Coding Activity #1

Activity #1 - Storyteller!

Your challenge is to create a story through a conversation between Mario and the Scratch Cat. You will then create an animation to shrink a character down so they can fit through a small door!

• Ontario curriculum alignment:  Grade 3
• Best for:  Beginning coders of all grade levels!

Before you begin ...

This hands-on activity uses a free coding platform called "Scratch". Please make sure you've watched our "Introduction to Scratch" video, and that you're signed into your Scratch account. If you need help, click below. Otherwise, skip down to STEP 1 to get started!

Click the button below to open the activity. It will open in a new window/tab which allows you to keep this page open at the same time and easily switch between tabs while you work through this activity.

• After you open the activity, click on the blue "See inside" button to access the activity.
• If you are logged into your Scratch account, then you can click on the green "Remix" button to save this activity to your personal Scratch account so you can save your work and also share it with others!

• To help you get started, you will use the purple “say ___ for ___ seconds” block found in the Looks menu on the left for the Scratch Cat sprite.
• Follow the script provided to you in the yellow comment box to help the Scratch Cat communicate with Mario and use the sections of code below to get started.
• Use the say blocks and copy the 3 Scratch Cat script lines there to get the Scratch Cat talking. Have fun!

• Select the Mario sprite next and follow the script provided to you in the yellow comment box to help Mario communicate back to Scratch Cat using the sections of code below.
• Use the say blocks and copy the first Mario script line there to get Mario to respond to Scratch Cat.
• You can then use the orange “wait ___ seconds” block found in the Control menu on the left. Use that wait block before the say block to help you wait a certain amount of time (in seconds) between Mario and the Scratch Cat speaking. Enjoy!

• To help conversations in Scratch happen more efficiently, you will be introduced to a block called “Broadcast” which allows you to send a message to run another piece of code.
• After the Scratch Cat sprite has finished speaking, instead of waiting a certain number of seconds using the wait block, use the yellow “Broadcast” message block from the Events menu on the left. Good luck! 

On the Mario sprite, use the “When I receive” message block from the Events menu to continue the conversation by Mario. Have fun! 

Your challenge is to edit the code already created to make it more efficient using “loops” to help shrink the Scratch Cat so that they will be able to fit through the tiny door and head back home!

• Use the up, down, left, right arrow keys on your keyboard to move Mario across the screen.
• Next, click on the screen so that Scratch Cat follows Mario wherever he goes. Make sure you take Mario all the way to the left of the stage to get to the tiny door. Have fun!

The solution is to shrink the cat as much as possible in order to fit into the tiny door and get back home! Press the spacebar key on your keyboard and the Scratch Cat shrinks down to just the perfect size to fit in the door.

Your task is now to make this code better and more efficient using loops or “repeat” blocks. 

• Find the repeating pattern in this code shown below and use an orange “repeat ___” block found in the control menu on the left
• Use the appropriate repeat number and connect it back to the “when space key pressed” event block to make your code more efficient
• Finally, click on the Scratch Cat to send him home. Good luck!

Your challenge is to edit the code already created to make it more efficient using your current knowledge of “loops” to have the Scratch Cat spin around before leaving through the tiny door.

Your task is to make the Scratch Cat spinning code better and more efficient using loops or
“repeat” blocks.

• Find the repeating pattern in this code shown below and use an orange “repeat ___” block found in the control menu on the left
• use the appropriate repeat number and add that repeated section back into the code to make the spinning Scratch Cat code more efficient
• Finally, run the code one more time and click on the Scratch Cat to send him spinning home

Bonus Challenges - Try Them!

1. Change some elements of the story such as what the Sprites are saying or how they look.
2. Add another character Sprite into the story and make the communication happen efficiently between the 3 characters.
3. Share this story with a friend while showcasing your skills of loops and broadcasting as you make this program as efficient as possible.

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