Coding with Scratch and Scratch Jr in the Elementary Classroom

Share:

Scratch and Scratch Jr is a great way to introduce your students to coding. Scratch is basically an online community and its aim is to educate and introduce kids to coding. Students can easily create different activities and convert them into programs using scratch.
Scratch and Scratch Jr is a great way to introduce your students to coding. Scratch is basically an online community and its aim is to educate and introduce kids to coding. Students can easily create different activities and convert them into programs using scratch. These programs can also be shared with each other.
The purpose of scratch Jr is also similar to scratch but it is designed specifically for children of age 5-7. It sparks creativity in kids and at the same time, they also develop an interest in coding. Kids can program different types of games, stories, and activities. In this way, they learn problem-solving skills and how to express themselves creatively.     

How Scratch and Scratch Jr Works

Here is how Scratch works:
  1. Type scratch.mit.edu in the address bar of your browser and press enter.
  2. After you press enter, the homepage of scratch will appear. Here your students can create interactive games, stories, animations and so on.
  3. Create an account and sign in.
  4. After you sign in, you will see a lot of different types of projects created by the scratch community.
  5. You can also go to the help page of scratch to see some of the projects for beginners.
  6. Click on any project that you want.
  7. Click “see inside” button to see how that specific project is made.
  8. You can also edit, make adjustments and experiment with new things in that project after you click “see inside”.
Here is how Scratch Jr works:
  1. Open the Scratch Jr.
  2. Click on the home button to get started.
  3. A page with the character of cat will appear. Your students can edit this page as they want. They can add more characters, remove or replace the “cat” character and so on. They can also make animations.
  4. Engage your students in different interesting projects.

Using Scratch and Scratch Jr with elementary students

Using Scratch and Scratch Jr with elementary students is a great way to get them started with
coding. There are so many fun activity ideas that you can do in your classroom.
Here are some of those ideas:
*Ideas are inspired by members of the Technology Teacher Tribe Facebook Group
Scratch and Scratch Jr is a great way to introduce your students to coding. Scratch is basically an online community and its aim is to educate and introduce kids to coding. Students can easily create different activities and convert them into programs using scratch.

Retelling a familiar story

This is a great way to spark creativity in your little students. Ask them to think about a familiar story such as three little pigs. Once they pick a familiar story, ask them to recreate it in the Scratch or Scratch Jr. However, the ending of the story should be different than its actual end.

The life cycle of a made-up animal

Another great way to grab the interest of your students and to engage them in a creative activity is the life cycle of a made up animal. Ask them to think about a made-up animal such as catermonkey (half
caterpillar and half monkey). After that, ask them to create an animation of the life cycle of this made-up animal. It is up to their imagination how they want to present the life cycle of their made-up animal. 
 
I also really like these Scratch Cards from Amazon (affiliate link). 
 
You might also like the Blog Post How to use Buncee with Elementary Students.
Scratch and Scratch Jr is a great way to introduce your students to coding. Scratch is basically an online community and its aim is to educate and introduce kids to coding. Students can easily create different activities and convert them into programs using scratch.

 

Brittany Washburn

Brittany Washburn

Hi, I'm Brittany. I'm an educator obsessed with technology and passionate about teaching students 21st century skills. I'm so glad you came to visit my website.

Leave a Reply

Hi, I’m Brittany! I’m an educator obsessed with teaching with technology. Check out my free PD for technology teachers!

Click the image to learn more and sign up!

Disclaimer: this content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of the links that I may earn a commission.

I'd love to connect with you! Find me on Social Media

Most Popular

On Key

Related Posts

20 Tips for Teaching Students to Organize their Google Drive

Google Drive is a wonderful tool for storage, sharing and collaboration. However, it also bears an astonishing resemblance to my kitchen counter… always filling up with clutter, and difficult to locate important documents on.  If it’s challenging for teachers with years of experience to keep things organized, imagine how hard it must be for our students to stay on top of things! Luckily, your students have you to help them organize their Google Drive.

Wait! Your order is almost complete...

Add this offer to your order.

Add Something Fun!

50% off Spring Themed Text Formatting!

Original Price: $4.00 Discounted Price: $2.00

No thanks, I will pass!

Love tech lesson ideas?

Weekly Lesson Plans

Every week of the school year I send an email with visual lesson plans. Let me know where to send it by filling out the form here:

Weekly Newsletter

* indicates required