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Session 5: Scratch Games 🎮

Overview

Grades: 3-4 | Duration: 40 minutes | Session: 5 of 17

Students create interactive games in Scratch, learning about user input, variables, and game logic.

Session 5: Scratch Games

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand game mechanics (input, feedback, scoring)

  • Program keyboard/mouse controls

  • Use variables for scorekeeping

  • Create a playable mini-game

Session 5: Scratch Games

Materials Needed

  • 💻 Computers with Scratch

  • 📋 Game planning templates

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 🖥️ Projector for demo

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

God the Creator — God gave us creativity! Games bring joy and connection, reflecting God's gift of play.

Scripture

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." — Proverbs 17:22

Opening Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the gift of play and creativity. Help us create games that bring joy and connect people. Guide our programming today! Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Why Games?
  2. Games bring joy and connection
  3. Exercise minds and teach skills
  4. Combine art, logic, and creativity
  5. Game Elements:
  6. Input — How players control (keys, mouse)
  7. Feedback — What players see/hear
  8. Goals — What players try to achieve
  9. Score — How progress is measured
  10. Creativity as Gift — "God creates—so can we!"

Main Activity: Game Creation (27 minutes)

Part 1: Game Mechanics Demo (5 minutes)

  • Demo simple game:
  • Sprite moves with arrow keys
  • Catches/avoids other sprites

  • Score increases

  • Show key blocks:

  • "when [key] pressed"
  • "change x by 10"
  • "if touching [sprite]"
  • "change [score] by 1"

Part 2: Build Your Game (18 minutes)

Choose Game Type (2 min):

  • Maze navigator

  • Catching game

  • Avoid obstacles

  • Chase game

Build Step-by-Step (16 min):

  1. Player Controls (4 min)
  2. Add sprite for player

  3. Program arrow key movement:

    • Up: change y by 10
    • Down: change y by -10
    • Left: change x by -10
    • Right: change x by 10

  4. Game Elements (4 min)

  5. Add sprite to catch/avoid
  6. Make it move (glide randomly or bounce)

  7. Or create walls/obstacles

  8. Scoring (4 min)

  9. Create variable called "Score"
  10. When touching target: change Score by 1

  11. Display score on stage

  12. Polish (4 min)

  13. Add sounds for events
  14. Add instructions
  15. Test and debug!

Part 3: Playtest (4 minutes)

  • Swap with a partner

  • Play each other's games

  • Give feedback: What's fun? What's confusing?

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Draw your game screen
  2. List the controls in your game
  3. Write: "The hardest part was..."
  4. Write: "Games bring joy by..."

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Play Showcase — Quick demos of games
  2. Joy of Creating — "How did making this feel?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for creativity and play. Help us use games to bring people together. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Created working player controls

  • Implemented game logic

  • Used variable for scoring

  • Tested and improved

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Remix starter project

  • Simpler game (just movement)

  • Partner work

For Advanced Students

  • Multiple levels

  • Timer feature

  • Two-player mode

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Share your game with family! Explore other Scratch games for inspiration. Discuss: What makes a game fun? Create games that the whole family can play together!

Teacher Notes

  • Scratch games are highly engaging

  • Allow time to play each other's games

  • Consider class Scratch studio for sharing

  • Games can be continued/improved later

Previous: Session 4 — Ecosystems
Next: Session 6 — Thanksgiving Design