Learning to Code for Kids & Beginners with MIT Scratch

Intro to this section of the course

In this section you'll be introduced to the concept of variables and start to learn why they are such an important and fundamental part of programming.

In this lesson you'll be introduced to the concept of variable scope and start to see why this is an important part of programming and why this is such an important concept to understand when creating and working with variables.

In this lesson we'll work through a few more examples and see how there can be different types of variables.

Test your new knowledge of variables in this variable challenge. Watch the challenge video for challenge instructions then complete the challenge by finding the variable challenge link under the "Resources" tab. Then "Remix" the Scratch project and complete the challenge. Good luck! Then, check out the solution video in the next lesson.

View a solution to the Variable Challenge.

In this lesson we'll start to talk about control structure and talk specifically about the idea of events and listeners.

We continue to talk about control structures

We continue going over different control structures

More on control structures and we talk about the idea of branching code

We talk about the important of related data and the idea of "keys" to link related data together across multiple tables.

In this lesson we introduce the idea of custom blocks (or functions) and talk about the importance of not unnecessarily repeating lines of code.

More about custom blocks, specifically the ability to pass in parameters

Even more on custom blocks -- they are super useful!

What is that "run w/o screen refresh" option anyway?

Section introduction

What are backdrops?

What are sprites?

How to create your own sprites with the shape tool

Understanding the difference between vector and bitmap graphics.

Understanding clones.

Understanding costumes and animation

Understanding the concept of frame rate.

Some tips on working with coding blocks in Scratch

Understanding the backpack -- a helpful tool!

The importance of commenting your code

How to add extensions for more functionality.

Intro to meteor math project section of the course

Challenge 1 - Let's create our ship

Solution 1 - How I went about creating the ship

Challenge 2 - Let's get our ship moving!

My solution to the ship movement challenge

Challenge 3 - How do we get our ship to fire bullets?

My solution to Challenge 3

Challenge 4 - How do we create and place meteors?

My solution to Challenge 4

Challenge 5 - Collision Detection

My solution to the collision detection challenge

Challenge 6 - Another challenge related to collision detection

My solution to the rest of the collision detection problem

Challenge 7 - How do we create the math problems?

The first part of the math problem solution

The 2nd part of the math problem solution

Challenge 8 - Creating the Score Bar

Solution to the Score Bar Challenge

Challenge 9 - Animating Meteor Destruction

Solution to Challenge 9

Challenge 10 - Problem solving a meteor placement issue

Solution to Challenge 10

Challenge 11 - Creating Game Levels

Solution to the game level challenge

Challenge 12 - Showing Solutions for Incorrect Answers

Solution to Challenge 12

Challenge - Adding some final game elements

Solution to the final game elements challenge

Introduction to the snake game project

Challenge 1 - Creating a checkerboard pattern

Solution to the Checkerboard/Grid Challenge

Challenge 2 - Game Flow and Snake Head Placement

Challenge 2 solution

Challenge 3 - Setting up a movement system

Movement System solution

Challenge 4 - Flexible Sizing

Solution for challenge 4

Challenge 5 - Placing the Food

Solution to the placing the food challenge

Challenge 6 - Eating the food

Solution to the eating the food challenge

Challenge 7 - Positioning the body segments

Positioning the body segments solution

Challenge 8 - Collision Detection

Solution to collision detection

Challenge 9 - Adding Sound FX

Adding Sound FX solution

Challenge 10 - Score tracking and game levels

Score tracking and game levels solution

Challenge 11 - Adding a Multiplier Bonus

Multiplier Bonus Solution

Challenge 12 - Creating a Flying Score Display

Flying score display solution

Challenge 13 - Creating a High Score Board

High Score Board solution

You did it! Congratulations on finishing the course