5 First Scratch Projects for Kids (Step by Step)

The best way to learn Scratch is to make things. These five projects start very simple and each adds one new idea. Block names are given in italics so you can find them in the palette.

1. The talking cat

What it teaches: events and sequences.

1. Open a new project. The cat is already there.
2. Drag in when green flag clicked from Events.
3. Add say Hello! for 2 seconds from Looks.
4. Add say I'm learning Scratch! for 2 seconds.
5. Click the green flag.

Try: change the words, add a play sound block.

2. Dance party

What it teaches: loops.

1. Start with when green flag clicked.
2. Add a repeat 10 block from Control.
3. Inside it, put move 10 steps, turn 15 degrees and next costume.
4. Add a wait 0.2 seconds block so the movement is visible.

Try: add a second sprite that dances differently, or change the background.

3. Catch the apple

What it teaches: keyboard control, variables and conditions.

1. Add an Apple sprite and a Bowl sprite.
2. For the bowl: when green flag clicked, forever, and inside it if key left arrow pressed then change x by -10 (and the same for right with 10).
3. For the apple: when green flag clicked, go to x: (pick random -200 to 200) y: 180, then repeat until touching Bowl with change y by -5 inside.
4. Make a score variable under Variables and add change score by 1 when the apple touches the bowl.

Try: make the apple fall faster each time.

4. Maths quiz

What it teaches: input and decisions.

1. Use ask What is 6 x 7? and wait from Sensing.
2. Add an if answer = 42 then say Correct! block, with an else that says Try again.
3. Add a score variable.

Try: use pick random so each question is different.

5. Drawing machine

What it teaches: extensions and patterns.

1. Click the Add Extension button (bottom left) and add Pen.
2. Start with when green flag clicked, then pen down.
3. Use repeat 4 with move 100 steps and turn 90 degrees to draw a square.
4. Wrap it in another repeat 36 with turn 10 degrees to make a spinning pattern.

Try: change the colours with change pen colour by.

Tips for helping

• Let your child get stuck for a few minutes before you step in.
• Ask: "What did you expect to happen?" and "What happened instead?"
• Save often, and give projects names that mean something.

What to do next

Once these feel easy, invent a project from scratch: a story, a pet simulator, a two-player game. When your child is ready to try typing, read when to move from Scratch to Python. You can also try guided missions in the Tiny Coderz Scratch course.