Understanding and Adding Extensions in Scratch

What are Scratch Extensions?

Scratch Extensions are additional sets of blocks that expand the capabilities of your Scratch projects. They allow you to:

1. Mention extensions like Pen here
2. Connect with external hardware (e.g., microbits)
3. Access web-based services (e.g., Google Translate, Amazon Text to Speech)
4. Use more advanced programming features

How Extensions Work

When you add an extension to your project:

• New blocks appear in the blocks palette
• These blocks are grouped under a category named after the extension
• You can use these blocks just like any other Scratch blocks

Adding an Extension to Your Project

1. Look for the "Add Extension" button in the bottom-left corner of the Scratch editor
2. Click the "Add Extension" button
3. A window will open showing all available extensions
4. Browse through the options or use the search bar to find a specific extension
5. Click on the extension you want to add
6. The extension is now added to your project, and its blocks appear in the blocks palette

To add a sprite from the sprite library follow these steps:

1. Put your mouse over the Choose a Sprite button
2. Click on the magnifying glass
3. Find the sprite you want in the library
4. Click on your chosen sprite

You can use search box or the filter links (Animals, People, Fantasy etc) to locate your sprite.

In the Variables palette, create a new variable by clicking the 'Make a Variable' button.

Once you click this button a box will appear asking what you want to call your variable. Give it a name that reminds you what you will be using it for. For example, if you wanted to keep track of your score in a game, you would create a variable called 'score'.