Session 5: Scratch Games 🎮¶

Overview¶

Grades: 5-6 | Duration: 45 minutes | Session: 5 of 17

Students design and program original games in Scratch, applying advanced programming concepts with intentional design.

Session 5: Scratch Games¶

Learning Objectives¶

By the end of this session, students will:

Design game mechanics intentionally
Program using variables, conditionals, and loops
Create engaging player experience
Consider game design ethics

Session 5: Scratch Games¶

Materials Needed¶

💻 Computers with Scratch access
📝 Game design documents
📓 Engineering journals
🎮 Game examples

Catholic Integration¶

Saint Connection¶

Recreation and Leisure — Catholic tradition values healthy recreation! St. John Bosco used games and play to reach young people. Good games can build community and skills!

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 design games that bring joy, build skills, and respect the player. May our creativity honor you. Amen.

Lesson Procedure¶

Opening Circle (6 minutes)¶

Game Design Philosophy:
Good games are intentionally designed
Balance challenge and fun
Consider the player experience
Ethics in Gaming:
Games can be positive or harmful
Our responsibility as creators
Design for good: skill-building, connection, joy
Programming Concepts:
Variables — Track score, lives, progress
Conditionals — If-then decisions
Loops — Repeated actions
Events — Respond to player input

Main Activity: Game Development (31 minutes)¶

Part 1: Game Design Document (7 minutes)

Answer These Questions: 1. Game Concept: - What type of game? (Maze, catch, quiz, adventure, platform) - What's the goal? - What makes it fun?

Game Mechanics:
How does the player control?
What are the rules?
How does the player win/lose?
Player Experience:
Is difficulty balanced?
Is it appropriate for all ages?
Does it build positive skills?
Technical Plan:
What sprites needed?
What variables needed?
What events trigger actions?

Part 2: Programming (20 minutes)

Build Your Game:

Step 1: Set Up (3 min)

Create sprites
Set up backdrop
Initialize variables (score, lives)

Step 2: Player Control (5 min)

Arrow key movement
Click interactions
Responsive controls

Step 3: Game Logic (7 min)

Scoring system
Win/lose conditions
Obstacle/enemy behavior
Level progression (if time)

Step 4: Polish (5 min)

Sound effects
Visual feedback
Instructions
Game over screen

Part 3: Playtesting (4 minutes)

Test each other's games
Give constructive feedback:
What's fun?
What's confusing?
What could improve?

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)¶

Game concept sketch
Variables used: ___
Conditionals used: ___
Player feedback: ___
Write: "Good game design includes..."

Closing Circle (3 minutes)¶

Showcase — Brief game demos!
Design Ethics — "How can games be positive?"
Closing Prayer — "God, thank you for the joy of creativity and play. Help us use these skills to bring happiness to others. Amen."

Assessment¶

Observation Checklist:

Created functional game
Used variables and conditionals
Considered player experience
Incorporated feedback

Differentiation¶

For Students Who Need Support¶

Game templates to modify
Simpler mechanics
Partner programming

For Advanced Students¶

Multiple levels
High score system
Complex game mechanics

Wonder at Home 🏠¶

Family Activity: Share your game with family! Discuss game design together. Analyze favorite family games—what makes them fun? Design a board game together using similar principles!

Teacher Notes¶

scratch.mit.edu for platform
Preview student games for appropriateness
Encourage positive themes
Can extend over multiple sessions

Previous: Session 4 — Forensic Science
Next: Session 6 — Gratitude Design