Coding and Conversation

Students will:

• Choose a setting and two characters
• Learn how to connect basic coding blocks to create a program
• Create an interaction in which one character helps another, and include dialogue.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Algorithm: An algorithm is a list of steps to finish a task.
   
   
2. Program: An algorithm that has been coded into something that can be run by a machine. In other words, it is a collection of instructions that performs a specific task when run by a computer. 

To prepare for this lesson:

• Watch this video to learn the interface: 
  • https://www.scratchjr.org/learn/interface
• Use these resources to teach:

  https://www.scratchjr.org/teach/activities

  https://www.scratchjr.org/teach/resources

  https://www.scratchjr.org/teach/connect

  https://www.scratchjr.org/learn/tips

• Here is a YouTube playlist for Scratch Jr. with many videos to help you. 

• In advance, the teacher should review these resources and videos to determine whether any would be helpful for learning to use this app.

• The interface guide and the tips page provide great instructions you can share with your students.

• I also like to use a projector to share the app with students and show them what I’m doing as I teach.

  
  

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4student website in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. Introduce students to the Scratch Jr. app by showing them the interface and what each block does.  

2. Introduce the assignment by stating that students will choose a setting and two characters, with one character helping the other. Characters will need to move and have dialogue with each other.

3. Show students how to create a program.

4. Have students choose a setting.

5. Have students choose characters. Learn how to press and hold to delete characters. Learn to use the edit feature to customize your characters.

6. Choose starting locations for each character and turn on the x-y grid.

7. Teach the blocks using this helpful guide.

8. Be sure to have students learn about how important having a start button is.

9. Use this guide for tips and tricks.

10. I use a simple worksheet to help students track the setting and two characters, and how one character is trying to help the other. E.g., The library is the setting, and there’s a librarian helping a little girl choose a new book to read.

11. Be sure to teach how the send message and start on message blocks work in order to help with timing.

12. When students are ready to add dialogue to their program, make sure to use proper capitalization and punctuation.

13. Be sure to show students how to name their projects in case these devices are used by multiple student groups. Click the yellow trapezoid in the upper right-hand corner to rename and share.

    Extensions:

    Follow up with additional activities found on the website or through the Scratch Jr. Connect page. 

    
    
    
    

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• The teacher can assess mastery of these skills by watching the student-created programs as a class and providing feedback
• Teachers can use a rubric to assess their students' growth towards mastery, Rubistar
• A teacher can use the 3-2-1 feedback strategy Strategy