on 3 August 2021
Coderdojo Activities for Term 3 2021
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.
- Week 1 (5 Aug): 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 (12 Aug): Maze Game
Click here for starter projects. - Week 3 (19 Aug): Platform Game
Click here for the starter project. - Week 4 (26 Aug): Escape Game
- Week 4 (2 Sep): Launcher Game
Click here for the starter project. - Week 6 (9 Sep): Quest Game
Click here for the starter project. - Week 7 (16 Sep): Cave Surfing Game
Click here for the starter project. - Week 8 (23 Sep): 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.
Scratch 2 (Intermediate & Advanced)
Option 1 (easier): Make a Catcher Game
Follow this Video Tutorial to learn how to make the catcher game. Once you complete the tutorial, add in your own ideas to make the game better.
Option 2 (more advanced): Make a Maze Generator
Follow this Video Tutorial by griffpatch to learn how to make this amazing maze generator.
Recursion
This project uses a programming concept called RECURSION to generate the maze. RECURSION is when a function calls itself. You can see another example of recursion in this project that makes a simple fractal tree.
Taking it further – Are you ready for a challenge?
Once you have completed the maze generator project, can you program a path finder that can automatically complete the maze? There are many ways you could do it. One approach could be to use a list to keep track of all the turns your path finder makes. Then if you come to a dead end you can use the information in your list to get back to the last place that you had a choice to make. From there you would choose a different path.
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.
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.
Robotics
This session is run by Nathalie. An introduction to robotics using mBot robot kits and a block programming language called mBlock which is similar to Scratch.
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.