Scratch Coding
Scratch is a free coding platform designed for kids and teens to learn coding by creating fun interactive games, stories and animations. It was developed by MIT and is by far the most popular coding platform for kids in the world. Instead of writing lines of text, students code in Scratch using an intuitive visual interface that is both easy to use and very powerful. Scratch coding is also an excellent way to foster creativity and problem-solving skills. It is our top recommendation for kids and a great choice for parents who want their child to have an enjoyable and engaging experience with coding. Read on to learn more and get started on Scratch coding with free classes, tutorials, and more.
Get StartedFree Scratch Coding Classes Online
Join free Scratch Coding classes by selecting the best class for your child’s grade level. Discover the magic in technology and have fun!
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!
How To Choose Scratch Coding Classes
Select Scratch classes and Scratch Junior based on age and previous coding experience:
- Scratch Junior: Pre-K – 2nd Grade
- Scratch Ninja: 2nd – 5th Grade
- Accelerated Scratch: 6th – 10th Grade
Students who have completed Scratch Junior can advance to Scratch Ninja. If your child has some prior experience with Scratch coding, you may opt to begin with Scratch Ninja Part 2 or 3. If you're unsure which part is best, email us at support@createandlearn.us to discuss. Scratch Ninja and Accelerated Scratch cover very similar content, but Accelerated Scratch has a faster pace since it is for older students. Your child does not need to take both.
| Live Online Classes | Best For Grades | Class Highlights | Grades K-2 | Grades 2-4 | Grades 4-6 | Grades 6-9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Scratch Junior | K-2 | Fun coding classes for very young students. Create interactive stories and games with code, while developing problem-solving skills and creativity. | Foundation | |||
 | Scratch Ninja (Free Intro Available!) | 2-6 | An essential coding class for almost all grade 2-5 learners using Scratch, an MIT-developed platform, to create fun stories, games, animations, and more. | Foundation | Foundation | ||
 | Accelerated Scratch (Free Intro Available!) | 5-9 | Fast-paced introduction to coding using Scratch: build games, stories, and animations. Recommended for all middle-school beginner coders. | Foundation | |||
 | Intermediate Game Building with Scratch | 3-6 | For grades 3-6 Scratch learners who have learned basics, but want to practice more before taking on more advanced Scratch classes. Build a fun project in each session. | Intermediate |
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What Is Scratch Coding For Kids?
Scratch coding 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. Loved by millions of kids and educators worldwide, the Scratch programming language provides a great way to learn essential coding concepts (such as loops, conditionals, variables, etc), while building creative games and animations kids will love to play, show off, and share with friends.
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. There are also fun built-in characters called sprites that can be controlled with code. Scratch was developed by the MIT Media Lab and the Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit organization, in 2007.
ScratchJr brings the learning and creativity of Scratch to a younger audience with a developmentally appropriate design for children aged 5-7. Its interface has been simplified, featuring fewer coding blocks compared to Scratch and more visual, text-free elements. This makes it easier for young learners to understand and make things happen more easily.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scratch
Q: How do I access Scratch and Scratch Junior?
Scratch can be accessed through any browser at https://scratch.mit.edu/. For the best performance, we recommend using Chrome browser. Scratch Junior, on the other hand, runs as an app on iPads or Android tablets.
Q: Is Scratch free to use?
Yes, Scratch is completely free to use.
Q: My kid is 8 years old. Can they learn Scratch?
Absolutely! Eight is a great age to start learning Scratch. We recommend kids younger than 8 to start with Scratch Junior. Students aged 12 or older might prefer Accelerated Scratch, which moves at a faster pace compared to the Scratch Ninja class.
Q: What’s the best way to learn Scratch coding?
The most effective way to get started on Scratch coding is to join a small group class with an experienced teacher. This allows your child to learn systematically and get help if they run into issues, so they don't get discouraged. Once they have learned the key concepts and how to debug their codes, most students can continue grow their skills with online resources, tutorials, and videos. Join our free Scratch introduction classes to get a head start!
Q: Do I need prior coding experience to use Scratch?
No prior experience is needed. In fact, Scratch is designed for children who are new to coding.
Q: My child has done some Scratch coding before. Will they still benefit from Scratch coding classes?
Yes, absolutely. Our Scratch classes cover a broad range of essential coding concepts through advanced projects. Check the class descriptions for each unit to decide which unit to start with and skip the earlier unit. Email us at support@createandlearn.us if you would like to discuss a customized learning plan for your child.
Q: My child has some ideas about a project, but he/she doesn't know how to create it.
Great question. One of the biggest challenges for children who enjoy Scratch coding is turning their high-level creative ideas into actual projects, as this process requires not only advanced coding knowledge but also problem-solving and executive planning skills. Our Scratch Projects page, powered by advanced AI, is designed for this kind of situations. It assists learners with refining project ideas, providing step-by-step guidance, offering sample code, and even creating custom images to enhance their projects. Try it out to bring your project ideas to life!
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Coding Careers: Imagine Your Child's Future
Scratch coding introduces students to essential coding concepts such as sequencing, interactions, basic game logic, and automation which they can continue to build on as they learn additional programming languages. Their future coding career options are vast:
Your child could be a UX Engineer at Google combining coding with design to build interactive features and user-friendly interfaces for apps like Google Search or Gmail. They use coding to ensure that buttons, menus, and animations look great and work smoothly.
Imagine being a Game Developer at EA, creating the gameplay mechanics, characters, and worlds in popular video games like FIFA or The Sims. These engineers use coding to control how characters move, how physics work in the game, and how players interact with the game environment.
Your child could even become a Robotics Engineer at Tesla, programming and controlling robots on the car production lines, automating tasks like welding, painting, or assembling car parts. These programmers write code to make sure these robots work efficiently and accurately.
Learn Scratch Coding For Kids: Projects and Tutorials
Make fun Scratch projects. As you help your child with these projects, you will see how approachable coding with Scratch can be!
Can your character avoid getting destroyed by the spikes!? Code your own custom geometry dash game in Scratch.
Learn how to make a Mario game in Scratch. Super Mario Bros, released in 1985, is arguably one of the most popular video games of all time.
Scratch Coding News For Kids
Check out this brand new program in which Scratchers from our community collaborate and co-create with the Scratch Team. Learn tips from these devoted community members.
Scratch reached 50 million users, and over 120 million projects were created about movement, fashion, nature, and more.
The LEGO Foundation has granted $7.8 million to support the Scratch Foundation’s global programmatic work, research, and innovative product development.
