Getting Started with Scratch

Make your own games!
Make animations too.
Make fun stories.
Scratch helps you make cool things!

How to Start

Go to scratch.mit.edu.
Click the word "Create."

This takes you to the Scratch Editor.
This is where you make your projects.
Make a free account.
Then you can save your work!

Does your computer act slow?
You can get Scratch another way.
You can download it.
Then use it without internet.

The Scratch Editor

The Scratch Editor has many parts.
Each part helps you make things.

Let's Code!

In Scratch, you use blocks.
You snap blocks together.
That is called coding!

First, get a "move" block.
Pull it out.

Click the block.
Try it out!
Does your cat move?

Now let's make it talk!
Click on "Looks."

Find the "say" block.
Pull it out.
Snap it under the move block.
Click your blocks.
Watch what happens!

What Is a Sprite?

A sprite is a character.
It can also be an object.
Every new project starts with a cat.
The cat is a sprite too!

Want a different sprite?
Click the New Sprite button.
Pick one you like!

You can also draw your own sprite.
You can get a surprise sprite.
You can upload your own picture.

Want to delete a sprite?
Click on the sprite first.
Then click the trash can.
Your sprite goes away.

Where Is Your Sprite?

Every sprite has a spot.
This spot has two numbers.
One number is called x.
X tells you left and right.
One number is called y.
Y tells you up and down.

At the very middle, x is 0.
At the very middle, y is 0.

Move your sprite around.
Watch the x and y numbers change!

Quick Tips

Is something not working right?

Add a "wait" block.
This slows things down.
Now you can watch each step.
Later, you can take the wait out.

Try moving your blocks around.
Ask yourself, what happens first?
What happens second?
What happens third?

Click each block by itself.
See what each one does.
Maybe a different block works better!

Finding mistakes is called debugging.
Click the bug icon for help.
It gives you good tips!

Next Steps

Many projects start the same way.
You click the green flag.
The green flag is above the stage.

Click on "Events."
Pull out a green flag block.
Snap your other blocks under it.
Click the green flag to test it!

You can share your project.
Click the Share button.
Other people can see your project.
They can look inside your code too!

You can unshare it anytime.
You can turn comments on or off.

You can also remix projects.
Remix means make a copy.
Then you change it a little.
This makes it your own!
Click Remix on any shared project.

Starter Projects

Starter projects give you code to start with.
You don't have to start from zero!
Find them at scratch.mit.edu/starter-projects.
Click "See Inside" to begin.

Tutorials

Tutorials help you learn to make things.
You can make stories.
You can make animations.
You can make games too.

Click the Tutorials button in the Editor.
Try the "Getting Started" tutorial first.
It teaches you the basics.

Click the green arrow.
This shows you each new step.

When you finish, you have choices.
Try another tutorial.
Or click "See More" for all tutorials.
Or close it and keep working.

You can also watch videos.
Find them on our YouTube page.

Coding Cards

Coding Cards teach you too!
Find them in our Learning Library.

Each card shows you a project.
Flip the card over.
It shows you how to make it!

When you finish a card set, try this:
Add your own sprites.
Add your own backdrops.
Add your own sounds.
Make it special to you!

A good set to start with:
"Animate a Character" cards.

Get Creative!

Play and explore.
Use your imagination!

Make your own sprites.
Make your own backdrops.

Pick a sound.
Or record your own sound!

Try changing numbers in your code.
Try adding new blocks.
See what happens!
Make your project your very own.

Level Up!

Ready to learn more?
Check out these topics:

• Conditional Statements (blocks that make choices)
• Variables and Lists (blocks that hold information)
• My Blocks (blocks you make yourself)
• Clones (copies of your sprite)
• Face Sensing
• Pen Blocks (blocks that draw)

Choose Your Color Mode

We want Scratch easy to read.
We want everyone to enjoy it.

You can pick High Contrast blocks.
These can be easier to see.
Or keep the regular colors.

Change this in Settings.
Look for "Color Mode."
You can switch it anytime!

Choose Your Language

Do you speak another language?
You can change the language too!
Look in Settings.
Find "Language."
Pick the one you want.

Looking for More?

Want more help?
Visit our Learning Library online.
It has hundreds of free things to use.
It has coding cards.
It has videos.
It has lesson plans too!

For Parents:

• A guide for families
• A journal for planning projects
• A guide to the online community

For Teachers:

• Our teaching ideas and tips
• How to set up teacher accounts
• Lesson plans for many topics
• Posters showing all the blocks
• A journal for planning projects
• Worksheets for sharing work
• A guide for making studios