Lesson Plan: Scratch Programming - Intermediate Level (5th Grade)

Objective:

By the end of this course, students will enhance their understanding of Scratch programming, develop problem-solving skills, and create more complex interactive projects. They will learn advanced Scratch features such as variables, cloning, message broadcasting, and custom blocks.

Duration: 8 Lessons (1 hour each)

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Lesson 1: Review of Scratch Basics & Introduction to Variables

Objective: Refresh Scratch basics and introduce variables.

• Key Concepts: Scratch interface, sprites, motion, looks, basic loops, and events.
• New Concept: Variables – how to create, set, and change variables in Scratch.

Activities:

1. Warm-up: Have students modify an existing Scratch project (remix).
2. Explanation: Introduce variables – create a score-keeping system in a simple game (e.g., catching objects).
3. Task: Create a project where students use variables to count how many times an event occurs (e.g., how many times the sprite touches the edge).

Homework: Finish the project started in class.

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Lesson 2: Advanced Motion and User Input

Objective: Explore advanced motion blocks and incorporate user inputs.

• Key Concepts: Glide, direction, coordinates, and mouse/keyboard inputs.

Activities:

1. Demonstration: Show how sprites can move smoothly with the "glide" block and respond to keyboard inputs (arrows for movement).
2. Task: Create a project where a sprite moves around the screen based on arrow key inputs. Add a "chase" game element where another sprite follows the user's sprite using glide.

Homework: Add enhancements to the chase game, such as making the chasing sprite move faster over time.

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Lesson 3: Cloning Sprites

Objective: Learn how to duplicate sprites using cloning.

• Key Concepts: Cloning, controlling clones, and deleting clones.

Activities:

1. Explanation: Introduce cloning and show how it is used to duplicate sprites.
2. Task: Build a project where multiple sprites (clones) appear on the screen, such as a rain effect or a shooter game where the player shoots cloned bullets.

Homework: Improve the project by adding random positions for cloned sprites (e.g., rain falling from random locations).

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Lesson 4: Broadcasting and Receiving Messages

Objective: Use message broadcasting to allow sprites to communicate.

• Key Concepts: Broadcasting messages, receiving messages, synchronizing actions.

Activities:

1. Explanation: Introduce message broadcasting, explaining how one sprite can send a message and another sprite can act on it.
2. Task: Create a project where one sprite sends a message that starts an action on another sprite (e.g., press a button to start a dance animation).

Homework: Add complexity to the project by making different sprites broadcast messages to trigger different events.

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Lesson 5: Creating Interactive Stories

Objective: Apply message broadcasting and motion to create an interactive story.

• Key Concepts: Sequencing events, broadcasting for dialogue, and scene changes.

Activities:

1. Explanation: Review how to combine broadcasts with motion and looks to build interactive stories.
2. Task: Students create an interactive story using multiple backdrops and sprite characters. Characters should talk, move, and interact based on user inputs or timers.

Homework: Finish the interactive story with at least 3 scenes and 2 characters.

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Lesson 6: Custom Blocks and Reusable Code

Objective: Learn how to create custom blocks for reusable code.

• Key Concepts: Custom blocks, modular programming, reusability.

Activities:

1. Explanation: Introduce custom blocks – creating blocks that encapsulate repeatable actions.
2. Task: Build a project that uses custom blocks to control a sprite's movements (e.g., have a sprite perform a dance by calling different custom blocks).

Homework: Improve the project by adding new custom blocks for different actions.

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Lesson 7: Building a Complex Game

Objective: Combine all skills learned to create a complete game.

• Key Concepts: Combining variables, cloning, messages, custom blocks, and game logic.

Activities:

1. Discussion: Explain how games are designed (rules, objectives, and feedback).
2. Task: Guide students to build a simple platformer or shooter game with multiple levels, a scoring system, and a restart button. This game should include:
   • Variable score
   • Clones for enemies/obstacles
   • Broadcasts for level changes
   • Custom blocks for repeating tasks

Homework: Continue improving the game for a final project presentation.

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Lesson 8: Final Project Presentation & Review

Objective: Present completed projects and review key concepts.

• Activities:
  1. Project Showcase: Each student presents their completed game or interactive story.
  2. Feedback Session: Peer and teacher feedback on the projects.
  3. Review: Reinforce key programming concepts (variables, cloning, broadcasting, custom blocks).

Homework: Reflect on what they learned and prepare a written explanation of how their project works.

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Assessment Criteria:

• Project complexity: Does the project use advanced features like variables, broadcasts, or custom blocks?
• Creativity: How creative is the project in terms of story, game design, or interactivity?
• Debugging skills: Can the student identify and solve problems in their code?
• Presentation skills: Is the student able to explain how their project works?

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This intermediate course is designed to solidify students' skills in Scratch while encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and project-based learning.