Created by: Amanda Domenico and Kortney Kaper

What is Scratch?

            According to their website, "Scratch is a visual programming tool that allows you to create your own games, interactive stories, animations, and share your creations on the web (scratch.mit.edu)."  Scratch is a great tool to get students to think creatively and learn how to work with other students.  Scratch also gives students the technology skills they need for the 21^st century.  This program is great for ages eight to sixteen and is very user friendly.  Scratch is from the MIT Media Lab and can be used free of charge.  Scratch was named from the way DJ’s scratch music.  This site allows students to mix up media in the same manner.

Why you should use Scratch?

            Scratch is a great resource for students to use in any content area.  Most students, especially ESL, benefit from visual reinforcement which can be done using Scratch as they can create their own videos, comics, songs, etc. when using this computer program.  With Scratch they can create, remix, download, and share with other Scratch users.  It allows students to use their creativity skills interactively when working on a group project, and Scratch is an empowering tool for writing, as it gets students excited to write.

How to use Scratch:

• Start by downloading Scratch software from http://scratch.mit.edu/scratch_1.4/ the site.  Make sure you select the right one for your computer.
• Next, follow the directions on the download.
• Open Scratch, the desk icon will be an orange cat .
• Under the first column at the top there is a list of tabs labeled Motion, Looks, Sound, Pen, Control, Sensing, Operators, and Variables which are codes that you will select to allow your Sprite (character) to move.
• Under the middle Stage column there is a Scripts tab which you will use to create your script, and you will see the codes you are using to create your video.
• Next to the Scripts tab is the Backgrounds tab.  This tab allows you to edit your background and change the costumes of your character.
• Lastly, you will find the Sounds tab where you can create or import your own music.
• The white screen on the right is where the visual video is shown.  There is an orange cat that is automatically imported, but you can change this Sprite by right clicking on him and clicking on the Export Sprite button.  Here you can choose a different Sprite and even import your own.
• There is also the option of clicking on the three stars to change your Sprite.  The first star allows you to paint your own Sprite, the second lets you choose a Sprite from the file, and the third star is where you will receive a surprise Sprite.
• Now you can begin creating your own Scratch video.  The below videos will be helpful:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkhjX792yVI

This is a tutorial video on how to use Scratch.  It is helpful in guiding you on how to use the tools and codes to create your video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQrpjWbBKR4

This is another guide on how to use Scratch.

Ideas on using Scratch in the classroom:

Lesson 1: “Where I Come From Slideshow”

For this lesson the students will take pictures or gather pictures from the internet about their cultures, traditions, popular places to visit, and special events from their culture.  They will then write a creative vacation story using the pictures to help explain what the tourists should visit and why the tourists would want to visit the place where they are from.  The students will use Scratch as a way to emphasize their story, as they will have the video that they created about where they came from playing in the background, while they present their story to the class.  They will use small Scripts to summarize their story on Scratch.  The students will also be given the choice to present their stories orally using Scratch by recording their story in their home language enabling them to share their stories with their families. This lesson would be great to use in an upper Elementary ESL classroom as a way for these individuals to express where they came from, and a way for the students to become familiar with using Scratch to make a video.

Lesson 2: Comic Strip

During this lesson students will work in pairs to make their own comic strip using Scratch.  They will have to make their Sprite (characters) talk and are allowed to import different Sprites to create their comics.  The plot must lead from point a to point b and have a hero and a villain that have to overcome a conflict in their comic.  This would be a great lesson to use when the students become more familiar with Scratch.  This lesson is a useful way for ESL students to become creative in their writing and thinking, while also learning the skills of working with others.

Lesson 3: Vocabulary Game

In this lesson the students will work individually or in a group to create a vocabulary game using Scratch.  The teacher will provide each group a list of different vocabulary words and their definitions, that the students will have to use to create their game. They will be creating a memory game where they will click on two Sprites that flip over the cards to try and find the correct word with the correct definition to create a match.  The cards disappear once a match is made.  When they have finished creating their game and have played it, they will move on to the next station where they will play their peers game.  This lesson is a great way to help all students increase their vocabulary for writing, especially ESL students.

This is an example of the Vocabulary Game: http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/10666434/ 

Lesson 4: Sing Along

For this lesson to happen, the teacher will make his or her own audio lesson on Scratch. The teacher will make up a song using editing techniques in writing and record themselves singing it. Once the teacher has it recorded, they will add animations to the song. The song will include sentence fluency, how to use commas, periods, and what a run on sentence sounds like. Then the teacher will play the song for the students, and soon they will be singing along. Students will remember the song, catch on by singing it, and visually see the animations; which is a great tool for ESL students to help improve their writing skills.

This is an example video of a basic writing song and how writing helps students. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsTpyFSS3G4

This is how to write, create and record a song using Scratch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtqzcTW0v7k 

Web Links: 

http://scratched.media.mit.edu

This site is a great tool for educators to be able to learn, share, and connect about Scratch.  It also gives teachers new resources to use, and a place to ask questions about Scratch.

http://info.scratch.mit.edu/Support/Reference_Guide_1.4

This is a helpful resource to refer to when you are becoming familiar with Scratch.  It gives a list of tools and creative items that Scratch offers, and how to use them such as; changing your Sprite, different sounds you can use, and how you can make your Sprite talk.

http://scratch.mit.edu/explore/?date=ever

This site has numerous projects that students have created using Scratch that you can view by clicking on.  This site has appropriate activities for writers and ESL students.

http://wiki.classroom20.com/Scratch+Lesson+Plans

This is a list of lesson plan ideas that you can use with Scratch for many content areas.

http://scratch.mit.edu/about/

This site is about Scratch and has tabs that you can click on to create, explore, discuss, and get help using Scratch.

http://digitalis.nwp.org/resource/715

This is an article about Scratch and how it allows students to think creatively and how it supports students in writing.

http://www.ihmc.us/sandbox/groups/techconnect/wiki/dd255/attachments/76789/Lesson%20Plan%201.pdf?sessionID=79be1bbcde412ab32263443400cef0dbb8ff63be

This is a site for beginning Scratch learners that provides a lesson plan teachers can use to get their students familiar with Scratch and creating their own project.

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