Topic outline
- General
- Topic 1
Topic 1
Mythbuster Jr Wisdom
You learn more from failure than instant success. Failure is always an option.
You are more likely to succeed if you can work effectively in a group.
Don't let anyone tell you you are to young to tinker or code.
You are always allowed to try this at home.
- Topic 2
Topic 2
Meet the turtle
Over half a centurt ago, a man named Seymour Papert started to teach kids how to think in a special way using floor robots. His kids thought it looked like a turtle. The computer language that controlled the turtle was called Logo.
Seymour worked in America for Lego and was part of the team that invented Lego Technics and the RCX, NXT then Ev3 robots.
- Topic 3
Topic 3
Before we begin ...
The Massachusetts Institue of Technology is one of the top four universities in the world. Create a login for the site.
Login to http://scratch.mit.edu
Use online editor
load http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/editor
or click on create
Download an offline version
https://scratch.mit.edu/download
you may need to install Flash for earlier versions
Heads up
To run micro:Bits from Scratch 3.0, we need to install Scratch link
be aware that this thread of study follows the trail lead by the precursor of Scratch, MSWLogo
mrweber reading assignment - Topic 4
Topic 4
Set up the environment
Set up the stage size required.
hide Scratch cat sprite from Looks => hide
To use the PEN
load the PEN MODULE
- Topic 5
Topic 5
Stonehenge : Astrolab
- Topic 6
Topic 6
- Topic 7
Topic 7
How many degrees in a circle
You can research this for yourself but suffice to say it is probably due to there are 12 new moons in each cycle of the earth around the sun.
Ancient astronomers and philosophers like tho ones immortalised by Raphael in the Sistene chapel promoted the idea of 360 degrees in a circle.
- Topic 8
Topic 8
Meet the Scratch cat, simple commands
Simple commands are just one line statements
- when clicked
- forward
- back
- left
- right
- hide scratch cat
- show scratch cat
- clear screen
- setxy [0 0]
Hide Scratch cat and you have a Logo program.
assignment
using the commands fd, lt, rt, determine how many steps from HOME to the sides, top and bottom of the screen.
using the commands fd, bk, lt and rt, draw a square and an eqilateral triangle
What is special about an equilateral triangle?
- Topic 9
- Topic 10
Topic 10
Meet the turtle : complex commands
There is a saying in computing, if you have to do something three times, you can write code to do it once.
Complex commands are where you join several simple commands together
- repeat 4[fd 100 rt 90]
Note this obeys the total trip rule assignment
draw a square and put an equilateral triangle on top so it looks like a house
experiment the the following commands
- setpensize
- setpencolor
- Topic 11
Topic 11
Making a plan (algorithms)
The word algorithm comes from the name of the 9th century Persian and Muslim mathematician Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi (Latinized Algoritmi), he was mathematician, astronomer and geographer during the Abbasid Caliphate, a scholar in the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.
He is often considered one of the fathers of algebra.
Also the creator of the numbers which we use today.
The word means "step wise" and means the number of step needed to solve a problem. In the broader sense, Algorithms are written every day to guide others into solving problems.
eg car manuals, computer books, policy documents. All algorithms.
In coding, a program that uses the least number of steps in a solution is considered to be "elegant".
Challenge
Open a Google doc
Write down the steps you would use to draw a box you could step out
Use procedural writing (Heading, Aim etc) to record your results
Ask another student to use your algorithm.
- Topic 12
Topic 12
Absolute vs relative commands
Algorithm
1. Make a tiny sprite using one dot in the editor. Perhaps make it red.
2. Load the pen extension for drawing tools
3. Use pen up and pen down commands to draw something, so we know it works.
4. Use gotoxy command to find the boundaries of the screen (how high, low, how left, right)
5. Make a Block called Box
6. Copy code so you know which quadrant has which coordinates.
7. Record your experiment
- Topic 13
Topic 13
draw a boat
draw intials
- Topic 14
Topic 14
- Topic 15
Topic 15
Total trip theorem
Using a turtle as a sprite, Papert provides the following definition for the "Total Turtle Trip Theorem" in Papert's 1980 book Mindstorms: Children, computers, and powerful ideas. - "If a Turtle takes a trip around the boundary of any area and ends up in the state in which it started, then the sum of all turns will be 360 degrees" (page 76)
- Topic 16
Topic 16
Meet the turtle : subprocedures
Here is a procedure from the moreblocks menu. It approximates the old Home command.
You will need it in the coming exercises
assignment.
write a program using your new home command and simple commands that divides the screen into the four cartesian quadrants (graph paper)
- Topic 17
Topic 17
Making patterns
a square repeated
- Topic 18
Topic 18
Using Logo to do a maths investigation.
- Topic 19
Topic 19
Using variables to draw spirals
- Topic 20
Topic 20
Manipulating variables
Pupils at school enter the Science Teachers (STAWA) solar challenge. They race solar cars down a track powered only by a solar panel.
To maximize the solar energy, we can determine the angle of the sun in the sky . This is done using a shadow stick. Measure the length the stick and its shadow and use trigonometry (atan function) to determine the angle.
A function is a peice of code that takes in one or more inputs and delivers one result.
This function designed to
- take in two inputs,
- assign them to variable names
- manipulate them into a meaningful format
- then run a built in function to determine information.
We can then use geometry to set the solar panel on a solar car to get the optimum sunlight.
- Topic 21
Topic 21
Inputing variables, making decisions
Perhaps the most powerful statement in the world. If something is true then execute this, else do the other.
We could improve the code by looping it forever, or looping it until a condition is met and that exits the loop.
- Topic 22
Topic 22
Lists
In another world, a list is called an array. An array is a way of writing data to a file and reading it back again.
It sets up an ordered list of data with each piece of data in a fixed position.
e.g.(dog, cat, mouse, rabbit, chicken, duck)
They are numbered in computer speak 0 - 5. Hence the third item, mouse, is referenced as 2
Phantom's faithful companion - Guran of the Bandar poison pygmy people
Importing data into a list
First, find or type out a list of comments. Here is a list of Old Jungle Sayings (OJS) from the great hero, the Phantom, Ghost Who Walks.
Next, copy and past OJS into a text editor and export as a text file. Call it OJS.txt
Next in Scratch create a list in Data. Name it Phantom.
Tick the box next to the list so the empty list appears.
Right click on the empty list and import the text file.
Use the random generator to display comments.
First, you are prompted for a name, stored as a variable. Then, there are two lists, one that is inserted before the name and one after.The elements from the list are randomly picked and an operator called "concatenation" joins all three together.
This is quite widely used. Mailmerge in word processing, student data banks for report writing, letter drops during political campaigns.
Challenge
Make your own generator.
- Topic 23
Topic 23
Using Scratch to help learn
The objective of this is to develop a way to help teach vocabulary and definitions.
First, we need to investigate the commands we will use.
Draw the line in any color, then use the color picker in the touching color block to sense what is underneath Scratch cat.
Other hints. You can make a graphic in another program like Paint box. Save it to the documents area then load it into your stage.
Challenge :
You are tasked with the creation of a teaching aid that ties something you are studying to an interactive graphic.
Download, draw, capture or create an image that relates to your studies in school.
Use nested if commands to get Scratch cat tell the user what he is pointing to.
A type example is provided.
Ideas for the project
- Explain a process like the water cycle
- Describe the eight planets
- The name of ten common objects in a foreign language (Italian)
- Name the parts of a computer
- Describe the data cycle
- Countries of the world, capital cities, currencies major imports and exports
- The names of different angles, polygons or shapes
Where to research
- Youtube
- Scratch.mit.edu
- Topic 24
Topic 24
Using Scratch and Makey-makey for a Science Experiment
Background
Make-makey works very simply by closing a circuit so current can flow around a circuit.
This relies on a circuit being completed between the Makey-makey, something that conducts electricity and a the earth.
Task
Using this knowledge, you are tasked with designing and building a testing device that determines whether an object is a conductor or an insulator.
This can then be used in P-3 classes in their studies of electricity.Materials
- Conductive tape
- Core flute board
- Makey-makey kit
- Computer
Don't forget to document your code, project and how to use the system.
- Topic 25
Topic 25
Making music
- Topic 26
Topic 26
A Makerspace in Action
- Topic 27
Topic 27
