C SC 100 Projects
Spring 2008
Pete Sanderson

Project 5: Scratch Programming

Deadline: 10 pm, Thursday June 5 - credit reduced by 10% per day thereafter

25 points

Overview

In this assignment you will create your own computer program using the Scratch language. Your program will produce an animated story or game. The major project goal is to have some fun while learning about computer programming!

I encourage you to open, run and experiment with projects provided in the Scratch library. This is a valuable way to learn how things work! However I do require that your project be of your own creation. If I discover that it is not original work, I reserve the right to assign no credit or vastly reduced credit.

Basic Requirements and Scoring

The 25 maximum points for your project (give it any name you like) are broken down as follows:

Contains at least three (3) sprites - feel free to delete the default sprite! (3 points),
- All of the sprites must animate according to at least one script (3 points)
- All of the sprites must have a "Reset" script, in addition to the required script. Details below. (3 points)
- At least two of the sprites must have a script whose algorithm includes control blocks for both selection and repetition (if, if-else, forever-if block) and repetition (forever, forever-if, repeat, repeat-until block). The forever-if can count for either but not both. (4 points)
- At least one of the sprites is based on an image of you or someone you know (2 points)
- At least one of the sprites needs to have two or more costumes, and change costumes during the animation (1 point)
Contains at least one (1) stage, (2 points)
- The stage (background image) must come from a source other than the Scratch library. You can import a JPEG image you have downloaded and/or processed using Paint Shop Pro, or draw it using Scratch's Paint Editor. For instance, you can use the CD Cover from Project 3, masking out the layers you don't want and saving the result in JPEG format. (3 points)
- If imported, the stage image should be 480 pixels wide and 360 pixels high for best results. Use Paint Shop Pro to edit and manipulate it. For instance, you can select a segment of the image having the desired width-to-height ratio (1.333, as shown in the lower-right corner of PSP), save it, then resize it.
- The stage is not required to have a script!
Runs forever or for at least 10 seconds. (2 points)
Includes instructions for use, in the "About This Project" window that appears when you click the "Save As" button to save your project. It also must include your name in the "Author" window that comes up at the same time. (2 points)
Sounds are optional!

Some Scratch information resources

If you are not familiar with some of the Scratch terminology and concepts, refer to my Scratch lecture notes at faculty.otterbein.edu/PSanderson/CSC100/notes/lecture13.html Other resources include:

The Scratch home page scratch.mit.edu
The Scratch Support page scratch.wik.is/Support.
Some introductory videos at scratch.wik.is/Support/Videos
I have found the Help Screen at scratch.mit.edu/pages/help-screens to be a useful reference.

Running Scratch

Scratch is installed on the Towers 107B computers. If not on your desktop, click on the Start menu at lower left, then All Programs. Scratch should be listed near the end.

You are welcome to download and install Scratch on your own computer. See the Scratch home page scratch.mit.edu for the download link. This is a 30MB download. After installing, look for the scratch.exe file. That's the one you need to run. You can right-click on it, highlight "Send To" then select "Desktop (create shortcut)."

I recommend you start by opening Scratch projects from the library and running them, and experimenting with them!

Saving Your Project

Use the Save As button to save your project for the first time. Be sure to save it in a place where you can easily retrieve it! On the left edge of the Save As screen, there will be a Computer folder. Click on it to see the various disk drive letters. "Z:" will take you to your home folder. If you are using a USB memory stick, select its assigned letter. Your program will automatically be given the filename extension ".sb".

When you do the Save As, you also have the opportunity to record your Author name along with comments About This Project. Please fill in both of these, as they are required for credit. The About This Project comments should explain how to use your program.

The "reset" script

Scratch does not have a "reset" feature. When you stop the program, sprites do not reset to their initial positions. You can easily define a "reset script". You want this script to run when then the "r" key is pressed - there is a Control block for this. When the "r" key is pressed, the sprite will move to its initial position and costume (if applicable), then stop (there is a Control block for "stop script"). Each sprite needs to have its own reset script. If the stage has a script (this is not required), it will need a reset script also.

To Turn In When You Are Finished

When you are finished send me your project file as an email attachment in a message to psanderson@otterbein.edu.

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Last updated:
Pete Sanderson (PSanderson@otterbein.edu)