MIT’s Scratch Part 3: I Found A Great Site For Using Scratch With Kids

Welcome to Part Three in this four part Series exploring Scratch, a  free program from MIT that is engaging students across the nation. This time I uncover an educational website devoted to teaching kids Scratch. This is a must see site… it is awesome! Scratch crosses all curriculum,  facilitates 21st Century skills, encompasses NET standards, promotes STEM thinking, and can be incorporated into PBL. It also promotes creativity, tinkering, logical thinking, innovation, reinvention, and collaboration! And did I mention it is free! By the way sustain your learning by subscribing to this Blog by RSS or Email. There will be one more Scratch Post, followed by post about Flip Cameras in the classroom, researching on the internet, and iPads in education. I also welcome you to follow me on Twitter at mjgormans and check out my 21century Edtech Wiki filled with resources including my entire Scratch Archive.  Now lets take a look at the Scratch Site! – Have a great week! – Mike

Quick Note – Check out my Scratch Webinar which included myself, Hall Davidson and Steve Dembo from Discovery Education. It is free with posted link at the Siemens Discovery STEM Academy Website. This should be available sometime on December 6, 2010. If it is not posted yet, please return to this link because I know you will find this webinar to be a valuable, engaging, and entertaining resource! Also please sign up by email or RSS for future posts including Scratch Part 4 : Twenty More Resources, and my two part STEM to STEAM to STEAMIE series! Have it delivered to you by email or RSS!

Want to start your students with some Scratch opportunities. This site at LearnScratch.Org. is one of the best you will find. I find it hard to believe that it is really free, but then so is Scratch! Every time I visit the site I am impressed with the work by the people at LaSalle Schools and Universities. Spend some time with this site and you and your students will walk away as Scratch experts. It is easy for students to learn about Scratch with the material provided. There are close to 70 short yet powerful videos developed by the people at LearnScratch.Org. LaSalle has even included three colorful accompanying lesson booklets covering over 140 pages of great information. I have even created some accompanying worksheets for student documentation of learning progress that you will find in this review. If bandwidth is a problem use the Contact Link and the people at LaSalle will send you a username and password to download the tutorial videos. Lets take a moment and discover LearnScratch.Org.!

Why Learn Scratch – Read this article that was obtained from the Partnership for 21st Century. Natalie Rusk, Mitchel Resnick, and John Maloney at Life Long Kindergarten Group (MIT Media Lab) provide compelling reasons to use Scratch In The Classroom. LearnScratch.org has gleaned this information from the groups “Learning with Scratch, 21 Century Learning Skills” report.

Lesson One This incorporates 12 quality training videos on an overview of Scratch. A great way to learn introductory features found in Scratch. Learn how to make and move Sprites, add sounds, change colors, and control actions. Don’t miss this colorful 22 Page Booklet created by LaSalle to provide teachers and students with lessons that accompany the videos. I have included below a guide for students to follow along as individuals or groups. This is useful for teachers who wish to document student learning and hold students accountable for their learning in an organized way. scratch_lesson_1.doc

Lesson Two – Take the time to incorporates 24 more videos encompassing five outstanding units at a more advanced level for use after finishing skills in Lesson One. These lessons will provide students and teachers with the knowledge necessary to understand and use the close to 100 building blocks found in Scratch. There is an even larger 54 Page Booklet in full color created by LaSalle to provide teachers and students with lessons that accompany the videos. I have included below a guide for students to follow along as individuals or groups. This is useful for teachers who wish to document student learning and hold students accountable for their learning in an organized way.
scratch_lesson_2.doc

Lesson Three – With the understanding of Scratch behind you and your students, it is time to take your students on a journey of creation, remixing, and innovation. These 32 amazing videos will uncover the secrets of programing Scratch to perform various projects. These projects are organized into the thematic units of; animation, drawing, games, interactive, art, music, and simulation. This really an area where you can set kids loose, explore, and take charge of their learning. Like the other two lesson areas, there is a comprehensive 70 Page Booklet in full color created by LaSalle to provide teachers and students with lessons that accompany the videos.

Join A Study Group – Don’t learn by yourself! Join a community of learners! Get help when you need it, work on assignments together, and connect with others around the world. LearnScratch.org has teamed with OpenStudy, a group founded by students and professors at Georgia Tech, Emory University, and funded by the National Science Foundation. OpenStudy believes that students can teach other through collaboration.

Scratch Day Ideas – Visit this page to request a free DVD filled with all the tutorials and materials on the website. There are also tutorial videos to get your students ready to participate in Scratch Day Events, or just begin their own stories.

Scratch Lesson Plan Booklets – While mentioned earlier, don’t miss these free booklets filled with over 140 color pages of lessons and activities that compliment the tutorials. These are a must download for any Scratch Classroom!

Aprendiendo Scratch – Want to view materials in Spanish. Check this out. remember that the program Scratch translates close to fifty different languages. You will see it in the Set Language Menu.

Hope I am helping you with an itch to come back for more resources on educational transformation. Remember there is more Scratch to come, so subscribe to this Blog by RSS or email. In fact the next post includes twenty more resources to facilitate integrating Scratch in your curriculum.  Don’t miss future posts that will give you ideas to engage your students. You can also visit my 21centuryedtech Wiki filled with resources. Last, feel free to visit my archived Scratch Webinar at Siemens Discover Education STEM Academy. Keep on Scratching for 21st Century Educational Opportunities…once you start there is no relief. Why should there be? Learn, Create, Transform and Innovate! – Mike