Lesson 1 scratching the surface learning objectives

Lesson 1: SCRATCHING THE SURFACE
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
 define what Scratch is, and what it can do.
 recognize the core principles behind scratch
 recall facts about the Development of the scratch programming language.
 practice the Scratch editor.
Essential Questions:
 What is Scratch?
 What sets it apart from other programming languages?
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 What is its history, and who are the person behind it?
 What is the importance of Scratch?
Values Focus:
 Show attentiveness in discovering all about Scratch Programming.
Things Needed:
 Laptop/desktop
 Scratch Offline Editor 2.0 (application)
Lesson Proper:
WHAT IS SCRATCH?
Scratch is a visual programming language that uses graphical elements called "blocks" to form commands in place
of writing lines of code. The blocks are so named because they snap together - just like Lego blocks - to form the entire
code of the program. Snapping several kinds of blocks together lets a Scratch user create interactive presentations, or
even simple games!
Scratch takes its name from "scratching, " a technique from the music genres of hip-hop and club music which requires a
DJ moving a vinyl record on a turntable to produce scratching sound effects in sync with another music track, creating a
"remix." In the same way, Scratch users create their projects by mixing graphics and sound with code.
While Scratch was developed originally for younger learners to learn basic coding at an early age, older students will find
that the language can be as complex as they want it to be.
CORE PRINCIPLES OF SCRATCH
Creative Freedom
 Like other kinds of Free, Open-Source Software or FOSS , the Scratch programming language encourages its
users to share, reuse and combine code in new and interesting ways.
More Thinkable – Scratch has the same look and feel as Lego bricks when
children attempt to tinker and construct structures out of the bricks. Scratch uses
graphical “Programming blocks” to create a program.
More Meaningful – Real-life activities are the most successful tools in learning
which is why Scratch supports different themes for stories, games, animations,
and simulations which can be customized in projects.
More Social – Collaboration/sharing is embedded in Scratch user interface
which allows members to support one another, collaborate with each other, and
critique each other’s work.
Design Principles
SHORT HISTORY OF SCRATCH
Scratch is a relatively new programming language, but it has roots in older graphical programming languages,
specifically, the LOGO Programming Language . LOGO was developed back in 1967 through the efforts of:
 Daniel G Bobrow
 Wally Feurzeig
 Seymour Papert
 Cynthia Solomon
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All of whom were computer scientists and educators working out of the Bolt, Beranek and Newman Research Firm in
Cambridge, Massachusetts.