Before I explain, I'm not totally sure what forum category this topic should go in, so if it's the wrong one, let me know, so I can request to have it moved to the right forum category.

Alright, so what I want is some ideas for activities for multiple Scratch Summer Camps I will be teaching over the summer. I know it's a while away until summer begins, but I'm going to be busy this summer as I will be attending the MIT Scratch Day this year and am going on a week long vacation shortly after attending the Scratch Day. Also, I am the type of person who likes planning fun things. If I have to plan a schol day I am usually not very excited, but if it's for vacation or some fun thing I am doing that planning is not weird to do for, and I am controlling part or all of the plans of, I will plan it a bit.
I also want to mention I am teaching two kids who are 7 and 8 right now who I've already started teaching a few times, how to use Scratch who had very little Scratch knowledge when I began teaching them, so I have experience with working with kids.

The Scratch Camps I will be teaching will either be held at my local library or the Middle School near my house, I have yet to confirm a location because it will be a few months before any of the camps start. The length of each day of each camp will probably be 10 AM-3 PM with a lunch break. I will be hosting a beginner Scratch Camp for 5 days, an Intermediate Scratch Camp for 5 days and an Advanced Scratch Day for 3 days.
There is a suggested age for each camp which varies by level, but ages 7-13, which is similar to the target age of Scratch, are currently going to be allowed to take any of the camps regardless of the suggested age.

The camps are something currently mainly myself, and partially my parents are planning out, with no other people helping out at this time, so I'm basically planning the thing right now. That means anything you suggest will be considered by me for the camps and I have the ability to make it part of the camps or not.

I'm looking for suggestions for activites with Scratch that each level of camp could do each day. The ideas I have right now are:
Beginner Camp
-Explore the Scratch Website and Project Editor
-Follow a Scratch Tutorial to make a project
-Introduce a basic Scratch Block few of the kids in the camp know about yet
-Recreate a basic Scratch Project (by viewing the project, and for only 1 minute view it's code)
-Make whatever projects they want and get help if needed
Intermediate Camp
-Recreate a Scratch Project (by only viewing the project and not its code)
-Edit and add on to a Scratch starter project, all of which are listed at https://scratch.mit.edu/starter_projects/
-Make whatever projects they want and get help if needed
Advanced Camp
-Recreate a Scratch Project (by only viewing the project and not its code)
-Edit and add on to a Scratch starter project, all of which are listed at https://scratch.mit.edu/starter_projects/
-Make whatever projects they want and get help if needed

On the first day of each camp we will introduce ourselves and on the last day of each camp, parents and friends can see what the kids they know have made during the Scratch Camp. Towards the end of each day, they will be given time to freely use Scratch to make whatever they want, and can get help from the experienced Scratchers working the camps if needed. At the end of each day, during the camps optionally they can show off there projects they made that day to other people in the camp. At the start of each day from the 2nd day of the camp to the last day, they will be given a bit of time to work on projects they were working on at the end of the previous day.

Anyone got any other activities? I feel like I don't have two many. I have some things for the start and end of each day of the camp, but not many actual activities using Scratch. Just remember to make sure your activity idea is something a kid ages 7-13 could do and that can be completed between the hours of 10 AM to 3 PM at either my local library or the middle school near my house.

Good luck on your camp! I teach Scratch from grades Kindergarten (6 years old) to grade 8 (14 years old). Start by talking about what Programming actually is. Then talk about Scratch and its visually based programming style.

Typically with the younger students they learn how to find sprites and backdrops from the editor. They create a scene and have fun with that. Then what I'll do is show them a few blocks on the board, maybe, when key space press, next backdrop. They can try it and we'll talk about what it does and then, what is the problem with it. The problem will be the backdrops will cycle none stop if holding down the space. Then we'll fix that and introduce debugging. After that I let them explore with blocks and just play. They will learn by play. Every 10 or so minutes I'll regain their attention (if possible, haha) and have another short script they can copy. Maybe make the cat change colors. That is my k-2 approach with 2 having more code. But they won't be able to look at scripts for a minute and then recreate them. You'll see, put up a script on the projector and have them try to build it. That is hard enough for the youngers in my opinion.

Intermediate can explore x/y axis. Positive and negative numbers. One of the great exercises is the animate your name from the tips section. It is also a great ice breaker and introduction tool. Challenge them to put certain sprites in certain locations using the go to x() y() block, or set x() set y() blocks. As the week goes introduce variables in a simple addition program. Work with them on coding a math game that can ask one question and check the answer if correct then or else…. When they get it to ask 1 problem and check. Introduce loops so they can make a 10 question quiz, add a variable to keep score. Possiblities are endless.

Advanced, before you can plan the advanced you'll need to know the kids Scratch history. Just because they are older doesn't mean they can jump right in if they don't know what scripts, variables, lists, loops, conditions, etc, are. They can use the above examples just as easily and they can expand on them. Make a 50 states and capitals challenge by introducing Lists.

I recently have given the kids of all grades creation days in the lab. They can create anything, using Scratch, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Sites, artwork on GIMP, etc. Many have chosen Scratch and all I am doing is guiding when they need help. BUt their creations have been great and they have really learned much through play and exploration. There is a time for boardwork and lecture but they have really flourished over the last few weeks working with their peers.

Best of Luck

mstone326 wrote:

Good luck on your camp! I teach Scratch from grades Kindergarten (6 years old) to grade 8 (14 years old). Start by talking about what Programming actually is. Then talk about Scratch and its visually based programming style.

Typically with the younger students they learn how to find sprites and backdrops from the editor. They create a scene and have fun with that. Then what I'll do is show them a few blocks on the board, maybe, when key space press, next backdrop. They can try it and we'll talk about what it does and then, what is the problem with it. The problem will be the backdrops will cycle none stop if holding down the space. Then we'll fix that and introduce debugging. After that I let them explore with blocks and just play. They will learn by play. Every 10 or so minutes I'll regain their attention (if possible, haha) and have another short script they can copy. Maybe make the cat change colors. That is my k-2 approach with 2 having more code. But they won't be able to look at scripts for a minute and then recreate them. You'll see, put up a script on the projector and have them try to build it. That is hard enough for the youngers in my opinion.

Intermediate can explore x/y axis. Positive and negative numbers. One of the great exercises is the animate your name from the tips section. It is also a great ice breaker and introduction tool. Challenge them to put certain sprites in certain locations using the go to x() y() block, or set x() set y() blocks. As the week goes introduce variables in a simple addition program. Work with them on coding a math game that can ask one question and check the answer if correct then or else…. When they get it to ask 1 problem and check. Introduce loops so they can make a 10 question quiz, add a variable to keep score. Possiblities are endless.

Advanced, before you can plan the advanced you'll need to know the kids Scratch history. Just because they are older doesn't mean they can jump right in if they don't know what scripts, variables, lists, loops, conditions, etc, are. They can use the above examples just as easily and they can expand on them. Make a 50 states and capitals challenge by introducing Lists.

I recently have given the kids of all grades creation days in the lab. They can create anything, using Scratch, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Sites, artwork on GIMP, etc. Many have chosen Scratch and all I am doing is guiding when they need help. BUt their creations have been great and they have really learned much through play and exploration. There is a time for boardwork and lecture but they have really flourished over the last few weeks working with their peers.

Best of Luck

Thanks for the information. I will consider some of the ideas you have shared.
I noticed you mentioned that for the advanced class I can't just assume they are advanced Scratchers, which I have already been thinking about, which is why I am requiring thy either have completed the intermediate Scratch Camp or have proof of at least 2 months of Scratch Experience. To prove they have used for Scratch for at least 2 months, they will have to show there current account is at least 2 months old and that they have been using Scratch a decent amount of time since they started using Scratch.
As for the beginner camp, I know that playing with Scratch is the best way to learn how to use it at a young age, but that they need to learn some things in Scratch before they use it on there own so they are able to actually make some things in Scratch themselves. I'll consider your idea of introducing some of the basic Scratch blocks to the begginer camp kids throughout the day but not all at once, so they aren't bored of just being told stuff about Scratch and not actually using the new block knowledge in Scratch.

I think you should have a break-out activity where you give your students pre-written code that has hints regarding whats wrong or missing from the code to get into the box. Split your students into probably four teams and have the group that gets it all right first to get the contents of the box. Something like that, it should be fun for your students and will help them further develop problem solving and pattern finding skills. This would work for any of the levels you have.

Firebird_backup wrote:

I think you should have a break-out activity where you give your students pre-written code that has hints regarding whats wrong or missing from the code to get into the box. Split your students into probably four teams and have the group that gets it all right first to get the contents of the box. Something like that, it should be fun for your students and will help them further develop problem solving and pattern finding skills. This would work for any of the levels you have.

Nice idea, although I've actually seen a similar idea that was in a featured project on Scratch. I forget the name of the project, but it was a pong game, with the code being incomplete, where in the editor, pieces of code had comments next to them that gave you some help in finishing it.
Your way of doing it would require a lot of kids and I haven't even opened up sign ups yet so I have no idea how many kids will be in each camp.
If I don't get enough kids signed up, maybe I could have smaller groups or let each kid do it individually and get help only if they absolutely need it since the activity is for the kids to figure out the problems with the code themselves.

can scratch make a summer came specifically in Utah?

or if not online?

or if they do maybe codes like this?

switch costume to [ v]
next costume
next costume
if <> then
<[] = []>
change [ v] by (0)
end

i ment

if <<(answer) = []>
end

then>

well i mean like the codes i do on my account if you go check that out meaning like medium level codes