On the Move: Getting Characters in Action

In this step-by-step lesson, students will be introduced to Scratch the Cat from Scratch Junior. They will learn how to create a project, explore the interface, and use basic motion blocks to move Scratch. The lesson concludes with a challenge and free play exploration time.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes

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1 Meet Scratch the Cat
2 Creating a Project in Scratch Jr
3 Inside your project
4 Moving Scratch the Cat
5 Today's Challenge
6 Free play

1 - Meet Scratch the Cat

Begin the lesson by reading through the following slideshow featuring Scratch the Cat, the main character in Scratch Junior.

2 - Creating a Project in Scratch Jr

Demonstrate how to open the Scratch Junior app on the tablets or devices the students will be using. (We recommend showing students this before handing out tablets)

Once inside the app, you will need to open a new project by pressing the home icon and then pressing the + icon.

3 - Inside your project

Show the students what the inside of a project looks like.

Ask the students what they think various items on screen are for.

"What do you think the arrow does?"

"Can anyone see the green flag?"

Explain that the screen is divided into three main areas:

Stage Area: This is the area in the middle. This is where your characters will move and interact. You can change the background to set the scene for your story or game.
Blocks Toolbox: This is the area near the bottom, where you will find different blocks. Each block represents a different action or instruction for your characters. You can drag and drop these blocks to control what your characters do.
Code Area: This is the area at the bottom. This is where you place the blocks to create your code. You can arrange the blocks in different orders to make your characters do different things.

4 - Moving Scratch the Cat

Introduce the function of basic motion blocks. Show the class the video of how to drag a motion block to the programming area and connect it to the start block.

There are several different types of movement blocks in Scratch Jr. Allow students to experiment with the different actions!

Remember that Scratch the Cat only follows instructions when the green flag is clicked, so remember to include the green flag block!

5 - Today's Challenge

Tell the students that their first challenge is to make Scratch the Cat move from one side of the screen to the other.

Explain that they will need to drag and connect the right blocks to create a sequence of instructions that will guide Scratch across the screen.

To save connecting multiple forward movement blocks, change the number at the bottom of the block to increase the amount the character moves!

Press the green flag to start the program and show how Scratch moves across the screen.

Check out our example on the screen, showing how to connect several "move forward" blocks in the programming area.

Give the students time to explore the app and try the challenge on their own devices.

Extra challenge: To push the students further, see if students can make scratch the cat jump across the screen. Hint: You'll need to use two lines of code running at the same time!

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