With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century. (www.scratch.mit.edu)
Year 5 Scratch Class (EPP) |
I have been lucky enough to witness in my EPP placement a lesson in which scratch was being taught. In this year 5 lesson children were being taught how to used commands to create animations. Scratch takes a series of algorithms and rules and creates a running order in which the animation then repeats. These controls which the animation follow are completely controlled by the pupils. The pictures on the top left of the screen shows how a series of commands work on scratch. The image to the right is a picture of the animations which the children in the class developed. Scratch is an exceptionally powerful method of introducing computing to children at a young age. Children in the year 5 class found it really empowering when they felt they created a programme for something on the computer. Due to the nature of technology becoming more ingrained on life, when children felt they could change something or create something, it opens a window of opportunities. |