Author(s): AJ Davey

What are The Create a Story Scratch cards?

This coding resource guides students through creating an interactive story in Scratch. The student will learn how to add characters, backdrops, and voices. It will also show students how to have characters move and converse with one another. All of these pieces come together combined with student imagination to create an interactive scene related to a specific topic.

The Create a Story Scratch cards engage students by sparking their creativity while also enhancing their storytelling skills. They are also useful in allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge of a specific topic; this resource encourages students to explain a topic in a way that can be universally understandable, deepening their understanding of the content. Create a Story Scratch cards are also useful because they can be used with all skill levels. The step by step guide makes it a great resource to help introduce students to coding, while also allowing those more experienced to easily extend beyond the steps given. The act of coding through these cards also fosters the development of real-world skills such as problem-solving and collaboration. When students get stuck, it encourages them to tinker with their code and look for areas of improvement; this resource encourages productive failure, allowing students to learn from their mistakes instead of becoming discouraged.

How is it used in a classroom setting?

To introduce coding in a classroom, as a teacher begin by experimenting with the code and create a program in Scratch using the Create a Story cards. In the classroom, start by showing students the example to increase their interest. Next, go through coding blocks within the program with the students, showing them the purpose of each block within the scene. After that, walk through each of the steps on the cards with the students and allow them to ask any questions they may have. Give students some time to then plan their story and incorporate the desired curriculum connection in the guidelines given to them. Once students have brainstormed and come up with their plan, allow them to create their code, testing and debugging as they go. Encourage them to play around with their code to debug, and ask questions as needed. Once all students have created their game, have them partner up and share their program.

The Create a Story Scratch cards can be used in a variety of different courses as students can design a story for virtually any subject. Specifically, it could be incorporated in a Grade 7 or 8 Language classroom to teach them about storytelling. It could also be incorporated into a Grade 7 Science classroom when talking about ecosystems; students can create a story surrounding an ecosystem, the food web, or biotic and abiotic factors.

Further resource information:

Cost: Free for basic levels

URL Link: https://resources.scratch.mit.edu/www/cards/en/story-cards.pdf

Tags: Code-combat, Python, Javascript, Game-based learning, Fun