book

Scratch For Kids For Dummies

by Derek Breen

May 2015

Beginner

384 pages

7h 45m

English

For Dummies

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About ScratchAbout This BookIcons Used in This BookBeyond the BookWhere to Go from HereOh Yeah …
Access Scratch on Your ComputerUse Scratch offlineCreate a New ProjectBring Game to Life with CodeAdd Collision to Your GameAdjust Pipe Size and LocationWrapping Up the Flapping
Modify Sprites from the LibraryModify Scratch CharactersTell Your Super StoryWrapping Up
Create a Great TurtleAdd Code to Animate the TurtleI Want a Wild Hippogriff!Add Code for the Hippogriff’s WhinnyMoving On
Diving into Vector DesignSculpting Robot ShapesStart Your Robot DesignWhat’s a Robot Without Code?Finishing Your Project
Create a New ProjectStart Composing ElementsTransform Your SpritesAdding Vector GraphicsDesigning Advanced CollagesGetting into a Great CollageErase Part of an ImageModify Sprites with Visual EffectsUse Vector Text for TitleFinish Up Your Collage
Draw Your First CharacterAnimate the Stick FigureAnimate with Code BlocksBring Humor to Your AnimationAdd Stick Man’s Best FriendWalk Like a ManAnimate the Dog

Keep It Simple, StupidGetting a Head StartA Little Body WorkApply Finishing TouchesIt’s Okay to Clone Scratch PeopleFrom Dead Skin to Furry BeastFangs Make the BeastUndress the BeastStrike a PoseAdd Finishing TouchesCreate a Third CharacterAssembling Your Cast
Planning Animation ScenesDesign an Interior SceneMake Scenes More ImmersiveDesign an Exterior Scene
That’s What He SaidRecord Dialogue in ScratchEdit Audio ClipsPlay Sound with Code BlocksAnimate Character Speech
(Not) Starting from ScratchCamera (or What Do I Focus On?)Action! (or Let’s Get the Story Moving)Broadcast Animation MessagesSwitch between Animation ScenesAnd CUT!
This Game Looks LAME!Create a New ProjectChange the Background ColorAdd a Bouncing BallAdd the PaddlesMake the Ball Bounce Off the PaddleAdd a Second PlayerKeep Track of Player ScoresCheck for the Winning ScoreAdd Sound Effects
Create a New ProjectUse Gradient for BackgroundConstruct Your SnakeSet the Snake in MotionAdd Body to the SnakeAdd Food for the SnakeSet Up Game CollisionsCode Snake GrowthTrack Player Score
Create a New ProjectChoose Game CharactersDesign Maze BackgroundAdd Player Keyboard ControlsThe Mouse Eats the CheeseProgram Enemy PatrolGive Player a Chance to Win
Create a New ProjectChoose a Game BackgroundCreate Player and Enemy SpritesClone a Bunch of AliensAdd Laser Blaster to SpaceshipEnable Spaceship MovementUse Collision to Destroy AliensProgram Enemies to Drop BombsAdd Sound to Your GameGive the Player Three LivesDestroy a Player on ImpactKeeping Score

Overview

Scratch is a fast, fun, and easy way to get started in computer science

Do you want to make cool games, impressive animations, and become an all-around Scratch super star? You've come to the right place! Packed with full-color photos and easy-to-follow instructions, Scratch For Kids For Dummies makes it easy to get started—even if you've never attempted computer programming or coding. Inside, you'll find out how to design and develop your own games, create amazing animations, interact with the online Scratch community, and much more!

There's no doubting that Scratch is fun, but it also helps you learn to think creatively, reason symmetrically, and work collaboratively—essential skills for life in the 21st century. Best of all, the software is completely free and runs right in your web browser! With the help of this down-to-earth and friendly guide, you'll quickly discover how to choose from a library of characters, backgrounds, and props, draw your own options, and open another user's project, modify it, and publish it online—all with the click of a button.

Create games, stories, and animations

Learn programming

Share your projects with the Scratch community

Participate in the Scratch forums

If you're looking to make the most of MIT's Scratch software but don't quite know where to start, everything you need to try your hand at this popular multimedia programming tool is right here. So what are you waiting for?