Appy Advent – Activities for Advent Time (Week 2)

/ Lesson tips, Students, Teachers, Young Learners

Welcome to the second week of this year’s Advent challenge with Scratch (Here’s the Advent calendar with the entire program). As you know, you can discover a new animation, quiz or game every day, you can explore the code inside and create your own version with a video tutorial (if there is something new to learn) or an ‘edit’ version of the code (to put into the correct sequence and/or complete). Scratch is free online app (available also for download) created for kids to learn the basics of coding: algorithm, sequences, repetition, variables, etc. It’s a visual platform, so instead of memorizing code strings, kids can create animations and games by using puzzle pieces. For all those who love experimenting, this is the Tutorial section of the Scratch Team YouTube Channel. Good coding!

N.B. You can use the Scratch app online without registration. However, if you want to name and save your projects, you will need to create a free account. Use an avatar name. Once you saved a project, you can share it.

HOW TO SHARE YOUR PROJECT WITH EVERYONE?
When you remix any of the projects in this Advent calendar, a message appears on my message board. If you’ve respected the main rules of all Scratchers (constructive criticism, nice people, etc.), your project will be added to this studio: APPY ADVENT CALENDAR – MASTERPIECES.

#8 Make a Snowman

Let’s start the second week of Advent with an amazing Scratch feature: draggable costumes or costume parts:

Instructions: Click onto the Green Flag and drag&drop the different pieces to make a beautiful snowman.

Click here to SEE INSIDE.

Video Tutorial:

I can’t wait to see your animation. You can change the costumes of a sprite as you wish. However, tomorrow you will see that you can make amazing projects also with draggable sprites.

#9 Dress up

Let continue to drag&drop, this time with a dress-up game:

Instructions: Click onto the Green Flag and take a look at the possible clothing items. If you click on any of them, they change. When you find something you like, just drag it onto Harper. Dress her up according to the weather!

Feel free to SEE INSIDE.

Put yourself to the test with this edit version:
Instructions:
1) Click ‘See inside’
2) The girl only has one position, easy peasy.
3) The code is on the ‘scarf’ sprite: put it into the right order: there are two codes, one to change costumes, on to be positioned and draggable.
4) Copy both codes onto the other sprites.
5) Change for each sprite the position coordinates (x; y) so that they surround the girl.

A message for boys: this is exactly how you make your own player in any video game. So why not to create your version?

#10 A joke

Do you like jokes? Here’s one just for you:

Instructions: Click onto the Green Flag and let’s see if you’ve known this Christmas Joke.

Here’s the link to SEE INSIDE.

Let’s see if you can remake it with this edit version:
Instructions:
1) Click ‘See inside’.
2) Reconstruct the Christmas joke.

Needless to say that I’d really love to read your jokes in your own animation. Post your joke here.

#11 Let’s go to …

Christmas is coming which makes us remember some of Santa’s secrets. Do you even know how he can reach every continent, country and city in just one blink? You might find the answer here:

Instructions: Click onto the Green Flag and ‘listen’ to Snowman.

Here is the link to SEE INSIDE.

Video Tutorial:

Then make your own version and share it with us.

#12 Santa Quiz

We mentioned some mysteries around Santa Claus. Let’s see how well you know him:

Instructions: Click onto the Green Flag and answer the elf’s questions about Santa.

Feel free to SEE INSIDE.

Video Tutorial:

Why don’t you create a test and challenge us with it?

#13 Personal Gift Wrapper

Everybody knows that Santa reads all the letters children send him year after year. But who wraps all those amazing presents? Watch and learn:

Instructions: Click onto the Green Flag and answer the elf’s question. You might get a surprise at the end…

Here’s the link to SEE INSIDE.

Video Tutorial:

If you want, you can make your own version and share it with other coders.

#14 The Good and the Naughty List

Wait, you wrote your letter, you got to know your Personal Gift Wrapper Elf, but are you sure that you are on the Good List? Let’s find out:

Instructions: Click onto the Green Flag and find out if you are on the Good List or on the Naughty List. Fingers crossed!

Come and SEE INSIDE.

Find the edit version here:
Instructions:
1) Click ‘See inside’.
2) You need to tidy up two parts of the code: start with the first part of Giga’s animation, put it into the correct order, then move on to the computer sprite and re-organize its movement.

Do you have a similar idea? Make and share it with us.

(H)Appy Advent!
ELT-Tutor (Erna)

TEACHERS, YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO CHECK OUT:

SCRATCH challenge: What’s the difference?
SCRATCH-Time: What’s the date?
Write a Story with these Scratch Story Prompts
Revising clothes with a Scratch challenge
Scratch challenge for Cambridge Movers – Speaking Part 3
Online English lessons and coding with YL (Part Three)
Online English lessons and coding with YL (Part Two)
Online English lessons and coding with YL (Part One)
YL – INTERACTIVE SPELLING GAME (DAYS AND MONTHS)

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO NOW?

STUDENTS:

TEACHERS:

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