Introduction to Scratch for grades 3-5

Students learn to express themselves, tell a story, create a video game and think about motion in the real world through the kinetic, object-oriented Scratch computer programming environment. Ideas grow into personal projects and the student decides how all the pieces will fit together. Students may discover that computer programming will enhance their artistic side, with new tools to draw and act out scenes. Some may also find deeper interest in automation and simulation, as we develop the same tools-of-the-trade that engineers and roboticists use daily. For grades 3-5. ANDREW HOGAN is a physics teacher at Columbia High School. He has extensive experience in programming laboratory instruments and electrical component applications.