Code a Character
Fifth Grade Science,
In this lesson, students will learn to create an animated character using the education coding app ScratchJr.
Learning Objectives
Using ScratchJr, students will create an animated character.
Materials and preparation Key terms
iPad or tablet loaded with ScratchJr character: in a story, a person or animal who
Ideally students will work in pairs (one device has particular features or qualities
for two students) animation: the process of taking something
ScratchJr is a free educational app. Students that does not move, like a drawing or a model,
can use ScratchJr to learn how to create and making it appear to move on film or in a
animated characters and stories using "drag video
and drop" block code. default: a pre-set or pre-determined feature
Online resources for teachers can be found at tool: a thing that is used to accomplish a task
here (interface guide) and here (activities). or do work
Introduction (5 minutes)
Ask students, "Have you ever wanted to create your own cartoon character?" and "What kind of character
might you create?"
Explain that they are going to learn to create their own animated character using the ScratchJr app.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (5 minutes)
Divide students into pairs and pass out devices.
Show students how to turn on the devices and open the ScratchJr app.
Guided Practice (5 minutes)
Explain that the ScratchJr app comes with many characters that have already been created for you. For
example, the ScratchJr cat is always the first character you see when you open the app. The cat is the
default character for this app. When you click on the plus sign, you can also see a whole menu of
different characters, such as farm animals, human figures and silly creatures.
Explain that ScratchJr also has a tool that allows you, the computer programmer, to create your own
character. You can access that option by clicking on the paintbrush icon at the top right of the screen.
Invite students to open the paint editor by clicking on the paintbrush
For reference, a guide to the paint editor tool can be found here
Independent working time (20 minutes)
Invite the pairs of students to take turns using the device until both students have had a turn.
Invite students to experiment with the different tools on the screen, such as the shape tool, the line width
tool, the color tool, and the fill tool.
Once students have had a chance to experiment, ask students to focus on one tool, such as the line tool
or shape tool, and use that tool to begin creating a character.
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Related books and/or media
*You can find many YouTube videos created by children, demonstrating their ScratchJr projects. Here are a few
examples:
Student Scratch Jr. Project - Dance Party
PBS Kids Scratch Jr Student Created Game
Story in Scratch Jr
Differentiation
Enrichment
Students who have experience with coding in ScratchJr can be encouraged to create a more detailed
character or multiple characters. They can also be invited to program their character to speak or make
sounds.
Support
For students who may be overwhelmed by the many tools and choices in ScratchJr, have them focus on
using the fill tool to simply change the colors on an existing character.
Assessment (5 minutes)
Circulate around the room and observe each pair of students working together.
If your students have not had much experience using ScratchJr, they may need more than one session in
order to create a new original character. Measure student success by whether or not each student is able
to use at least one of the tools in an intentional way (beyond trial and error).
Review and closing (5 minutes)
Ask students to reflect on their coding experience.
Discuss by asking questions like: "What tools did you use?" "How did you figure out what works and what
doesn't work?"
Invite peer-to-peer feedback by asking, “How did your partner help you learn?”
Ann Gadzikowski is an author and educator with a passion for challenging children to think creatively and
critically. Her recent book Robotics for Young Children won the 2018 Midwest Book Award for best educational
book. Ann developed her expertise in robotics, computer science, and engineering through her work as early
childhood coordinator for Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. She has over 25 years of
experience as a teacher and director of early childhood programs, and currently serves as the Executive
Director of Preschool of the Arts, a Reggio-Emilia inspired school in Madison, Wisconsin.
Get more lesson plans at [Link]
Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at [Link]/resources
© 2007 - 2021 [Link]
