UNIT 1 ACTIVITY
10 BLOCKS OBJECTIVES
By completing this activity, students will:
SUGGESTED TIME
+ create a project with the constraint of only being
15–30 MINUTES able to use 10 blocks
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION RESOURCES
❑ Help students sign in to their Scratch accounts and ❑ 10 Blocks handout
click on the Create button at the top of the Scratch ❑ 10 Blocks studio
website to start a new project. Optionally, have the 10 http://scratch.mit.edu/studios/475480
Blocks handout available to guide students during the
activity. REFLECTION PROMPTS
❑ Give students time to create a project with only these
10 Scratch blocks: go to, glide, say, show, hide, set size + What was difficult about being able to use only 10
to, play sound until done, when this sprite clicked, wait, blocks?
and repeat. Remind students to use each block at least + What was easy about being able to use only 10
once in their project and encourage them to blocks?
experiment with different sprites, costumes, or + How did it make you think of things differently?
backdrops.
❑ Invite students to share their projects in their critique
groups (see the Unit 0 Critique Group activity). REVIEWING STUDENT WORK
Optionally, have students add their projects to the 10
Blocks studio or a class studio. + Do projects include all 10 blocks?
❑ Ask students to think back on the design process by + How do different students react to the idea of
responding to the reflection prompts in their design creating with constraints? What might this tell you
journals or in a group discussion. about how this student learns?
NOTES NOTES TO SELF
+ It’s surprising how much one can do with just 10 ❑ _______________________
blocks! Take this opportunity to encourage different
ideas and celebrate creativity by inviting a few ❑ _______________________
students to present their projects in front of the class
or by exploring other projects online in the 10 Blocks ❑ _______________________
studio. ❑ _______________________
10 BLOCKS
WHAT CAN YOU CREATE WITH ONLY
10 SCRATCH BLOCKS?
Create a project using only these 10
blocks. Use them once, twice, or
multiple times, but use each block at
least once.
START HERE
❑ Test ideas by experimenting with each block.
❑ Mix and match blocks in various ways.
❑ Repeat!
E E L I NG
F
T U C K ?
S E THIN
GS…
THES
THAT’S O KAY! TRY FINISHED?
❑ Test ideas by trying out different block combinations. + Add your project to the 10 Blocks Studio:
Mix and match blocks until you find something that http://scratch.mit.edu/studios/475480
interests you! + Play with different sprites, costumes, or backdrops.
❑ Try brainstorming ideas with a neighbor! + Challenge yourself to do more! See how many different
❑ Explore other projects to see what others are doing in projects you can create with these 10 blocks.
Scratch. This can be a great way to find inspiration! + Swap projects with a partner and remix each others’
creations.
UNIT 1 REFLECTION
NAME:
10 BLOCKS
REFLECTIONS RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING REFLECTION PROMPTS
USING THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW OR IN YOUR
DESIGN JOURNAL.
+ What was difficult about being able to use only 10 blocks?
+ What was easy about being able to use only 10 blocks?
+ How did it make you think of things differently?
