Mathematics Scratch Game

Advanced

60 mins

Teacher/Student led

+295 XP

What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC or iPad/Tablet

Rocket Lander

In this lesson, you'll explore the innovative SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and create a game to pilot its landing. Follow step-by-step instructions to program gravity, control movements, and simulate a realistic landing experience using Scratch.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Curriculum Mapping Teacher Notes Lesson Files

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1 The Space X Falcon 9
2 Open the starter project
3 Program gravity
4 Program booster
5 Paint the rocket thrust
6 Show the rocket thrust
7 Move left
8 Move right
9 Program the ship sprite
10 Land on the ship
11 Explode
12 Crash into the sea
13 Fuel
14 Wrap up
Challenge
Quiz

1 - The Space X Falcon 9

Unlike most rockets that get launched into space, which can never be used again can never be used, the Falcon 9 is capable of re-entering the atmosphere and landing vertically. This feat was achieved for the first time on flight 20 in December 2015.

As the flight number 20 suggests, there were many tests and attempts before flight number 20 that weren't successful! Don't worry though all these rockets are unmanned and are either piloted by computers and remotely from the mission control center.

If you are interested in learning more about SpaceX and their rockets, take a look at the videos below:

SpaceX launches explained

Credit Supercluster Science YouTube Channel.

Landing on land

Credit SciNews YouTube Channel.

Landing at sea

Credit Bloomberg Quicktake YouTube Channel.

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+10 XP

2 - Open the starter project

We're going to create a game where we need to pilot a rocket landing!

Open this starter project in Scratch, it has a background, a Falcon 9 rocket sprite and a ship sprite already added.

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/786678852/editor

Scratch: How to create a new project

Go to the Scratch website using the link below and click on the 'Create' link in the blue bar at the top.

By default, each new project starts with the cat sprite already added. To delete the cat click on the x in the blue circle beside the cat in the sprite list.

https://scratch.mit.edu

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+5 XP

3 - Program gravity

When a rocket enters back into Earth's atmosphere, gravity will start to pull it downwards. We can simulate this in code by changing the Y position of the sprite.

Add the following code to the rocket sprite to make it:

start at the top center.
point upwards (be vertical).
start falling.

when green flag clicked go to x (0) y (200) point in direction (0) forever change y by (-5) end

Click on the green flag and the rocket should go to the top centre and start falling.

+20 XP

4 - Program booster

Now let's program the up arrow to make the rocket fires it's booster so we can slow it down.

Add the following code to the rocket sprite.

when green flag clicked forever if < key (up arrow v) pressed? > then move (8) steps end

Click on the green flag and then test that the up arrow makes the rocket go up.

When you try it out you'll see that you can slow down the rocket and even make it go back up again. This is because move 8 steps is greater than change y by -5

Scratch: Using a tablet or iPad? Tap here for different controls

If you're using a tablet or iPad without a physical keyboard, you won't be able to use keyboard keys like the arrow keys in your project. Instead, we'll add simple on-screen buttons (using sprites) that you can tap to do the same things. This keeps your project working great! Just follow these steps wherever the lesson talks about pressing a key.

First, add a new sprite for your button:

Click the "Choose a Sprite" button in the bottom right.
Pick a simple shape, like an arrow or a circle. Make it small and place it on the screen where it's easy to tap, like the bottom corner.

Now, program your button sprite to make things happen when you tap it. Here's how it works for different situations:

Example 1: If the lesson uses a key to trigger an action on a specific sprite (like making something move, turn, or jump)

Instead of code like this on your target sprite:

when [left arrow v] key pressed change x by (-10) // or any action

Or this:

if < key [left arrow v] pressed? > then change x by (-10) // or any action end

Add this code to your new button sprite:

when this sprite clicked broadcast [do action v]

Then, on your target sprite, add this to receive the message:

when I receive [do action v] change x by (-10) // or any action

Tap the button on the screen, and the action will happen, just like pressing the key! Use a unique broadcast name for each different action or key.

Example 2: If the lesson uses a key to change a variable (like adding to a score or setting a value)

Instead of code like this:

when [space v] key pressed change [score v] by (1)

Or this:

if < key [space v] pressed? > then change [score v] by (1) end

Add a new button sprite. Then, put this code on the button sprite:

when this sprite clicked change [score v] by (1)

(If the variable is "for this sprite only," make sure it's set to "for all sprites" so the button can change it.)

Tap the button, and the variable changes, no message needed since it's something shared!

+15 XP

5 - Paint the rocket thrust

To make it more realistic when we fire the rocket's booster, we will create a new costume for the rocket sprite with fire thrusting out of the bottom.

Open the costume editor.
Rename the costume to 'normal'.
Duplicate the normal costume and rename it to 'thrust'.
Convert it to a Vector image.
Use the paint tools to draw fire coming out at the bottom of the rocket (in the 'thrust' costume).

To start off the game the rocket sprite should be showing the 'normal' costume so add switch costume to (normal) blocks underneath the when clicked block and also underneath the change y by -5 block.

when green flag clicked switch costume to (normal v)// add this block go to x (0) y (200) point in direction (0) forever change y by (-5) switch costume to (normal v)// add this block end

+20 XP

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Copyright Notice
This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2025. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.

Scratch is developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is available for free at https://scratch.mit.edu

Rocket Lander

Teacher Class Feed

1 - The Space X Falcon 9

Landing at sea

Send your work to your teacher

2 - Open the starter project

Send your work to your teacher

3 - Program gravity

Send your work to your teacher

4 - Program booster

Send your work to your teacher

5 - Paint the rocket thrust

Send your work to your teacher

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