Coderdojo Activities for Term 3 2022
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.
Scratch 2 (Intermediate & Advanced)
Mini Tutorial: ‘For all sprites’ vs. ‘For this sprite only’
Check out this video to learn about difference between variables ‘For all sprites’ and ‘For this sprite only’ and a useful hack to change the variable type if you selected the wrong type by mistake.
Project – Option 1: Pen Patterns
Follow this video tutorial to learn how to use the Pen extension to draw shapes and make cool patterns. Play around with your own ideas to make some cool digital art. Note you will need to add the Pen extension for this project. See here if you do not know how to add extensions. IMPORTANT Add your project to this studio.
Project – Option 2: Maze Generator
Follow this Video Tutorial by griffpatch to learn how to make this amazing maze generator. CHALLENGE: Can you write some path finder code to automatically solve the maze? (e.g. see this example)
IMPORTANT Add your project to this studio.
Project – Option 3: 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 4: 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.
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.