Scratch Coding
Scratch coding is a wonderful introduction to computer programming for kids that helps teach computer science's applications in the real world. Learn all about this fun and easy-to-use drag-and-drop programming language, and find out how to help your student get started learning Scratch coding. Discover the best Scratch resources including fun live online classes and games. Plus try your hand at inspiring free Scratch tutorials for kids that will teach your student how to start creating their own projects and bring their creative ideas to life!
Scratch Coding For Kids
Start Scratch for kids right away with award-winning small group online free Scratch classes led live by experts. Discover the magic in technology and have fun!
Free Intro to Scratch Coding
- Grades 2-5
In this free Scratch class, learn the basics of how to use the Scratch block-coding interface. Experience our fun live online class with an awesome teacher. Enjoy programs created by other students, and work together to build a fun game of your own!
- 55 minutesSingle Session
- Average 5 Students Per Class
- Computer - MacWindows PCChromebook
Accelerated Scratch - Intro to Coding for Middle Schoolers
- Grades 5-10
- In this free Scratch coding class, your child will learn how to use Scratch, practice core coding concepts, and build an impressive project in just under an hour. It's great for both middle schoolers and high schoolers. You'll see their confidence and interest in coding soar!
- 55 minutesSingle Session
- Average 5 Students Per Class
- Computer - MacWindows PCChromebook
Explore Popular Scratch Coding
What is Scratch?
Scratch is a fun and free online platform for kids and teens (ages 8-16) to build computer programs using a simple visual interface featuring intuitive digital blocks that can be snapped together. Used by millions of kids and educators worldwide, the Scratch programming language provides a great way to learn essential coding concepts (loops, conditionals, variables, etc), while building creative games and animations they can be proud of. The blocks are grouped into colored categories showing what they do, such as "Motion", "Looks", and "Sensing", and kids can run their code at any time to see the results of their progress live. It was developed by the MIT Media Lab and the Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit organization in 2007.
Is Scratch coding free?
Yes, Scratch coding is free! You can go to the Scratch website, click “Create” in the upper left corner and immediately start building your own projects. If you'd like to save them, you'll need to create a free account.
Scratch download
Although most students utilize the web-based version of Scratch, it is possible to download the Scratch app for offline usage. This allows kids to create Scratch projects on the go, even when they are without internet access. The steps for installing the Scratch app are fairly simple. Here's how to download the free app for Chrome and Android tablets.
What does Scratch mean in coding?
In coding, Scratch refers to this website that allows beginners to start building computer programs. Scratch provides an easy-to-navigate interface with blocks on the left, your workspace to create in the middle, and a stage to see your code run on the right. Scratch 3.0, the latest generation of Scratch, launched on January 2, 2019, and was designed to expand how, what, and where you can create with Scratch. It includes dozens of new sprites, a totally new sound editor, and many new programming blocks.
What code does Scratch use?
Scratch uses code in the form of drag-and-drop blocks. As a result, kids can focus on learning and practicing important coding concepts such as messaging and operators instead of worrying about making typing errors. (Did you know if you type even a single letter wrong in your code, your program can’t run properly?). Also Scratch blocks are organized by category in different colors which makes them easy to explore, find, and use.
Is Scratch coding safe?
Scratch coding is definitely safe! It was designed with young people in mind. Your projects are only public if you would like them to be. The Scratch team also uses filters on content to promote clean language and collect limited information when you create an account. As always, don’t let your child upload private personal information to the website.
Scratch coding login
Ready to get started? To make a Scratch account, click "Join Scratch" in the upper right corner on the website here. Then follow the instructions to make a username and password. Keep clicking through and completing the signup steps that ask for personal information like your birthday and your gender. The last step is to provide your email address. If you want to share your projects, it's important that you verify your email address.
Getting started with Scratch
Check out a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to use Scratch for beginners here. We'll walk you through what the different types of blocks are, and how to think about putting them together to create something great. Plus we'll reveal the best sets of fun exercises, challenges, and projects to try first with Scratch.
ScratchJr
But what about kids under age 6? Don't worry, MIT has designed something for them to start learning coding as well. Scratch Jr is an app for tablets designed to give young children experience with coding. Like Scratch, it features drag-and-drop blocks. Kids can use motion blocks to control their characters, and customize the story they want to tell.
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Join Scratch Coding Classes
What happens if your student gets stuck on a line of code, learns outdated information, or finds Scratch too overwhelming or confusing? They probably won't stick with coding, and they might never want to return to it. The opportunity to foster their passion for computer science might flash by in the link of an eye!
Live online Scratch classes are a great solution for helping your student explore computer science. They are likely the best shot your student has at gaining real coding skills soon, because passionate teachers will hold students accountable and support them. In addition, live online courses adapt the material to kids' learning styles, they help students when they run into tough problems with their code, and they taking the 'thinking' off your plate with a carefully designed curriculum - so you don't have to plan your student's next step or worry that the content will be out of their reach and overly frustrating.
At Create & Learn, our award-winning Scratch classes are taught by experienced educators, and designed by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT. Our industry-leading small class sizes (5 students max) ensure each student enjoys individualized attention. Furthermore we emphasize learning by creating, as well as use an inquiry-based learning approach that sets students up for success. From young beginner-friendly ScratchJr to more advanced Pokemon Game Building, find the best Scratch class for your student to learn coding and have fun!
These virtually taught classes are so engaging, my son really enjoys them and is so excited to show us the coding projects he has completed on all 3 levels of Scratch Ninja. We will definitely be signing him up for more classes and thoroughly recommend Create & Learn to other parents.
Amanda E.
Create & Learn Parent
Amazing instructor. Can really keep my daughter engaged in a fun way. Thanks to Create & Learn my daughter's tech scores have skyrocketed at school.
Bhavi P.
Create & Learn Parent
Amazing virtual classes that taught my son about coding. He has taken 3 classes and he loves them all. They have some really good programs. I would definitely recommend this website and I plan to sign him up for more classes.
LM P.
Create & Learn Parent
Scratch Coding Games And Tutorials
- A fun Scratch tutorial for kids: This article introduces basic Scratch concepts by showing you how to build a simple game featuring a cat and a balloon.
- Fun Scratch exercises for kids: It is helpful for kids to have simple projects to complete as they learn the ins and outs of the Scratch platform. For that reason, we’ve compiled some fun Scratch exercises for kids that will help them to master Scratch and be equipped to tackle more advanced projects in the future.
- Beginner Scratch challenges for kids: Try five beginner Scratch challenges that include more sophisticated concepts such as loops, variables, and Scratch extensions.
- How to Make a Scratch Game: See how to to complete a video game step by step using Scratch coding in less than one hour.
- How to make a golf game: This tutorial shows you how to make a golf game in Scratch played from a 'bird's-eye-view' perspective.
- How to make Pacman on Scratch: Here we'll show you how to make the Pacman arcade game in Scratch. This tutorial features character customization.
- How to make a basketball game on Scratch: This game uses delays and messaging to create the interactions between characters in a basketball game.
- How to make a geometry dash game on Scratch: This tutorial recreates the game in the popular Geometry Dash app. It shows you how to jump over obstacles and control when the game starts and stops.
Explore more of the best Scratch games to make.
Find out how to make a Flappy Bird in Scratch! We’ll show you how to control the bird with the space key, build moving pillars, and update the score every time the bird flies through them. Get step-by-step instructions to:
- Pick a character
- Add the code for the "flappy" motion
- Create the pillars the bird will fly through
- Make a background for the end of the game
- End the game if the bird touches a pillar
- Take care of details for starting and ending the game
- Make the pillars move
- Create a score variable
See Students' Scratch Projects
update the paragraph text to: Our students love creating with Scratch. See some of their latest work, and help your student to get inspired to bring their ideas to life. Explore Scratch projects for kids ideas, a reference guide for Scratch projects, and ScratchJr projects for kids for more activities.
Checkout this project at scratch.mit.edu
Checkout this project at scratch.mit.edu
The movement of the spaceship is controlled by the up and down arrow keys. By pressing the spacebar, the spaceship shoots laser at the rock. When the laser touches the rock and disappears, you get 100 points. When the rock touches the spaceship it is game over.
Checkout this project at scratch.mit.edu
It is all about shooting the pencils, but don’t let them get close to you.
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