RESOURCE OVERVIEW:
In this short project, pupils create a simple game. A rainforest theme has been used as the context here, but the theme can be adapted to any topic. In the first lesson pupils design their game and create artwork for their background and main character. In the following coding lessons, they write and debug their code. In the final lesson they present and evaluate their games.
A generic approach is provided in this project; this is so that the activities can be adapted to a classes level of experience, the teacher confidence, the number of lessons needed for coding as well as the topic. Similarly the software used can be adapted, in the examples provided here Scratch has been used, but this could be replaced with alternatives such as Kodu, Hopscotch etc.
PUPIL OBJECTIVES:
- I can decompose a game into its parts.
- I can design a game.
- I can create the artwork for a game.
- I can write and debug a game.
- I can present a game.
- I can evaluate a game.
TEACHING ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
- Informal, teacher assessment of progress during main tasks, class discussions and plenary.
- Formal, summative assessment of designs, Scratch code, project journals, evaluation sheets, if used (note however some of these are completed in pairs).
- Areas to focus on:
- Design
- Programming
- Debugging
- Sequence
- Repetition
- Selection
- Variables
- Presentation
- Evaluation
LESSON TIMING: 60+ min
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
- MIT’s Scratch 3.0, Scratch 2.0 or Scratch 1.4 or use Scratch Online (please refer to this guide on the ways to download and use our Scratch resources in your school).
- Pupil access to the Scratch resources - either downloaded from the ‘Download Resource’ link or within the Scratch 3.0 online editor from these links Examples of games online
- Downloaded resources (see ‘Download Resource’ link above):
- Activity presentation
- Activity sheet
- List of teacher examples of programs.
- Pupil useful commands Scratch file 2.0 and 1.4, if required.
- Pupil challenge sheet, up to one per pair of pupils, if required.
- Teacher challenge notes – teacher notes on possible solutions.
- Game design template, up to one per pair of pupils, if required.
- Game evaluation template, up to one per pupil, if required.
- Scratch commands help sheet , up to one per pair of pupils, if required.
- Teacher coding features notes (shows notes on how to teach coding features).
- Project journals (optional).
- A projector or interactive whiteboard to display Scratch and the activity presentation as you work through this lesson.