About the Course

Scratch Programming for Middle School Students

Register before December 17, 2024 to start on or before December 31, 2024. This course is not accepting enrollments starting after December 31, 2024.

Enter the world of computer science by learning how to create animations, computer games, and interactive projects using Scratch, a graphical programming language developed at MIT.

You’ll begin with fundamental programming concepts such as variables, loops, conditional statements, and event handling as you teach a mischievous cat how to dance, explore a maze, or play games by using math and computer code to think creatively. You’ll also make and import objects, create audio recordings, and use them to develop interactive projects before creating your own computer game and sharing it with your instructor and classmates.

No previous programming skills are required for this course, but you should be comfortable with standard computer operations.

Recommended length of enrollment: 3 months

Time Commitment: 3-5 hours of independent work per week.
 

Course Overview

This course is

graded.

Apply any time and get started in 2 weeks*

*Select courses have registration deadlines. Please see individual course descriptions for details.

Classes

Enrollment and tuition are time-based—students may enroll in a course by selecting an open class below. Students will progress at their own pace, with guidance from instructors who strive to meet individual needs. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY.

 

This course is not open for enrollment at this time.

Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level CTY-Level or CTY-Level
Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

Sign up for Testing Learn More

Course Prerequisites

Scratch Programming for Middle School Students requires:

1 prerequisite

Students enrolling in this course should be comfortable with:
 

  • Using a computer, keyboard, email, and browser
  • Managing files
  • Attaching files
  • Compressing/decompressing files

Cost and Financial Aid

  • Tuition
    • Varies
  • Application fee
    • Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)

Financial Aid

We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs (Courses with start dates July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Our application for Academic Year 2024-2025 Online Programs is expected to open in January. We encourage those who may need assistance in the future to apply for aid as early as possible.

Learn More

Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
 

  • Software: You will need to install the Scratch Offline Editor for free. Instructions are provided in the course.

Technical Requirements

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

This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client, and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.

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

Terms & Conditions

You may have the option to post your work on public third-party sites (e.g., YouTube). 

Virtual class meetings may be recorded for students to review.

About Computer Science and Technology at CTY

Are you a student in elementary through high school who dreams of being a coder? Do you want to develop critical thinking and learn creative problem solving? And do you want to do it all on your own time and at your own speed? Our fun and lively online Computer Science and Technology courses range from Scratch programming for young scholars to advanced Java concepts and AP Computer Science. Gear up for learning real-world computer languages and practicing new programming skills in an array of projects including animation, game design, web design, and more.

Learn Java

In the newly revised Introduction to Java course, you'll develop introductory Java programs to provide technology solutions for an imaginary new company of your choosing. Think of an idea for a business, hobby, or interest you have. The programs you write in this course will support your imaginary business, and maybe someday you'll use them to start your own company!

Get started with Computer Science and Engineering

In the updated Introduction to Computer Science and Engineering course, you’ll get to use your scientific and creative abilities to design and build lots of cool projects. You'll learn how to use a MaKey MaKey board and Scratch programming to invent games and solve problems. Get ready to take a hands-on approach in this fun course!

Meet our Computer Science and Technology Instructors