Introduction to Scratch Coding
Create an interactive animated story or simple game in Scratch using sprites, blocks, loops, and events to learn basic coding concepts and logic.
About this tutorial
Create an interactive animated story or simple game in Scratch using sprites, blocks, loops, and events to learn basic coding concepts and logic.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Open Scratch and start a new project.
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Step 2
Pick a main sprite from the Sprites library to be your story character.
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Step 3
Choose a backdrop from the Backdrops library to set the scene.
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Step 4
Add at least one more sprite to play with or to be an obstacle.
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Step 5
Click the main sprite and add a "when green flag clicked" event block to the scripts area.
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Step 6
Attach motion blocks like "move 10 steps" to the event block to make your sprite move.
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Step 7
Attach looks blocks like "say Hello for 2 seconds" or "switch costume to" to add dialogue or animation.
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Step 8
Put a "repeat" or "forever" control block around actions to make them loop.
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Step 9
Add an event block such as "when key pressed" or "when this sprite clicked" to let the player control something.
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Step 10
Create a variable called "score" and add a "change score by 1" block for positive actions.
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Step 11
Add sound blocks like "play sound" at moments to make the story or game exciting.
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Step 12
Press the green flag to test your project and watch how the sprites behave.
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Step 13
Fix any problems by changing blocks and test again until it works the way you want.
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Step 14
Share your finished Scratch story or game on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I create an interactive animated story or simple game in Scratch?
To create an interactive animated story or simple game in Scratch, start by planning a short story or game idea and sketching sprites and scenes. Open Scratch, add or draw sprites and backdrops, then use event blocks (when green flag clicked, when sprite clicked) to trigger motion, looks, sound and control blocks. Use loops and conditionals for repeated actions and choices, add variables for score or state, test and debug, and finally share or remix the project.
What materials do I need to start Scratch coding with my child?
You'll need a computer or tablet with a web browser (or the free Scratch desktop app), a mouse or trackpad, and an internet connection to access the online community and tutorials. A Scratch account is optional but helpful for saving and sharing projects. Optional materials: headphones for sound, a sketchbook for planning, crayons or a drawing tablet for sprite art, and a printer if you want physical storyboards. Free tutorials and starter projects are on the Scratch website.
What ages is Scratch suitable for?
Scratch is designed for children roughly 8–16 years old, making it ideal for elementary through middle school students. Younger kids (5–7) can try ScratchJr, a simpler app with drag-and-drop coding. Teens and adults new to programming will also find Scratch approachable. Complexity can be scaled: start with basic sprites and events for younger learners, then introduce loops, conditionals and variables as skills grow. Adult supervision helps for younger children.
What are the benefits of introducing my child to Scratch coding?
Learning Scratch builds computational thinking, sequencing, and problem-solving while encouraging storytelling and creativity. Children practice debugging, persistence and logical reasoning as they design sprites, implement loops, and use variables. Scratch also supports collaboration and communication—kids can remix projects and explain their code. These skills transfer to math, science, and future programming languages, and the visual blocks interface reduces syntax barriers so beginners gain
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we can't access Scratch online or the Sprites/Backdrops/Sounds libraries?
Use Scratch Desktop or ScratchJr, or upload your own images and audio to replace items from the Sprites library, Backdrops library, and sound blocks.
Why doesn't my sprite move when I press the green flag and how do I fix it?
Check that the 'when green flag clicked' event block is attached to the 'move 10 steps' motion block in the script area for the correct main sprite, then press the green flag to test again.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger kids use ScratchJr or limit to 'Pick a main sprite', 'Choose a backdrop', and a single 'say Hello' looks block, while older kids can add 'when key pressed' controls, 'repeat' or 'forever' loops, and create a 'score' variable with 'change score by 1'.
How can we extend or personalize our Scratch story or game after the basics are working?
Add more sprites as characters or obstacles, switch costumes for animation, import custom sounds and use 'play sound' blocks, implement broadcasts or levels tied to the 'score' variable, and then share the finished project on DIY.org.