Ages: 8-12
Length: 10-12 sessions, 1 hour each
Description
Students in this course will be introduced to the concept of computer programing. Using Scratch, a high-level, block-based programing language, learners will be able to program basic games and animation. The young programmers apply computational thinking to sequence coding blocks. They learn how to construct scripts to develop animated scenes, mazes, interactive stories, and games. Additional challenges extend coding skills to create artwork, compose music, produce a diorama, and more! After each project, students complete coding journal logs to help them to think like a programmer. Scratch is a fun and interactive tool for beginners in coding and computer science.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Understand the job of a computer programmer
· Become familiar with block-based programing language and algorithm
· Develop critical, logical thinking
· Able to create animations and games
· Apply computational thinking to tackle problems
· Plan and organize ideas to develop a program
· Build scripts to produce an animation, game, or story
· Debug errors to find and fix a mistake in a script
· Reflect upon program development using a coding journal
· Set the appearance and movement of a sprite
· Trigger a script to run using multiple methods
· Control when or if actions happen using conditions
· Create variables to track gameplay such as score or timer
· Direct the timing of events using broadcasting