Scratch pioneered block-based programming, enabling young people to learn to code creatively and interactively. Creating Scratch projects fosters the development of computational and creative thinking skills that are critical for future success: learners identify problems, break them into smaller parts, debug them, and iterate on solutions.

Over the years, we’ve loved seeing the unique, exciting strategies educators use to explore Scratch and creative learning in their classrooms, clubs, and beyond. To learn more about our Creative Learning Philosophy, see our guide that lays out our guiding stars and includes a trove of facilitation tips and recommended reading. And we encourage you to explore the variety of Creative Learning Materials in our Learning Library (including lesson plans, coding cards, and educator guides).

When we adapt/remix or develop a creative coding activity/lesson, we look to:

• Design for tinkering and learning through play
• Design spaces for learners to bring themselves in and see themselves in the lesson (considerations we call the 4/5 P’s): Peers, Passion, Projects, Play, and Purpose
• Allow multiple pathways of engagement to foster a wide diversity of projects and support different experience levels (what we call low floors, wide walls, high ceilings or the “house model”)
• Create opportunities that naturally guide learners through the creative learning spiral (an iterative process of imagining, creating, playing, sharing, reflecting, and imagining again) by building in time and opportunties to play, share. and reflect

As facilitators, we want to support playful learning and tinkering mindset values, so that participants can:

• Engage playfully in projects that are meaningful to them and elicit joy
• Collaborate with peers to experiment, share, and celebrate ideas
• Develop a mindset that is comfortable with the discomfort of getting stuck (making room for risk and iteration)
• Develop a mindset that thinks critically about strategies for getting unstuck (saving space for the process to start again or help them imagine what’s next)

The micro:bit is a tiny circuit board designed to help learners code and create with technology. It has many features including an LED display, buttons, and a motion sensor. You can connect it to Scratch and build creative projects that combine the magic of the digital and physical worlds.

The Makey Makey brings the physical world together with Scratch by mimicking a keyboard, letting you control any computer program with everyday conductive objects like food, conductive tape, graphite pencil, metal, Playdoh, your own body, and more! You can connect it to Scratch and build creative projects that combine the magic of the digital and physical worlds.

The Vernier Go Direct Force and Acceleration sensor is a powerful scientific tool that unlocks new ways to connect the physical world to your Scratch projects. Measure force as you push and pull, and interact by shaking, spinning, free falling and more. Then, build creative projects that combine the magic of the digital expression with data from the physical world.

There are endless opportunities to support scientific inquiry with Scratch, whether through simulations, interactive games, or informational narratives. Use our coding cards to identify and create solutions related to realworld problems, ideate and prototype with physical materials and use Scratch as a canvas to test, iterate, and share your solution with others.

Create building solutions to real-world sustainability challenges using the objects you have around you! This lesson is made up of three activities that scaffold learners’ understanding of sustainability: (1) discussion to (2) building models with reusable materials to (3) creating a Scratch project that incorporates the model, bringing to life ideas on how to integrate sustainable elements.