Scratch Programming for Teachers Course

Lesson 1 • Your First Scratch Project

Teachers build a minimal working project to experience the full creation loop. Reinforces interface knowledge through immediate hands-on practice.

Lesson 2 • Creating and Managing a Scratch Account

Guides teachers through account setup, classroom account options, and privacy considerations. Ensures safe, organized access before any project work begins.

Lesson 3 • What Is Scratch and Why It Matters

Establishes Scratch's role in K-12 computing education and its design philosophy. Grounds teachers in the rationale before touching the tool.

Lesson 1 • Events and Control Blocks

Explains how events trigger scripts and how control blocks manage execution flow. This section is the gateway to structured, interactive programming logic.

Lesson 2 • Sound and Music Blocks

Introduces audio playback, volume, and tempo controls within Scratch. Teachers connect sound blocks to events to create responsive, engaging projects.

Lesson 3 • Motion and Looks Blocks

Covers movement, rotation, position, and visual appearance blocks. Teachers learn how motion and looks interact to animate sprites on stage.

Lesson 4 • Sensing and Operators Blocks

Covers collision detection, user input, and mathematical and logical operators. Teachers use these blocks to make projects respond dynamically to conditions.

Lesson 1 • Designing and Switching Backdrops

Covers backdrop creation, import, and programmatic switching to build multi-scene projects. Teachers structure narratives and interactive stories using backdrop transitions.

Lesson 2 • Working with the Sprite Library

Explores the built-in sprite library and search tools for finding appropriate assets. Teachers learn selection strategies aligned with project themes and age groups.

Lesson 3 • Editing Costumes in the Paint Editor

Teaches vector and bitmap editing tools inside Scratch's paint editor. Teachers customize sprites to match lesson content without external software.

Lesson 1 • Finalizing and Presenting the Story

Covers project polish, presentation mode, and sharing with an audience. Teachers prepare finished stories for classroom display or student review.

Lesson 2 • Adding Interactivity and Choices

Introduces branching narratives using sensing and control blocks. Teachers create choose-your-own-adventure structures that engage student decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Scripting Dialogue and Narration

Covers say, think, and ask blocks to create character dialogue and narration. Teachers sequence timed speech to pace a story effectively.

Lesson 4 • Coordinating Multiple Sprites

Teaches broadcast messaging to synchronize actions across sprites. Teachers manage multi-character scenes without tangled, overlapping scripts.

Lesson 1 • Scoring, Lives, and Timers

Builds score tracking, life counters, and countdown timers using variables. Teachers create measurable challenge structures that motivate student engagement.

Lesson 2 • Game Design Fundamentals

Establishes core game design concepts: goals, rules, feedback, and challenge. Teachers map these concepts to Scratch mechanics before writing any code.

Lesson 3 • Win and Lose Conditions

Implements end-game states, restart logic, and transition screens. Teachers complete the game loop so projects feel polished and replayable.

Lesson 4 • Collision Detection and Reactions

Uses sensing blocks to detect sprite and color collisions and trigger reactions. Teachers implement hit detection for obstacles, enemies, and collectibles.

Lesson 1 • Scratch for Math Concepts

Uses variables, operators, and geometry blocks to model mathematical ideas. Teachers build interactive tools that visualize number sense, patterns, and operations.

Lesson 2 • Scratch for Social Studies

Builds map-based projects, historical timelines, and cultural presentations in Scratch. Teachers connect coding to geography, history, and civic concepts.

Lesson 3 • Designing Cross-Curricular Projects

Guides teachers in planning projects that intentionally address multiple subject standards. Teachers produce a project brief that documents coding and content objectives together.

Lesson 4 • Scratch for Science Simulations

Models scientific phenomena such as ecosystems, physics, and life cycles in Scratch. Teachers create simulations that make abstract concepts observable and testable.

Lesson 1 • Differentiating for Diverse Learners

Provides strategies for supporting beginners, advanced coders, and students with learning differences. Teachers modify tasks, resources, and expectations without lowering rigor.

Lesson 2 • Structuring a Scratch Lesson

Outlines a repeatable lesson structure: hook, model, guided practice, independent work, and reflection. Teachers adapt this framework to any Scratch project type.

Lesson 3 • Facilitating Pair and Group Coding

Teaches pair programming roles and collaborative project structures. Teachers manage group dynamics and ensure equitable participation in coding tasks.

Lesson 4 • Assessing Scratch Projects

Introduces rubrics, checklists, and process portfolios for evaluating student Scratch work. Teachers assess both computational thinking and content learning outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Using the Pen Extension

Covers pen-down drawing, stamp, and erase tools to create generative art and graphs. Teachers use pen projects to visualize math patterns and scientific data.

Lesson 2 • Building Custom Blocks

Introduces the My Blocks feature to define reusable procedures with parameters. Teachers reduce code repetition and model modular programming practices.

Lesson 3 • Optimizing and Debugging Complex Projects

Teaches systematic debugging strategies and performance optimization for large projects. Teachers model professional problem-solving habits that students can adopt.

Lesson 4 • Connecting Hardware Extensions

Introduces Scratch extensions for physical computing devices such as micro:bit and Makey Makey. Teachers design tangible, hands-on projects that bridge digital and physical worlds.