STEM Coding Class: Code Your Own Shark Chase Game in Scratch

In this lesson, students will begin by learning about the amazing sensory adaptations sharks have developed to become efficient hunters, as well as some of the environmental threats that sharks face.

Students will code an exciting shark chase game in Scratch that applies what they've learned about shark behavior. This class has been designed for students ages 6-10 with any level of coding experience - all are welcome!

Students will learn:
- How to think like a game designer!
- How to code a character to move using the mouse pointer
- How to code sensing blocks to help their shark hunt
- How to use loops and cloning to create randomly generated collectibles
- More advanced students will use variables to track their character’s lives or create a timer

The class will be highly interactive since we cap our classes at 6 students. The teacher will work with students to create a project they can be proud of while answering questions and providing support along the way.

Here’s what your student can expect to do during class:
- Welcome + Introductions (5 minutes)
- Scratch Setup + Login (5 minutes)
- Learn about how sharks use their senses to hunt (10 minutes)
- Code a shark chase game in Scratch! (about 60 minutes)
- Student Project Showcase + Say Goodbye (10 minutes)

> Note for Parents:
Your student will need:
- A Scratch account. Visit https://scratch.mit.edu/ to create a free account.
- Access to a laptop or desktop computer with Zoom installed and screen-sharing enabled
- An internet connection of 3mbs+
- A working speaker, microphone and webcam - all Windows and Mac operating systems of the past five years are supported

Note: iPads are not recommended, but reach out to our team if you have any questions.  Please make sure an adult is on hand for the first five minutes of class to help set-up and tackle troubleshooting.