ICT

YEAR 7 SCRATCH BLOCK CODING - WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO!

Since Term 2 the Year 7s have been learning about Algorithms and Programming using Scratch. They explored the algorithm and logic for day-to-day tasks and represented it in a flow chart. They also learnt about the fundamental key programming concepts including Variables, Conditional Structures and Loops and used Scratch to apply these concepts. 

Here are some of their experiences. 

Jean Lee

ICT Teacher

These past weeks, the Year 7s have been working on making basic games. Using https://scratch.mit.edu/ we have been creating simple games. We used a shark sprite as an enemy that moves up and down to try and catch the crab. The crab is what the player controls, whose only goal is to get the star at the end of the screen. We all made some unique, individual changes to our game. I added two obstacles, turned one into a robot and the other into a squirrel. I also made the star into a rocket ship along with turning the crab into a human. I changed the ocean background into a space background as well.

While learning about scratch, we explored how to alter sprites, use broadcasting and add sound to our creations. I personally enjoyed this sector of ICT very much! It was very fun to be able to interact and create something of our very own. I love using Scratch. It's easy and fun, letting me create animations and games without any hassle. The colourful blocks make coding simple, and I always discover something new with each project. Scratch makes coding enjoyable and exciting every time!

Click link to play my gamea: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1041047766 

Anvesha Kesharwani, Year 7

Late last term, we began our new ICT unit on Scratch. Scratch is a simple coding language which is targeted towards beginners. So far, we have learned how to change and modify different sprites, create geometric shapes, create simple games and stories all just using Scratch. In one of our most recent tasks, we created a simple game. First, we were given an example of a game, followed it and then modified it, to extend our knowledge and challenge us. This not only gives us an opportunity to actively be creative but also to learn to code. 

The game we were shown as an example was one where you had to obtain a stationary object. I modified it by changing it to a game of cat and mouse - where you have to chase the mouse by controlling the cat. This might sound quite easy, but you can’t let the griffin get to you or else you lose.

Throughout this unit, I have enjoyed every aspect of coding as I have not previously done any coding and was thrilled knowing we were able to code. 

Click link to play my game: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1042816447 

Marcus Yuen, Year 7

When I was first told our class was doing Scratch for ICT class, I had no idea what it was! Once I went on to the Scratch website, I learnt that it was a coding platform where you could make a sprite (the subject) do many different things. The idea of coding seemed very daunting at first, I've seen other people code, it takes hours upon hours of what appears to be very boring work. Scratch wasn't like that at all. It used clear and simple pieces of code that you can combine to make all different algorithms. Over time I learnt how to create projects like animations and games.

One of the best pieces I've made in Scratch was a game I called "Mouse Hunter''. In the game, you controlled your sprite which in this case was a mouse, with the arrow keys. The aim of the game was to get to an inconveniently placed bowl of hot cheetos. It was positioned behind moving cats and if your sprite touched them, there would be a WOMP WOMP noise, and the sprite would be teleported back to the start. 

Working in Scratch was very fun. I have learnt a lot about coding and I find it really cool that I can make games, animation and patterns all by coding in Scratch. I look forward to making more Scratch projects in the future.

Click link to play my game: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1050495551

Harvey Cohen, Year 7

Our class has been creating simple scratch projects and it has been an incredible experience for both me, and my class. We have learned much in minimal time, and our results were amazing. Here is a video of a game I made. This game uses repeats and repeats until and not and is sort of complicated for a new scratcher. Anyway, this topic was incredible, and I am glad to have done it.

Some of the stuff we have learned is how to use variables to display time, coins and much more. We also learned how to draw shapes using the pen extension, and we learned how to use broadcast blocks. All of these skills combined created a great scratch game.

Click link to play my game: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1041049023

Adam Erdstein, Year 7

In Year 7 ICT we’ve been working on programming a simple game on scratch and we’ve been allowed to modify it to add different controls, use different sprites, add backgrounds, etc. We first watched a tutorial to learn what we would use to first build from for our game. In the game it revolves around the player avoiding one moving enemy on the screen, they move vertically and if they touch you, you lose. At the other side of the screen, you’ll have a different sprite there which will be your goal, your goal is to reach said sprite. Our end goal was to be able to make a somewhat semi original and unique game.

What I personally changed in my game was the sprites, I drew all of them by hand, I added a background, I changed the controls slightly, and added a lose screen. In my game the sprite you play as a person whose goal is to reach the other person on the other side of the screen but there are flying pumpkins/jack o lanterns that you need to avoid. 

Click link to play my game: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1041048252/ 

Cady Liu, Year 7