Adjust graphic effects in Scratch to change the appearance of a sprite. Scratch is a coding app that can be used to introduce programming to children. It is free to use. Scratch has seven effects you can alter including color, fisheye, whirl, pixelate, mosaic, brightness, or ghost. Use the change effect coding block to enhance your projects.
Adjust graphic effects in Scratch.
TECHNOCODE TECHNOLOGY PROJECT
Tips are taken from the technology project TechnoCode. It includes a storytelling coding unit. Students explore the Looks palette to discover how to adjust the appearance of sprites. They apply their knowledge to animate an adventure in a strange or magical place. Instructional materials include a planning sheet, worksheets, example videos, sample scripts, story checklist, coding journal log, story rubric, Scratch quiz, diorama skill review, and extension activity.
Tips to Adjust Graphic Effects in Scratch
Ideas for Including Graphic Effects
Game Design
Attract Attention: Make a target easy to spot. For example, it could bulge using the fisheye effect when it appears on the stage.
Score Points: To show that a player has touched a target it could change its appearance. For example, it could distort using the whirl effect.
Storytelling
Create a Character: Perhaps your character is a ghost. Use the ghost effect to make them transparent.
Illustrate Action: Show an event. For example, if a character drinks potion maybe they change color.
When you use the change effect the sprite alters its appearance permanently. To reset the appearance, add the clear graphic effects coding block to the script. For example:
Clear graphic effects to return the sprite to its original state.
Repeat the Graphic Effect
You can place the change effect inside a repeat coding block. This will cause a sprite to adjust its appearance many times.
Repeat the graphic effect to have the appearance change many times.
Study the sample script above. You will notice it includes a wait coding block. This slows down the action, to make the changes easier to see. You will also see that it includes a clear graphic effects block at the end of the script to reset the sprite’s appearance (this coding block can also be placed at the beginning of the script).
How Much Should the Graphic Effect Change?
The change effect coding block has a value that can be set. What number should you use? Use the information in the table as a guide.
TIPS FOR SELECTING GRAPHIC EFFECT VALUES
color
Change the hue of the sprite.
positive values change the color in the following order
green → blue → purple → pink → red → orange
negative values reverse the order from orange to green
explore the effect by changing the value by 20 or -20 each time
color changes depend on the original color- if the value is 25, a blue sprite will change to purple; whereas a pink sprite will change to red
fisheye
Bulge or shrink part of the sprite.
positive values expand the sprite to make it bulge
negative values contract the sprite to make it shrink
whirl
Twist the shape of the sprite.
positive values twist the sprite to the left
negative values twist the sprite to the right
pixelate
Divide the sprite into colored squares.
greater values display the sprite as a few big squares
lesser values display the sprite as many tiny squares
mosaic
Display multiple copies of the sprite in an array pattern, such as 4 x4.
greater values have bigger arrays with many duplicates of the sprite
lesser values have smaller arrays with a few duplicates of the sprite
brightness
Lighten or darken the sprite.
positive values increase the brightness
100 turns a sprite into a white silhouette
negative values decrease the brightness
-100 turns a sprite into a black silhouette
ghost
Make a sprite transparent or see-through.
values can be between 1-100
100 is fully transparent and removes the sprite from view
When completing Scratch activities your students will benefit from understanding ordered pairs. This is a mathematical concept that is often not taught until the higher grades. However, it is knowledge that will help young programmers. It can be used to place sprites on the stage by setting the x and y values. It also helps when debugging scripts to determine why the positioning or movement is incorrect.
When you place a character on the stage, the Sprite pane shows x and y coordinates. They tell where the sprite is on the stage. If you drag the sprite, the numbers change because the position is now different.
The X and Y coordinates tell where a sprite is on the stage.
Many Scratch coding blocks list x and y values. These coding blocks can be used to tell a character where to go on the stage.
How do you know the value of x and y? Where do you get the numbers?
About the Scratch Stage
You cannot see it – but the Scratch stage is divided into four parts. This is done using two number lines.
The x number line goes from left to right. It tells where a sprite is on the stage horizontally.
The y number line goes from top to bottom. It tells where a sprite is on the stage vertically.
The center of the stage is where the two number lines meet.
The Scratch stage is divided into four parts.
What Is the X and Y Value?
Each part of the stage is made up of dots. Each dot has an x value and a y value that tell its location on the stage.
The x value tells you how many steps to move right or left from the center point. If the number is positive, move right. If it is negative, move left
The y value tells you how many steps to move up or down from the center point. If the number is positive, move up. If it is negative, move down.
Look at the picture below. Where is the dot on the stage? First, count across to get the x value. Then count up or down to get the y value. It is at x: 150, y: 100.
Where is the dot on the stage?
Where Is the Sprite on the Stage?
The x number line starts at -240 and ends at 240.
The y number lines starts at -180 and ends at 180.
By setting the x and y value for a coding block, you can place a sprite at a specific spot on the stage. For example:
center of stagex: 0 and y: 0
right edge of stagex: 240 and y: 0
left edge of stagex: -240 and y: 0
top edge of stagex: 0 and y: 180
bottom edge of stagex: 0 and y: -180
Scratch Activities for Kids – Use the Pen to Learn About X and Y
This activity is an excerpt from TechnoCode. The Scratch lesson includes four drawing activities designed to help students comprehend X and Y coordinates.
Drawing in Scratch is like doing a dot-to-dot puzzle. To draw a picture, build a script that puts the pen down at the first dot. Then move the pen from one dot to next. Try it!
Look at the picture of the Scratch stage. What are the x and y coordinates for each dot?
What are the X and Y values for each dot?
How to Draw a Square in Scratch
Start a new Scratch project. Name it square.
Select a sprite to use as a drawing tool.
Resize the sprite to make it small.
Delete Sprite 1.
Click Add Extension. Select Pen.
Build the script: About the script: Start when Go is clicked. Move to the first dot. Put the pen down to draw. Draw from one dot to another. See the square for 3 seconds. Erase the square.
Draw a square.
Scratch Activities – Sketch a Drawing
Drawing a picture in Scratch is like doing a dot-to-dot puzzle. In a dot-to-dot, each dot is numbered. A line joins one dot to the next. The lines form a picture.
Use your skills to make your own picture. Pick a suggestion or come up with your own idea.
triangle
rectangle
house
letter (T or E)
zig zag line
Download the Scratch Stage Worksheet
Download the Scratch Stage Worksheet. Sketch your idea for a drawing. Circle the “dot” at the beginning and at the end of each line. List the x and y values for each “dot” in the order they should be drawn.
TIP: Write pen up after a “dot” or x y value that should not have a line drawn to the next “dot” or x y value in the list.
Download the Scratch Stage Worksheet to plan your drawing.
Do You Need Help? Build the Script in Scratch
Are you stuck for ideas? If you are not sure what to draw, try building this script. What does it make? Use your coding skills to plan your own drawing.
Want More Scratch Activities?
TechnoCode has over 30 assignments that explain step-by-step how to create animated scenes, games, and puzzles. Discover the fun you can have with Scratch!
TechnoCode is jam-packed full of Scratch activities.
Do you want coding lessons for Scratch 3? Great news! TechnoKids just published TechnoCode for Scratch 3. It is jam-packed full of programming activities for students in elementary and middle school.
Scratch 3 is an app that allows kids, especially those aged 8-16, to program their own creations by sequencing coding blocks together. It is a fun way to have students build scripts that control the movement and appearance of characters. It can be used to make interactive stories, games, puzzles, artwork, music, and more!
If you want your students to design their own unique programs, TechnoCode might be right for you. The coding lessons for Scratch 3 support independent learning. You can use the instructional materials to teach a coding unit, computer science class, or workshop series.
Whether you purchase TechnCode or design your own coding lessons for Scratch 3, make the instructional goal to develop a deep understanding of programming. To achieve this aim, divide each project into four parts: Exploration, Practice, Freestyle, and Reflection. This approach will gradually transform your students into programmers. Instead of mindlessly copying scripts, they will independently create their own unique programs.
Have students think like programmers.
Tips for Designing Coding Lessons for Scratch 3
Follow these tips to support the learning process:
Understand It, Before Building It
It is tempting to supply a bunch of scripts that students copy to make a project in Scratch. Instantly it appears as if you have a class full of programmers! Stories, games, and puzzles are quickly made. The downside to this approach is that students may not comprehend what they have built or why it works. When teaching programming to kids it is recommended that you begin with the basics and gradually build in complexity.
Exploration
To start, use guided discovery to develop an understanding of the function of coding blocks. When students are learning how to code, it is essential that they recognize the purpose of commonly used Scratch blocks. This knowledge will allow them to select the appropriate block and sequence instructions correctly to complete a task. This awareness also highlights creative possibilities when designing a project.
There are over 70 coding blocks in Scratch. They are organized in categories based on their purpose. If your students are beginners, they do not need to know them all. However, many are essential for building simple scripts. Use questioning techniques to help your students learn how to complete common tasks.
Not sure where to start? Consider the questions you can pose for the move 10 steps block:
From the Motion palette, can you find the block that will move a sprite 10 steps?
What happens if you change the number of steps to 200? Or -50?
How many steps does it take your sprite to walk across the stage?
Want help? TechnoCode includes introductory activities that have students discover the purpose of coding blocks. They explore the program to answer questions. This investigation helps students to construct their understanding of which blocks they can use to solve a problem or do an action.
Practice
Learning how to code, is like learning any other subject – it takes time and practice! Once students know the function of coding blocks, they can start to build scripts that have a specific purpose. TechnoCode has coding lessons for Scratch 3 with step-by-step instructions. The assignments explain how to sequence coding blocks to construct fun projects such as an animated scene or story.
When teaching how to code using Scratch 3, begin by demonstrating how to build a script. It is a good idea to use natural language during this task to explain what is happening at each step. For example, “When the green flag is clicked, the character will move ten steps to the right, say Hi, and then play a meow sound.”
Describe what will happen in the script.
Provide sample scripts that students can re-create. Afterwards, have them customize the settings, rearrange the order, or add additional blocks to personalize the action. This will help your students gain confidence as they thoughtfully build scripts. Repetition is important. Students cannot learn how to code by building a script only once.
Freestyle
Once students know how to sequence instructions they are ready to freestyle. Freestyle doesn’t mean randomly snapping together coding blocks. Happy accidents are great! It can be fun to get unexpected results that look fantastic when coding using Scratch 3. However, the instructional goal should be to have students intentionally build scripts.
Freestyle means uniquely applying coding skills to achieve a specific goal with limited guidance. This instructional approach has students develop their own method for completing a task. It gives them an opportunity to consolidate learning and transfer skills.
Have students apply coding skills to build their own scripts.
When freestyling, the assignment could be open-ended. For example, “Create an animated scene”. However, if you are teaching beginners, this might be too broad. Instead, you may wish to narrow the focus of the activity. Provide students with a problem they must solve using their existing knowledge.
In TechnoCode, students are given freestyling challenges to complete. This helps students apply their coding skills in a new way. For example:
In your animated scene, the character makes a sound effect. Can you add a music track that plays throughout the entire scene?
In your story, the character sends a message to a friend using broadcasting. Can you add another object that does an action when the same broadcasted message is sent?
In your game, the character scores a point when it hits a target. Can you add another target that when touched causes the character to lose a point? Or can you add a second target that is worth more points?
Reflection
Finally, the Scratch project is complete. Before moving onto the next coding project or curriculum unit, take the time to reflect upon the experience. This will provide students with the opportunity to acknowledge their success, recognize their progress, and generate new ideas for future learning. This can be done using a worksheet, coding journal entry, or Scratch project presentation.
TechnoCode Has Coding Lessons for Scratch 3
TechnoCode has coding lessons for Scratch 3. It is a technology project that uses this four part approach. The goal of the activities is not to simply make things in Scratch 3. Instead, the objective is to have students think like programmers as they develop coding solutions. Reviews, skill reviews, and extension activities support learning.
Brain research tells us that learning really ‘sticks’ when activities are both meaningful to students as well as integrated in curriculum in an interdisciplinary approach. As well, students are motivated when they are actively discovering and investigating a problem.
Teach coding with Scratch to middle school and junior students to build computational thinking skills.
TechnoCode, the newest technology project developed by TechnoKids, was created specifically to spark an interest in computer science by engaging students. As they use Scratch to build programming skills, young learners construct a series of activities for kids. As game designers, they consider their users’ interests and abilities. They become authentic programmers who plan, code, and actually field test their unique creations.
The TechnoCode project is primarily a STEM project that teaches coding. However, the activities also integrate into other areas of curriculum including language arts, mathematics, social studies or science, visual arts, and music.
Computer Science
TechnoCode is an introduction to programming. The activities have students build algorithms that sequence commands, events, loops, and conditions. Use the project to target computer science learning outcomes. The project includes a detailed list of skills achieved in each Session, ideal as a teacher checklist for assessment.
Language Arts
The assignments in Session 1 and Session 4 can be integrated into curriculum as a language arts unit. In these assignments, students engage in visual storytelling. They create animated scenes and stories. To extend language arts learning outcomes, the concept of plot, setting, and characters is also applied when engineering games in Session 3 and 5.
Integrate coding into curriculum.
Mathematics
Integrate TechnoCode into an existing problem-solving unit in Math class. The assignments are an ideal fit because coding requires mathematical and logical thinking. For example, placing sprites on the stage requires plotting ordered pairs, rotating objects involves knowledge of angles, and setting the size of sprites uses percentages. As well, logic is used to control when or if an action happens.
Social Studies or Science
Include The Session 4 Skill Review in TechnoCode as a creative way to showcase learning into another subject area. In this activity, students build an interactive diorama. It shows a scene from nature or a historical event that engages the viewer to click on objects to learn more. Complete the activity to have students share facts or create a simulation about a topic currently being studied. Samples provided include space exploration, tornado, and farming.
Visual Arts
Target visual arts learning outcomes with TechnoCode. Graphic design is interwoven throughout the activities. Students apply their creativity to paint or edit unique sprites and backdrops. They also apply their skills to engage the audience using visual elements. In addition, the Session 2 Extension Activity specifically has students draw artwork with a pen using code.
Music
Integrate TechnoCode into a music class. In the Session 3 Extension Activity, students invent an instrument. This activity is a fun way for students to express their musical talent.
TechnoCode technology project teaches programming using graphical blocks.
Inspire your students to become coding ninjas with TechnoCode!
Select Pen.
