Video Game Creation 101
3rd - 5th Grade
Why just play video games when you can learn to code your own?! Using Scratch 3.0, your students will learn how to create their very own games from beginning to end. Teach essential programming terminology and skills as they build multiple games with varying play styles. Students can receive a link to all the class creations at the end of the course so they can share their fun, one-of-a-kind games. Students should have minimal experience using a computer to take this class. No programming experience required.
Course Package
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Brainy Bytes curriculum follows the newest generation of ISTE, (International Society for Technology and Education), standards for students. Each of our curricula will expose students to technology and at least one other curriculum topic area (i.e., Science, Language Arts).
The following ISTE standards can be found throughout Brainy Bytes curriculum:
EMPOWERED LEARNER
1C – Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
1D – Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
DIGITAL CITIZEN
2B – Students engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.
KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTOR
3D –Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.
INNOVATIVE DESIGNER
4A – Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
4B – Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
4D – Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.
COMPUTATIONAL THINKER
5D – Students understand how automation works and use algorithmic thinking to develop a sequence of steps to create and test automated solutions.
CREATIVE COMMUNICATOR
6A – Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.
6B – Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
6D – Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
GLOBAL COLLABORATOR
7B – Students use collaborative technologies to work with others, including peers, experts or community members, to examine issues and problems from multiple viewpoints.
7C – Students contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.
Technology Requirements
Game Creation is taught on Scratch 3.0 which is a PC/Mac based program. It can be downloaded and installed or you can also use it in most web browsers.
Running Scratch 3.0 online requires a relatively new web browser: Chrome 63 or higher, Edge 15 or higher, Firefox 57 or higher, Safari 11 or higher, Mobile Chrome 63 or higher, Mobile Safari 11 or higher. Internet Explorer is NOT supported
Scratch Desktop, otherwise known as the Scratch 3.0 offline editor, is a version of Scratch 3.0 that can be downloaded and installed on a computer, as opposed to being used in a web browser like the online editor. This is useful for those who wish to use Scratch without an internet connection.
System Requirements
For Scratch to run properly, the following minimum system requirements are needed:
- Windows 10 or later or macOS 10.13 or later, though users have reported successfully running the editor on Windows 7
- Approximately 400 MB of free hard drive space
Downloading and Installation
Scratch Desktop can be downloaded from the Scratch website. An installer is provided which requires no interaction.
Information
Scratch Desktop is slightly different from the online editor. Projects are named by saving the project to one’s computer (unlike the online editor, where a text input above the stage is used). The tutorials also appear in Scratch Desktop. The top-right of the project editor, instead of displaying the login link or one’s username, is empty.
Equipment
- Curriculum – Must be with you in every class
- Projector
- 12 Student Laptops (1 per student – unless using a computer lab)
- 1 Teacher Laptop
- Headphones (optional for sound day)
- Game Samples (included)
- Class files and images (included)
- Prezi walkthrough “Recipe of a Good Game” (included)
- Teacher’s USB drive to collect the games at the end of class
- “Out of the Box” coding worksheet (included)
- 2 small boxes with lids
- 1 ball that fits inside the 2 small boxes with lids.