the blocks to see their cat move. Have students come up with their own sequence and share with a partner. (15 minutes)

4. Wrap Up - Demonstrate how to save a project. Collect iPads. (5 minutes)

 

Lesson 2:  Movement

(45 minutes)

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1. Review lesson 1.  What did you enjoy about last class? (5 minutes)

2. Program the Teacher - Unplugged activity (10 minutes).

   • Students will direct the teacher to a specific location within the classroom. Students are only able to use certain instructions: step forward, step backward, turn right, turn left, turn until you see something

   • Discuss how successful you were. What went well? What could be improved upon?

3. Introduction to Movement blocks. (5 minutes) Demonstrate to students: Hop, Go Home, Reset Size, turn clockwise, turn counterclockwise.

4. Sequencing (10 minutes)  

   • Teacher begins a new project in ScratchJr. Place the cat and the treasure chest characters on the same line next to each other. Ask the students which blocks need to be place next to each other in order for the cat to successfully move toward the treasure chest.

   • Provide a few different scenarios and have students work together as a class to solve the sequence. 

5. Student Exploration (10 minutes).

   • Hand out iPads and allow the students time to explore. Encourage students to try out the variety of blocks. 

6. Wrap Up (5 minutes).

7. Save projects and collect iPads.

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Lesson 3: Green Flag, End Block, Choosing Characters

(45 minutes)

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1. Review the different blocks used. (5 minutes)

2. Choosing Characters (5 minutes) - Demonstrate how to choose a new character from the character library. Also show students how to delete a character.

3. Programming (15 minutes) - Hand out iPads and write a program for students to copy into their own iPads. Start with familiar blocks. Then create a program to copy that uses the green start flag and end blocks. Finally, create a program that involves programming two different characters. Now encourage students to write their own programs for two different characters.

4. Explorations (15 minutes) - Give students the opportunity to explore the app and encourage them to experiment with programming more than one character at a time. 

5. Wrap Up (5 minutes) - Save projects. Ask students to reflect on what they learned today. Collect iPads.

 

Lesson 4: Backgrounds and Multiple Characters

(45 minutes)

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1. Review (2.5 minutes) - What does the green flag do when it is included in a program? What does the red block tell a sequences of instructions to do? Which block did you enjoy using the most and why?

2. Program Design (10 minutes) - Teacher will ask students to assist in programming two different characters on the iPad. Provide the students with one scenario for each character. Ask the students to direct which blocks to place down for each character. Don't forget the green flag and red end blocks!

3. Detectives (15 minutes) - Create a program for two different characters. In full screen mode show the students what the characters are doing (but don't show them the programming blocks!).HAND OUT IPADS. Ask the students if they can figure out which programming blocks were used to create the sequence on their own iPads. Repeat a second time with a different scenario. 

4. Backgrounds (5 minutes). Demonstrate how to choose backgrounds from the library and how to create backgrounds using the iPad camera.

5. Exploration (10minutes). Give students the opportunity to explore the app. Encourage them to practice using the blocks they have learned and try new ones as well. Sharing their explorations with classmates and teachers should be encouraged.

6. Wrap up (2.5 minutes). Save their project and collect iPads. 

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