#ScratchWeek

With all the end-of-year chaos happening, and the additional cause-of-covid add-ons (think: zoom programs, recordings, editing, sharing, etc) it's been a chaotic week and a half in my world.

But I couldn't let this week pass without mentioning Scratch because this week is #ScratchWeek!

And it's quite timely, too, as our fourth graders are finishing up the video games they designed on Scratch.  I am rather impressed with how they're turning out, too!  The kids have seen their games from design to near-completion, and are currently in the testing phase.  A part of me thinks the testing phase is their favorite, as they're playing each others games and providing feedback to make them even better.

Because of the way the unit was scaffolded, the kids are practicing using their sources.  The directions for each of the three different games we created together have been posted in Google Classroom.  We've tasked the kids with comparing what they need in their game (for example, a sprite that is controlled by arrow keys) and then finding the directions in one of the games we already created.  

I am super excited to see the finished games - I promise to post them when they're completed!

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The Evolution of Michigan Video Games

Four years ago, we started a culminating technology project with fourth grade, integrated into their studies of Michigan.  Every year it's evolved further, adding layers of planning, organizing, and elaboration.

This year, we finally hit a bit of a sweet spot.  After learning how to create three different types of games on Scratch, and learning how to design their own backgrounds and sprites, students became video game evaluators.  They evaluated four different Michigan-related video games, looking for both what worked well and what could make the game better.

Next, students created a project planner (version three, as changes have been made every year!) detailing their game plans.  The final step was to create a storyboard for their game plan.  The BrainPop video we watched on Video Games showed how storyboards are used to plan and develop video games.  Students completed their storyboard on pencil/paper, and then posted it on Seesaw.

Several students started on Scratch today, building first their backgrounds and sprites before moving on to coding.  And then testing.  And coding.  And more testing.  And more coding.... you get the idea! 

I have very high hopes that this year's video games will be pretty spectacular!  

Page one: evaluating other games	Page two: game development	Page three: Storyboard Setup