SCRATCH Coding Project: Animal Research
- PDF
- Google Apps™
Description
This low prep and high impact STEM coding resource will take your teaching to the next level with this gamified research project. Watch as student engagement and motivation skyrockets! No coding experience is required for the teacher or the student to complete this PBL coding project. I walk you and your students through this coding project made in the FREE platform - SCRATCH 3.0 ™. The results are games that others can play and learn from that can be sent to families, grade level classes or the entire school! I'll take you from creating accounts to sharing student projects. What are you waiting for? Lets do this!
NOTE: NO CODING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
WHAT
Students create mazes in SCRATCH ™ using animal research that can be done independently or whole class. Students can also create a maze without the research by just following the GIFs. SEE PREVIEW.
WHY
Students are native to gaming and from 5 years of teaching SCRATCH ™ to multiple grade levels, students . . .
- Apply a multitude of standards while collaborating and using critical thinking skills at a high level
- Students are exposed to coding and careers of the future while they practice the 4 C’s and apply the standards.
- Consider it frontloading if you haven’t taught the standards or a formative assessment if you have.
- Motivation, interest, exposure to computer science, coding, and standards integrations will create a level of energy and excitement your students will demonstrate and your parents and admin will be in amazement at!
- You are the facilitator and students will lead.
- This is a low prep and high impact project.
- Students are building skills that will transfer to future projects.
- Meaningful project with an audience.
HOW
I’ve included everything you need from,
- creating an account (short video and links to creating an account)
- getting students started (short video)
- short videos for the teacher and a student video (included in file)
From my experience, I’ve covered all the basics of what you and your students need to know to create a maze with ZERO EXPERIENCE! However, by the end, students will be very familiar with block coding and SCRATCH ™ and will be able to start thinking of different ways to create their own maze game to show their learning.
WHEN
The steps are laid out so you can have students complete,
- One STEP a day over the course of 3-4 weeks (30 minutes each day).
- Students work at their own pace.
- Select specific animals for specific times of year.
It’s really dependent on you and if you decide to use the “Design Journals” I’ve included.
WHO
- This project is packed with 2nd grade standards but many of the life science standards from kinder and first can be reviewed.
- The project can be adapted to 3rd and 4th grade life science standards by using the open ended fact sheets in the design journal.
- This coding resource was designed so it could be used as a "FREE CHOICE" activity for ages 7+ if you want to try a less structured coding project instead.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Creating teacher and student accounts in SCRATCH ™ checklist.
- Suggested Lesson Plan
- Teacher Notes
- Student slide deck with a discussion question, activity, Instructional gif, and instructions for each step. Includes student video to get started.
- Printable coding card.
- Student simple slide deck with Instructional gif for use without the design journal and more suited for independent “FREE Choice” or Choice Board activity.
- Design Journals for use with maze creation (optional).
- Printable animal cards.
- Clickable animal books resource page and web resources.
- Sharing slides for student maze projects and teacher “How-To” video.
- Bonus Posters
- Standards included.
If you like this resource here are some other resources you might like,
- Kindness STEM (CIRCUITS)
- Program a Friend School Theme (UNPLUGGED CODING)
- Program a Friend Christmas (UNPLUGGED CODING)
Warm regards,
Tonya Leslie❤️
LET'S CONNECT!
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