Coderdojo Activities for Term 3 2023
WELCOME TO CODERDOJO!
Here are the activities that each group will be working on this term:
Newcomers
If you are new to CoderDojo and new to computer programming this is where you start:
Scratch 1 (Beginning Scratch)
We will work our way through these activities this term. Try to complete some or all of the Add-Ons for each activity or, even better, add your own ideas!
**** BEFORE YOU START, READ THIS: ****
NOTE 1: The starter project links go to ‘Scratch for CSFirst’ instead of regular Scratch. We recommend using regular Scratch instead of using their version of it because it does not work with regular Scratch accounts. We have shared the starter projects from our CoderDojoNelson Scratch account and added links to these below, so use our starter project links instead of following their links.
NOTE 2: You do not need to Sign in to Google CS First.
Note 3: Each week, add your completed projects to this studio.
- Week 1: Racing Game
You can find the starter project here: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/557825407/
Can you think of some ideas to make the game better? (see example of the game with more features added.) - Week 2: Maze Game
Click here for starter projects. - Week 3: Platform Game
Click here for the starter project. - Week 4: Escape Game
- Week 5: Launcher Game
Click here for the starter project. - Week 6: Quest Game
Click here for the starter project. - Week 7: Cave Surfing Game
Click here for the starter project. - Show and Tell. Pick your favourite project from this term and do some more work on it to customise it and make it even better. Then we will do a show and tell in the last half hour and you can show your project to everyone.
Looking for more of these types of projects?
If you’ve completed the above projects and are looking for more Google CS First projects, see here.
Scratch 2 (Intermediate & Advanced)
Easy Intermediate Projects:
Project 1: Boat Race
Project 2: Dot Catcher Game
Project 3: Guess the flag
Project 4: Pen patterns
Project 5: Rock Blaster game (video tutorial)
Project 6: Golf game starter (video tutorial)
To make your golf game better try this video tutorial: Improved Mini Golf game tutorial
Project 7: Shapes & Fractals
Project 8: Fruit Ninja (video tutorial)
Project 9: Zombie Shooter (video tutorial) (see also part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6)
Project 10: NEW! Machine Learning with Scratch. Try one or more of the projects. You will use another website machinelearningforkids.co.uk. It will link you to a special version of Scratch that includes the machine learning blocks. If you want more machine learning projects see here.
Additional Intermediate Projects
If you are looking for more intermediate projects, see here.
IMPORTANT Add your projects to this studio.
More Advanced Projects:
Project – Option 1: Car steering simulator
Follow this Video Tutorial to learn how to make a Car steering simulator. This is a great basis for making a top down car or truck (or even train!) game with multiple levels. IMPORTANT Add your project to this studio.
Project – Option 2: Self driving car challenge
Follow these instructions to make a car drive around any track all by itself. How fast can you make it get around the track?
Project – Option 3: Make the game Missile Command
Follow these instructions to make the game Missile Command. You will start making a simple version of the game and then you can add features to it to make it more like the classic arcade game or like your own idea of a cool game.
IMPORTANT Add your project to this studio.
Project – Option 4: Platformer
Follow this video tutorial to learn how to make a platform game in Scratch. After you finish the tutorial, use the techniques you have learned to make your own cool platform game.
IMPORTANT Add your project to this studio.
Project – Option 5: Scrolling backgrounds
Follow this Griffpatch video to learn how to make scrolling backgrounds. Then make a game that uses the scrolling backgrounds.
IMPORTANT Add your project to this studio.
Project – Option 6: Snake Game
Follow this Video Tutorial to learn how to make a Snake Game. The game in the video is incomplete, can you use your own Scratch skills to complete the snake game? Add your own ideas to customise the game. IMPORTANT Add your project to this studio.
Project – Option 7: Racing Car Game
Follow this YouTube video tutorial to make a racing car game. There are also additional videos to enhance and improve the game: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9. Wouldn’t it be cool to add the car steering simulator to make the car even better! See if you can come up with some ideas of your own to make the game even better.
Other project ideas
If you have completed these projects and are looking for something else to do, you can have a look through these projects to find something that interests you. You can also find some great Scratch project tutorials on YouTube. One YouTuber that has lots of high quality advanced projects is Griffpatch. Another one worth a look is Coding With Chris.
Beginner coding with Python
This session is run by Hayden. You will be learning how to write computer programmes in Python.
Intro to Programming
This session is run by David. You will be learning how to write computer programmes in Python, and also you will learn a bit about other programming languages and topics such as JavaScript, databases, version control.
3D Computer Aided Design with TinkerCAD
Learn how to make 3D models using Tinkercad. Tinkercad is an easy-to-use 3D computer aided design (CAD) tool. You can quickly turn your idea into a CAD model for a 3D printer with Tinkercad. – Martin Love
Microcontrollers
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
Web Development
Learn how to make a basic web page with HTML and CSS. Then move on to making a full website with advanced layouts. Also learn Javascript basics and learn about content management systems which are used in building most websites.