By:  Rachel Wong

What are Scratch Cards?

Scratch Cards are a set of step-by-step instructions intended to provide an accessible entry point to learn and explore programming concepts. Users can learn sequential, repeating, and nested events, as well as control structure and conditional statements. Each card encompasses a distinct theme, like games, stories, music, and animations, and incorporates various coding features, such as sounds, movements, and colours. Each card contains concise and easy-to-follow written and visual instructions, with additional tips that break down concepts into smaller steps. Users can create a variety of unique and interactive projects that can be integrated into numerous disciplines and practices. These activities are useful for lessons in a variety of grades and subjects because of their flexibility, interactive components, and simplicity. However, a drawback to Scratch Cards includes the lack of extensions and depth. In particular, Scratch Cards provide a structured introduction for beginners in Scratch, but projects will likely require large adaptations and modifications to include higher-level Curriculum expectations.

Figure 1: Make Music Cards An example of flash cards that can be made

How to use Scratch Cards in the class room?

Scratch Cards can be used in lessons with open-ended questions to optimize creativity and deeper learning. For instance, with the Make Music Cards, students have the choice of instrument, sounds, chords, or to record their own sounds. This ensures that the lesson is accessible for a wide range of abilities and grade levels. Students can demonstrate the elements and techniques of music through scales, tempo markings, dynamics, timbre, and much more. In addition, students can include and explore various musical genres and styles from the past and present, and their sociocultural and historical contexts. In conjunction with learning through music and coding, students can analyze their work through discussions and reflections to further explain and communicate their feelings, ideas, and understandings.

Resource Information

Tags: Scratch Cards, Make Music Cards, Block-based Coding

URL to resource information: https://resources.scratch.mit.edu/www/cards/en/scratch-cards-all.pdf

Cost: free