Jack-o'-Lantern Carving in Scratch (Halloween Block-Based Coding Class)

We will start with class introductions and share any fun experiences we have had with computer science, coding, and Scratch.

I will play a short animated video about the history of jack-o'-lanterns to make sure all students are familiar with pumpkin carving, and then I will introduce the project for the class: coding a jack-o'-lantern.

I will show students my example solution to the problem and how I interact with the animation.

As a class, students will discuss how they might create something like the example, both from a creative standpoint and thinking about which blocks might be used for certain effects.

Then students will be directed to go to the project template, and we will start by coding the main concepts together.  

Once students have the basic program coded, they will be given some differentiated options of things to modify in the project to make it their own. 

Students may not finish their pumpkin carving project during our class time, and that's okay! They can save their work as they go and spend as long as they want being creative with this project. Whenever students finish their jack-o'-lantern program, I hope they will share it with me as well as family and friends. 

Required Knowledge: For the best class experience, students should have some familiarity with the Scratch environment and block-based coding. If your child is brand new to Scratch, I recommend that your new coder joins me for a beginner Scratch course so that he or she can enjoy more of these one-time Scratch classes in the future.