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Scratch Programming for Elementary School Students

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Eligibility: CTY-level or Advanced CTY-level math score required

Prerequisites: Completion of grade 2 in school. Students should complete the basic computer skills placement test to identify what areas they need to review before registering for this course. A strong grasp of the English language is recommended.

Course Format: Individually Paced

Course Length: Typically 3 months

Course Code: ESP

Note: Students who enroll in this course with a start date of June 30, 2019, or earlier will progress through the course using Scratch 2.0. Students interested in using the latest version, Scratch 3.0, should enroll with a start date of July 1, 2019, or later.

Course Description

Description

Scratch Programming for Elementary School Students has been developed to meet the interests of younger students. In this course, elementary school students (grades 3 through 5) will be introduced to fundamental programming concepts. Students will learn how to create animations, computer games, and interactive projects using Scratch, a graphical programming language developed at MIT. At the end of the course, students create their own computer game and share it with their CTY Online Programs instructor and classmates. No previous programming skills are required, but students should be comfortable using a computer and browser, and managing files. Students do not need to purchase any software or textbook.

Students who complete this course should not enroll in Scratch Programming for Middle School Students because it covers similar content. Students will be prepared to study more advanced concepts in the next level course, Advanced Scratch Programming.

Materials Needed

There are no required materials for this course.

Detailed Course Information

What is SCRATCH?

  • Scratch Interface
  • Creating A New Scratch Project

Getting Started

  • Start Moving
  • Add a Sound
  • Start Dancing
  • Repeating Actions
  • Control Block – Green Flag
  • Change Color
  • Control Actions
  • Create a Sprite
  • Say and Think Blocks
  • Animation
  • Make a Block

Motion

  • Move and Turn
  • Pointing
  • Go and Glide
  • Changing Positions
  • Bouncing
  • Locating the Sprite

Looks

  • Changing Costumes
  • Changing Backdrops
  • How to Make a Sprite Say Something
  • Graphic Effects
  • Changing the Size of a Sprite
  • Working with Multiple Sprites
  • Moving Sprites

Sound

  • Associating Sounds with a Sprite
  • Play Sound
  • Play Drums Part I
  • Play Drums Part II
  • Play Note and Play Instruments Part I
  • Play Note and Play Instruments Part II

Pen and Color Control

  • Pen Down and Pen Up
  • Changing Pen Color
  • Changing Pen Shade
  • Changing Pen Size
  • Stamp

Sensing

  • Mouse Report
  • Pressing Keys
  • Touching and Over
  • Reporting Distance
  • Using the Timer
  • Using the Loudness
  • Ask and Wait
  • Video Motion
  • Calculating Location/Date

Control

  • Wait Blocks
  • Forever Block
  • Repeating Actions
  • Conditional Actions
  • Cloning
  • Stop Block

Events

  • Beginning Actions
  • Controlling Backdrops Part I
  • Controlling Backdrops Part II
  • Checking Volume/Motion

Data

  • Variables and Data

Operators

  • Arithmetic Operators
  • Random Numbers
  • Comparing Numbers
  • Logic Operations

 

Technical Requirements

This course requires a properly maintained computer with high-speed internet access and an up-to-date web browser (such as Chrome or Firefox). The student must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

Zoom online virtual classroom
This course uses an online virtual classroom for discussions with the instructor. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client and also tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Students who are unable to attend live sessions will need a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed to watch recorded meetings. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both available for free download.

Most course lectures may be viewed on mobile devices, but in some cases assignments and quizzes must be completed on a desktop or laptop computer.

Chromebooks are not recommended due to required downloading of specialized software.

 

 

CTY Online Programs Computer Science - Comments and Feedback from Students, Parents, and Teachers

Reviews

Quotes:

"My son’s instructor has a great ability to interact with kids. He was able to teach a technical subject to my son amazingly well. He kindled interest in the subject. He is very dedicated and provided good feedback."

"My instructor was very helpful throughout my course with all the different concepts. He was very knowledgeable, and funny! I enjoyed working with his help."

"The instructor helped my son learn how to independently complete the course successfully. She gave helpful and timely feedback and guidance to me and my son. By the end of the course, my son was corresponding with the instructor and managing the course all on his own-- what a great skill to learn above and beyond material she helped him through, which he loved. He can't wait to take the next course."