First Programming with Scratch < School Computer Curriculum

Highlights

• School Computer Curriculum Ready - Suitable for a 20-Week Middle or High School Semester

• Grades 7+: Middle or High School First Programming Class Using Scratch

• Designed for Middle School and High School students

• Classroom-Tested: This course was taught in a 20-week semester for an 8th grade class

• 12-Unit (~20 Weeks) Workshop Course

• 11 Hands-on Projects

• Trains and encourages creativity, critical thinking, logical reasoning, and technology fluency in young adults

• Gives a lot of freedom and space for students who would like practice their artistic and creative skills when doing projects

• Workshop-Style: the majority of each class is spent by the student working on a project on their own

• Covers fundamental topics in Programming Languages, including: 

  • Algorithms

  • Variables

  • Prototypes

  • Properties

  • Expressions

  • Operators

  • Logic

  • Conditionals

  • Loops

  • Events

  • Timers

  • Design

  • Implementation

  • Testing

  • Debugging

  • State Machines

  • And More

• Bonus Design Project: Students will design, implement, test, and debug a State Machine device (e.g. a soda machine) using Scratch

• 4.5+ hours of video instruction, plus many more hours spent doing the projects on your own

• Accompanying Slides for Each Class

• No prior knowledge or learning in computer science or programming needed

Overview

This new class is designed specifically for middle or high school students who want to take their first class about computer programming, or for educators who are looking for a suitable, classroom-tested first programming course to include as part of a computer curriculum for their schools.

This course isn't about learning Scratch programming specifically. Rather, it is designed to help students get their first experience with computer programming, and along the way, get a basic understanding and familiarity with essential concepts in programming languages, such as algorithms, variables, conditionals, etc.

This is a workshop course. Each week's class includes some lecture and slides, but the majority of the time is spent by the students on their own to finish each week's project. The solution to each project is presented at the end of each class. The course ends with a capstone project, wherein students will design, implement, test, and debug a State Machine device (e.g. a soda machine) using Scratch.

I teach this class to a real 8th grade classroom in a middle-high school, during one school semester.

Perquisites and Requirements

• No Prior Knowledge or Experience in Programming Needed

• Exercises Only Require a Computer with Internet Access

Sections

• Intro

  • Course Overview

• Unit 1

  • Scratch: Sign Up, Log In

  • Basics Demo

• Unit 2

  • Intro to Algorithms

  • Project 1: Write Algorithm for Farmer River Crossing Problem

• Unit 3

  • Project 2: Implement Algorithm to Farmer River Crossing Problem Using Scratch

• Unit 4

  • Loops

  • Events

  • Broadcasts

  • Project 3: Remote Controlled Car

• Unit 5

  • Costumes

  • Timers

  • Project 4: Traffic Light

• Unit 6

  • Variables

  • Arithmetic Operators

  • Project 5: Traffic Light with Timer

• Unit 7

  • Create a Moving Art

• Unit 8

  • Project 7: Browse Existing Scratch Community Projects

• Unit 9

  • Asking the User

  • Conditionals

  • Project 8: ATM Machine

• Unit 10

  • Project 9: Make Some Sound/Music

• Unit 11

  • Logical Operators

  • Testing & Debugging

  • Project 10: Rock Paper Scissors Game: Debug & Customize

• (Bonus) Unit 12

  • State Machines

  • (Bonus) Design Project 11: Make Your Own State Machine

• Outro

  • Conclusion