Scratch Programming for kids!!

In the 80’s, there was BASIC -- the Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, a purportedly easy-to- learn, general purpose programming language.

When microcomputers started to become available, BASIC was often included as a way to let new owners -- and their kids -- do something with the computer.

Then there was LOGO with its "turtle graphics". Designed for kids, it was meant to teach the basics of programming and was heavily used in schools, with versions for Apple, BBC and Commodore computers.

Logo developed over the years, and along came Crystal Rainforest. This highly interactive program, designed around a series of carefully structured problems that introduce children to Logo, is still available.

While both of those languages are still in use, there's a new kid on the block in the educational programming world. It's called Scratch and was designed at the MIT's Media Lab.

One of its developers, Professor Mitchel Resnick, was also responsible for the Lego Mindstorms robotics toolkit. Speaking of Lego, this new language works much like building with the little bricks. "Kids make programs by snapping blocks together“.

Each block contains a single command such as "move" or "change colour" which can then be stacked together to create the program. Blocks can only be stacked in ways that make sense, programmatically. Kids don't have to worry about the obscure punctuation and syntax common in most programming languages

Scratch is available for free for Mac OS X and Windows. There is also a Linux version. You install it to use your own language! Kids can join the Scratch Community and share their work on the Scratch website. This is a fun introduction to programming, especially in today's graphics-rich world.Scratch website

Before the workshop: Go to the Scratch Workshop section on Moodle – download and install the correct version for your computer OR Go to Download and install the correct version for your computer. OR Come to me for memory stick.

After the workshop: Do some research on use of Scratch internationally. Go to for resources.

Thank You