Programming: Scratch

Exploring Scratch by programming an animation and improving it through testing and debugging.

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  1. Subjects >
  2. Computing >
  3. Key stage 2 >
  4. Year 3 >
  5. Programming: Scratch

Please note

Scratch is a project of the Scratch Foundation, in collaboration with the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is available for free at https://scratch.mit.edu.

Unit outcomes

Pupils who are secure will be able to:

  • Identify Scratch as a coding application and explore its different code blocks.
  • Make predictions about what code blocks will do and test these ideas.
  • Create a simple animation by combining motion, speech and wait blocks.
  • Plan how to remix an existing animation by choosing which parts to change.
  • Alter and remix code to create a new version of an animation.
  • Test and debug animations to fix problems and improve the code.
  • Reflect on the changes made, explaining what worked well and what could be improved.

Suggested prior learning

Option 1: Programming 2: MakeCode

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Teacher coding skills videos

A comprehensive set of coding skills videos that explain and demonstrate key programming concepts. Designed to guide and support teachers who find the programming element of the Computing curriculum challenging, while also serving as a refresher for those with more confidence in their subject knowledge.
What is Scratch?
Teaching coding
Understanding Scratch blocks
What are algorithms?
Understanding repetition and loops
Understanding debugging in coding
Computing vocabulary: A video dictionary
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Lessons

Lesson 1: Tinkering with Scratch

  • To explore a programming application.
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Lesson 2: Storytelling in Scratch

  • To program a story by adding blocks.
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Lesson 3: Planning a remix

  • To plan a remix of an animation by altering existing code.
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Lesson 4: Remixing an animation

  • To remix an animation by altering the program’s code.
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Lesson 5: Evaluating an animation

  • To evaluate a remixed program by reflecting on the changes made to the code.
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Key skills

  • Working towards a given
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Key knowledge

To know:

  • Decomposition is the
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Key vocabulary

loop

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Related content

    Resources

Unit resources

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Computing

Knowledge organiser – Computing Y3: *New* Programming: Scratch

Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit ‘*New* Programming: Scratch’.

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Computing

Vocabulary display – Computing Y3: *New* Programming Scratch

A display version of the key vocabulary from the unit 'Scratch'.

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Subject resources

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Cross-curricular opportunities

English: Spoken language; Writing – composition.

Suggested next steps

ARCHIVED Year 4: Programming 1: Further coding with Scratch

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