Scratch Glossary
Scratch Components
Sprite is an object in Scratch, for example a picture or text, which performs functions controlled by scripts.
Stage: The stage is the backdrop for your cartoon scene. In a new program it starts as a blank white canvass with the Scratch cat sprite on it. In the box in the lower half of the left of the screen you will see a smaller version of the backdrop labelled Stage. Below this is the heading “New backdrop.” Below this are icons which allow you to create a backdrop or scene for your stage.
The third icon allows you to upload an image from a file stored on your computer. The final icon allows you to select a photograph from a camera connected to the computer. This is great for personalising learning.
Once you have selected the backdrops to be used within your program, you can click on the scripts tab to write a program without any characters (you may want to create your own photo album by showing a series of pictures and adding sound effects or music). If you would like characters in your program, select the backdrop and then click on the sprite icon before selecting scripts. This is probably the most frequent type of program you will create in the classroom as it provides the greatest level of flexibility.
Costumes: Once you have selected the sprite, click on the costumes tab. Here you will see the sprite in slightly different positions. These are the costumes which are referred to. It is easiest to consider a change of costume as a change of appearance. The second costume for the cat sprite enables you to make him appear to walk or dance when used in conjunction with motion blocks. The same is true in the ballerina program example. In the nativity scene program the angels’ wings move with a change of costume in the script. You can play with all these programs and challenge your pupils to make specific changes as a way of focusing on one type of block at a time. You will be amazed how quickly their confidence grows and they start to think of their own projects to create.
Types of blocks
Motion – making your sprite move around the screen.
Looks - Making the sprite talk/think, changing the backdrop, changing the costume of your sprite
(what they look like) and generally what the program looks like at any given moment.
Sound – Music to play, instruments and melodies, speed of music, volume, audio input.
Pen – making the sprite draw with a pen or make a mark on the screen, pen colour and size.
Data – making a variable or inputting important data/lists.
Events – when something does an action, messages appearing on screen.
Control – Loops (repeating), inputting variables, waiting or pauses, stopping and cloning of sprites.
Sensing – Blocks to put into operator blocks in relation to. These are actions will occur I reaction to another action starting.
Operators – blocks for inputting senses – making things equivalent, less than, higher than or to make actions occur at the same time.
More blocks – creating your own blocks.
Sprite is an object in Scratch, for example a picture or text, which performs functions controlled by scripts.
Stage: The stage is the backdrop for your cartoon scene. In a new program it starts as a blank white canvass with the Scratch cat sprite on it. In the box in the lower half of the left of the screen you will see a smaller version of the backdrop labelled Stage. Below this is the heading “New backdrop.” Below this are icons which allow you to create a backdrop or scene for your stage.
The third icon allows you to upload an image from a file stored on your computer. The final icon allows you to select a photograph from a camera connected to the computer. This is great for personalising learning.
Once you have selected the backdrops to be used within your program, you can click on the scripts tab to write a program without any characters (you may want to create your own photo album by showing a series of pictures and adding sound effects or music). If you would like characters in your program, select the backdrop and then click on the sprite icon before selecting scripts. This is probably the most frequent type of program you will create in the classroom as it provides the greatest level of flexibility.
Costumes: Once you have selected the sprite, click on the costumes tab. Here you will see the sprite in slightly different positions. These are the costumes which are referred to. It is easiest to consider a change of costume as a change of appearance. The second costume for the cat sprite enables you to make him appear to walk or dance when used in conjunction with motion blocks. The same is true in the ballerina program example. In the nativity scene program the angels’ wings move with a change of costume in the script. You can play with all these programs and challenge your pupils to make specific changes as a way of focusing on one type of block at a time. You will be amazed how quickly their confidence grows and they start to think of their own projects to create.
Types of blocks
Motion – making your sprite move around the screen.
Looks - Making the sprite talk/think, changing the backdrop, changing the costume of your sprite
(what they look like) and generally what the program looks like at any given moment.
Sound – Music to play, instruments and melodies, speed of music, volume, audio input.
Pen – making the sprite draw with a pen or make a mark on the screen, pen colour and size.
Data – making a variable or inputting important data/lists.
Events – when something does an action, messages appearing on screen.
Control – Loops (repeating), inputting variables, waiting or pauses, stopping and cloning of sprites.
Sensing – Blocks to put into operator blocks in relation to. These are actions will occur I reaction to another action starting.
Operators – blocks for inputting senses – making things equivalent, less than, higher than or to make actions occur at the same time.
More blocks – creating your own blocks.
References
Images taken from: Dickins, R., Melmoth, J. and Stowell, L. (2015) Coding for Beginners using Scratch. London: Usborne Publishing Ltd.
The authors are not taking ownership of any images or videos on this website, unless stated otherwise on the respective pages, and therefore have attempted to make contact with all owners of images and videos used on this website.
The authors are not taking ownership of any images or videos on this website, unless stated otherwise on the respective pages, and therefore have attempted to make contact with all owners of images and videos used on this website.