Coding Scratch Full Semester Series - Introduction to Scratch: Animation

This is a 16-Week Semester Series. Classes will meet ONCE every week through the course of the curriculum.

Students will embark on an immersive learning journey into the realm of animation using Scratch. They will delve into the art of storytelling through dynamic animated characters and scenes, all while mastering the fundamental concepts of Scratch programming to breathe life into their creative visions. They will harness the power of Scratch's versatile blocks to control sprite motion, granting them the ability to craft interactive animations driven by user input. They will also explore the foundational principles of character design, learning how to create and personalize characters and sprites in Scratch. By weeks 8 and 9, students will go deeper into the intricacies of character movements and expressions, allowing them to infuse depth and emotion into their animated creations crafting special effects and seamless transitions to enhance the overall impact of their animations. 

Alongside these technical skills, students will be introduced to the captivating world of storytelling and script writing for animation, enabling them to weave compelling narratives into their projects. By the end of this semester, students will emerge as adept animators, ready to share their imaginative stories with the world. 

1:1 Private class option: The curriculum below provides a structured framework. It can be adapted to suit the needs and interests of the students for individualized portfolio development.

SCHEDULE

Week 1: Introduction to Scratch
• Introduction to Scratch platform and interface.
• Basics of creating, saving, and sharing Scratch projects.

Week 2-4: Understanding Animation Principles
• Introduction to animation principles (timing, spacing, squash and stretch, etc.).
• Creating simple frame-by-frame animations.

Week 5-6: Basic Motion and Interaction
• Using Scratch blocks to control sprite motion.
• Creating interactive animations with user input.

Week 7: Creating a Character
• Character design basics.
• Creating and customizing characters and sprites in Scratch.

Week 8-9: Character Animation
• Animating characters using Scratch's built-in tools.
• Techniques for creating character movements and expressions.

Week 10-11: Advanced Animation Techniques
• Exploring advanced animation techniques, including sprite cloning and morphing.
• Creating special effects and transitions.

Week 12-13: Storytelling and Scripting
• Introduction to storytelling and script-writing for animation.
• Writing scripts and dialogues for animated scenes.

Week 14-15: Project-Based Animation
• Students work on individual animation projects.
• Emphasis on applying animation principles and storytelling skills.

Week 16: Project Presentation
• Organizing a presentation of students' work.
• Inviting peers, parents, and the community to view and interact with the projects.
• Discussion of the role of animation in various industries, including film, advertising, and gaming.

Students can use what they learned throughout the course in games and animation, starting with Scratch and then later in complex programs. Students will discover how to apply previous Scratch knowledge and basic understanding of animation to longer and more complex projects.

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Please read below for frequently-asked questions on our policies:

Mandatory Video Check-In
Video check-in is mandatory for safety purposes per Outschool policy. Students are required to have their cameras on to allow the teacher to check in and verify each learner. After check-in, students have the option of either turning off their camera or leaving it on, whatever is their preference.

Refunds & Missed Classes
All of our classes are backed by Outschool’s standard policy. To receive a full refund, parents may withdraw or stop their subscription within 24 hours of payment OR 24 hours before class starts, whichever occurs earlier. No refunds are issued if a learner misses a live meeting. Recordings are made available in each classroom and can be watched at their convenience. Students are always welcome to reach out with any questions and share their work in the classroom.

Class Recording Access
Learners must JOIN A LIVE CLASS ONCE in order to lift Outschool's safety protocol and unlock access to video recordings of class meetings. Learners who have not attended a live class but need access to the recordings must contact verification@outschool.com to apply for a lifetime verification badge. 
Learn more about this by going to: https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/4063624-learner-verification

Late/ Missed Class
All classes will begin on time as long as one learner is in the classroom. In the event that no students are in the classroom at the assigned class time, the teacher will leave a message in the classroom and exit after ten minutes of waiting per Outschool policy.

Minimum Enrollment & Class Cancellation
A minimum of two learners is required for every class to run. In the event that we have to cancel a class, parents will be notified within 24 hours of class. Learners will have the option of either transferring to a more populated section of the same class or receiving a full refund, whichever is preferred.

Technical Difficulties
In the event of class delay/ cancellations due to unforeseeable technical issues, all families will be notified and a make-up section will be posted, or a refund will be issued if a make-up class cannot be scheduled.