scratch-adventure-mentors.org

Mentor guide for Scratch adventure session

Mentor preparation

On Scratch

Scratch programming is heavily based on Object-Oriented scripts. Scripts can be attached to the stage (which can have one Backdrop on top at a time) and Sprites.

Suppose we add the following two sprites: Butterfly1 and Dog2.

Scripts can be attached to Butterfly1 or can be attached to Dog2. If you want to attach the same script, you can Duplicate it and drag it to the Dog2.

There are different Script categories. A script on a Sprite can move the sprite around, for example.

Watch out: you can’t control multiple Sprites from one place. Don’t think you can play “puppetmaster” and just make an animation by telling everything what to do in order, as you might with Python or JavaScript.

Instead, you’ll have to use the “broadcast” and “when I receive” blocks to have Sprites hand off control to one another as they take turns.

(This weird actor model comes from Scratch’s origins as a Small talk application.)

Other links

What do mentors do?

Before kids come, do a dry run for an hour and have mentors make a simple story

Easiest way to make them understand

Take over after kids have Scratch IDE open

Walk around, see what kids are up to / if any are having trouble

Answer questions

Explain concepts if asked

Try to avoid taking over kids’ computers and doing things for them

Scratch is pretty simple, you will probably be able to figure out most questions

Talk about what got you into CS

Structure of session

Break into groups / mentor groups

Show story example

Icebreaker

Bingo

Per-group? Probably not

To five in a row

Scratch bingo?

Sprite

Backdrop

Brainstorming

Brainstorm individually

Maybe look at Flash/Scratch examples for ideas (might not be needed, we’ll see)

Maybe mentors point these out for someone struggling

Try not to interfere too much though

Then groups come together, discuss ideas, maybe pair up (but they’re not obligated to)

Registration / opening Scratch

Maybe a brief stage talk on registration -> IDE basics

Give out handout / hand out link for people to look at on machines

Lightning talks on concepts

Moving Sprites around

Adding and changing Backdrops

Inserting pictures from the Internet

Adding music

Broadcast and receive messages between blocks

Events?

Present at end

Open up for kid -> kid, mentor -> kid questions

How did you do that in yours?

(I mean, we prolly want this during the session itself too)

Also remind kids to obtain public link so they can show off at home

Make a master list of Scratch adventures that kids made today

Prereqs

• registration of students and mentors
  • ricky and ehtesh should manage, but just make sure it’s getting done
    • ask kids if they’ve signed in? tell mentors to do this
  • map resulting adventures to students at end
• icebreaker materials
  • what’s the icebreaker?
    • bingo
      • for the host
      • per person
        • cards
        • chips
• blank paper / pens for brainstorming (or maybe use MS Word on laptops)
  • lay out composition/images
  • maybe make examples of this?
• Scratch cards, maybe
  • Might help get people talking to each other
  • 2 sets for the whole batch
• print out and post up big instructions? (like Tracy’s ppt-like things)
• handout of instructions
  • make a couple in case people don’t have laptops
  • everyone with a laptop should be able to just get to URL
    • shorten URL, make publicly available
      • same w/ examples
• mentor laptops
• kid laptops
• nametags