Here are the activities that each group will be working on today:
Newcomers
If you are new to CoderDojo and new to computer programming this is where you start:
Scratch – Guided
NOTE: Make sure your computer has sound that works because you will need to listen to instructions in videos. If the sound is not working switch to a different computer if one is available.
All-Star Passing Drill
Today you will build a ball passing game in which you try to aim and shoot the ball at moving receivers. In the process, you will learn how computers can react to what’s going on through the computer science concept called “sensing“.
Click here for instructions for the project
CHALLENGE: Can you complete ALL six Add-Ons?
Once you have the core project completed, see how many add-ons you can get done. If you finish all the add-ons, see what other customisations and enhancements you can do to make the game more interesting.
Scratch – Freeform
Today you can choose from these 2 options:
Option 1. Continue working on your Aquarium Simulation
Basic Project Requirements:
- Create or Select an aquarium background.
- Populate your aquarium with fish that swim side to side and up and down. Make use of cloning.
- Have “Bubbles” that travel to the top of the water.
Additional Ideas:
- Animate the fish to make the swim realistically
- Make a variable for Water Level use this variable to show the water level decreasing over time as water evaporates.
- Make a Button to “Fill the Tank” when it gets too empty.
- Make sure the fish do not “swim” above the waterline.
- Feed the fish
- What other cool ideas can you think of?
Here’s a cool example (not made with Scratch) that might give you some ideas for your own aquarium:
Option 2. Pen Challenge
Basic Project Requirements:
- Create a function (custom block) for drawing lines. The function should take 4 parameters – the X and Y position of each end point of the line
- Create a function (custom block) for drawing rectangles. The function should take 4 parameters – the X and Y position of the rectangle and the width and height
- Create a function (custom block) for drawing triangles. The function should take 6 parameters – the X and Y position of each corner
- Create a function (custom block) for drawing circles. The function should take 3 parameters – the X and Y position the circle and the size
- Can you make a pen drawn shape move?
- Using the basic drawing blocks that you have created, make some interesting and colourful patterns.
Additional Ideas:
- Make some custom blocks for other shapes – e.g. star, ellipse(oval), hexagon, etc.
- What other cool ideas can you think of?
Learn JavaScript
Continue working through the lessons on Khan Academy to learn JavaScript, just click the link below to get started. Use the login you have already created or if this your first time, start by clicking the Sign in / Sign up link in top right corner of screen and then click the Create a new account link to create a new account for yourself to track your progress.
https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming/programming
Raspberry Pi (with Microcontrollers and other cool stuff)
A collaborative group exploring how computers can interact with the outside world through a range of sensors and controllers. Primarily we’ll be using the Raspberry Pi (http://raspberrypi.org) computer in conjunction with Arduinos (http://arduino.cc) and along the way we’ll learn about Python, C and C++ programming, digital and analogue electronics and about working together.
Electronics, Microcontrollers and Raspberry Pi session information