Creating Simple Scratch Quizes
| Aim | The goal of the project is to get pupils to create a quick question and answer activity with scratch. This example would ideally suit a mathematical theme for pupils to create a question and answer game and them try each of their games with each other. |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Technology | Internet enabled device, internet access to https://scratch.mit.edu/ |
| Materials | Internet enabled device, Scratch installed on PC or internet access to use the online version of scratch. Projector may be required for teacher demonstration. See also the resources that you will need to print in advance. |
| Student/teacher Ratio | 1 teacher for class of 25 |
| Age of students | 11-16 |
Special information
By getting pupils to create a maths game with their scratch program, they can then apply what they have learnt in their lessons in a practical activity. The lower ability pupils will be able to apply basic techniques to a multiple IF. If the answer is correct the avatar would do one action, but if the answer was incorrect the avatar would rotate 180 degrees etc. The higher ability pupils can move on to create a variable, so the scoreboard also changes based on their result.
Step by step overview
Firstly, open the MIT Scratch software or go online and access the online version. Using the instruction sheets below you will be able to create a quick mathematical game using Scratch. Also below is a quick scratch guide to give you the background to the program.
1) Open the Scratch Program 2) Select the type of background you would like 3) Select an avatar 4) Follow the instructions to create your game. Each time the answer is correct you can add a message saying “correct” and move the avatar closer to the finishing line.
Other Options:
• With your higher ability pupils you could make a scoreboard. • With lower ability pupils and to provide a creative strand to the project they could make a race track and scan this into the program. • This activity is very flexible with a range of themes available for different pupil interest and abilities: o Mathematical questions which range from a basic quiz of 4+4=8 to more complex two stage questions (e.g. 3+3x7). o A quiz based on their learning in class e.g. historical dates quiz for history revision or a science or a spelling test to assess pupils in using specific words or terminology in various subjects. o There are possibilities here of getting pupils to learn coding based on their interests e.g. a football themed quiz with the scratch avatar playing on a football pitch or a subject specific quiz.
Resources available:
• See Getting Started Guide for small activities to start your pupils with using Scratch in order to get them to familiarize themselves as to how Scratch works and use simple commands e.g. “meow” sound or “go forward 10”. • See help sheet with a step by step guide on how to create a quiz and a scoreboard. • See Scratch poster to mount on the wall of the classroom to remind students of how to make “IF” statements.
Tips to make the workshop go smoothly
Deploying the software:
Scratch is available both online and as a downloadable file. In a large ICT environment it may be easier to deploy Scratch as a MSI file. If you use the online version, the children will need to register for free on the Scratch website. You will need a reliable internet connection and to ensure there are no firewall blocks in place for the online version of Scratch to work.
Extensions and challenges
See the extension task where the pupils can create their own scoreboard for their game.
Sources of additional information
See the www.playfulcoding.eu for handounts and resources for this task.