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Scratch Jr. Cards – Offline coding activity

ScratchJr is an introductory programming language that allows children ages 5-7 to snap together blocks of code to make characters move, jump, dance and sing.

The ScratchJr cards featured in this activity introduce children to key coding concepts and computational thinking skills through offline activities.

See “What to Do” for suggestions of cards that emphasize particular computational thinking skills.

Objectives

  • Children will use the green ScratchJr cards to carry out a variety of offline projects and discover computational thinking concepts.

Materials

  • Per Group or Student:
    ScratchJr cards (Green cards only) available online and through book/game stores.

    Teacher Tip: Materials vary per activity card, please familiarize yourself with the card deck ahead of time to gather options.

Key Questions

  • What was easy about the activity? What was hard?
  • Which was your favourite activity and why?

What To Do

The Deck:
Scratch Jr. Cards are sorted by colour : select the Green Cards to practice computational thinking skills without a computer.

Each card is also numbered and titled. Select the following cards to emphasize each skill:

DECOMPOSITION

Card 6: Sorting and Sharing
Card 14: Storyboarding

ABSTRACTION

Card 11: Invent a Language
Card 12: I Spy a Sensor

ALGORITHMS

Card 1: Guide a Friend
Card 2: Draw a Picture
Card 3: Make a Sandwich
Card 4: Hokey Pokey
Card 5: Walk in a Square
Card 8: Simon Says
Card 9: Programmer Says

PATTERNS

Card 7: Clapping Patterns
Card 10: Circle the Blocks

LOGICAL REASONING

Card 11: Invent a Language
Card 14: Storyboarding

EVALUATION

Card 13: Design Journal
Card 15: Find the Bug!

Hint: The set up and materials vary with each activity card!

Extensions

  • Now that you’ve practiced your computational thinking skills, apply them using the Scratch Jr app. It’s a free app for android and Apple devices available at: Scratchjr.org. The remaining Scratch Jr cards give project suggestions, or you can make use of the many lesson plans and ideas on the website.

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.