Scratch Beginner’s Guide – What Every New Scratcher Needs to Know
Scratch is a free, visual programming platform where you can create interactive stories, games, and animations — all without needing to type complex code. Everything works by snapping colorful blocks together, making it fun and beginner-friendly.

1. Setting Up Your Account
Go to scratch.mit.edu

Click Join Scratch to create an account.

Choose a username (be creative, but don’t use your real name for privacy).

Pick a secure password and remember it.

Verify your email — this unlocks features like commenting and sharing.

2. Exploring the Scratch Interface
When you open Scratch, you’ll see three main areas:

Stage (Top Right) – where your project runs.

Sprites & Backdrops (Bottom Right) – characters, objects, and backgrounds.

Code Editor (Left) – colorful coding blocks organized into categories like:

Motion

Looks

Sound

Events

Control

Sensing

Operators

Variables

My Blocks (custom code you create)

3. Understanding Sprites
Sprites are characters or objects in your project (e.g., a cat, ball, spaceship).

You can:

Draw your own sprite

Upload images

Choose from the Scratch library

Each sprite can have its own scripts, costumes, and sounds.

4. Coding Basics
Scratch uses drag-and-drop coding blocks that fit together like puzzle pieces.

Event blocks start your program (e.g., “When green flag clicked”).

Motion blocks move your sprite.

Looks blocks change appearances or say text.

Control blocks handle loops and timing.

Variables store information (like score or health).

Broadcast messages help sprites communicate.

5. Adding Sounds and Music
Use the Sound tab to add sound effects or music.

You can record your own voice or upload audio.

Blocks like play sound until done or start sound control playback.

6. Backdrops
Backdrops set the stage for your game or animation.

You can:

Use Scratch’s built-in library

Upload an image

Draw your own

7. Testing and Debugging
Always click the green flag to test your project.

Watch carefully for things not working as expected.

Use “say” blocks or variable displays to check values while running.

Debug step-by-step — sometimes one small block is the problem.

8. Saving and Sharing
Scratch automatically saves projects in your account.

To share:

Finish your project

Click Share so others can view, remix, and comment

To keep it private, don’t click Share.

9. Remixing
Scratch encourages remixing — improving or changing others’ projects.

Always give credit when you remix.

You can learn a lot by looking “inside” other projects.

10. Scratch Community Rules
Scratch has a friendly community, but you must follow the Community Guidelines:

Be respectful and supportive.

Keep personal information private.

No bullying, spamming, or inappropriate content.

Give constructive feedback.

11. Tips for New Scratchers
Start small — make a simple animation or clicker game first.

Explore the Tutorials section on the Scratch site.

Look inside popular projects to learn new tricks.

Join studio groups for themed projects.

Experiment — you can’t “break” Scratch.

12. Extra Things to Learn Later
Once you’re comfortable, explore:

Cloning sprites for multiple copies (great for enemies or particles)

Custom blocks for reusable code

Pen extension for drawing on the screen

Music extension for making tunes

Connecting physical devices like micro:bit or LEGO robotics

Final Thought:
Every great Scratcher started with their first small project. Don’t be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and most importantly — have fun!

Welcome to the Forums! This is a really nice guide, but it's just not needed for now

what do you mean?

sweet_boba_mochi wrote:

what do you mean?

There are a lot of people making guides like this in the forums but ST members such as paddle2see discourage them

Hello! It's great that you want to help out other Scratchers. However, I think we have enough guides in the forums at the moment. Please feel free to welcome new Scratchers on the group welcoming topic or on individual topics created by New Scratchers.

Other places that can always use more helpful Scratchers like you, are the "Help With Scripts“ and ”Questions About Scratch" areas - please use them as designed, by responding to topics created by folks with problems to solve

Finally, a really good place for Scratch guides is the Scratch Wiki - check it out and see if it's something you might like to work on. They have a number of guides - and great organization.