Type:
Scratch
Curriculum Links to:
Science
Computer Science Concepts: Programming, Simulation
Computational Thinking Concepts & Approaches:
-
Abstraction
RESOURCE OVERVIEW:
In this activity pupils create a simulation of the Earth orbiting the Sun using Scratch. Pupils firstly decide what the purpose of the simulation is and who is the intended audience. Using this, they then decide what the most important aspects of the simulation are, and in so doing they are abstracting.
PUPIL OBJECTIVES:
- I can design a simulation.
- I can write a simulation program.
- I can debug a simulation program.
TEACHING ASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
- Informal, teacher assessment of progress during the lesson and formal, summative assessment of Scratch projects (in pairs). Focus on: What should be included and ignored in the simulation (abstraction)? What is a simulation? What code has been used to create the simulation? Examples of simulation programs and their features in terms of Purpose,Abstraction, Realness/Fidelity, Improvements, Opportunity.
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).
- Scratch Teacher examples of programs – found offline in the resource downloads or use Scratch online
- Downloaded resources (see ‘Download Resource’ link above):
- Lesson Plan
- Scratch commands & extension task help sheet – up to one per pair of pupils, if required.
- Extension challenge notes – teacher notes on possible solutions
- Planet sprite files.
- Alternate approaches for programming orbits – see teacher notes.
- Example annotated design.
- Whiteboards for simulation ideas, paper and pens for pupils’ designs or printed simulation design template.
- A swivel chair (optional)!