Getting Started with

version 1.3

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 Getting Started

SCRATCH is a new programming language

that lets you create your own interactive
stories, animations, games, music, and art.

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 1 Start M oving

Drag a MOVE block into the Scripts area.

Double-click the block to make the cat move.

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 2 Add a Sound

Drag out a PLAY DRUM and snap it onto the MOVE block.

Double-click and listen.

If you can’t hear it, check that the
sound on your computer is on.

You can choose different drums

from the pull-down menu.

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 art
3 St a Dance

Add another MOVE block, then

type in a minus sign.

Double-click anywhere
on the stack.

Add another PLAY DRUM block, then choose

a drum from the menu. Double-click again.

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 4 gain
A and Again

Drag out a FOREVER block and drop it on top of the stack.

You want the mouth of the FOREVER to wrap around the other blocks.

To drag a stack, pick it up from the top block.

Double-click to start.

To stop, click the stop button

at the top of the screen.

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 en
5 G Flag
re

Drag out a block and snap it on top.

Whenever you
click the green
flag, your script
will start. To
stop, click the
stop button.

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 ng
6 C e Color
ha
Now try something different...

Drag out a CHANGE EFFECT block.

Double-click to see what it does.

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 ey P
7 K ress

Snap on a

Now press the space bar

on your keyboard.

You can choose a different key

from the pull-down menu.

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 8 Add a Sprite

Each object in Scratch is

called a sprite.
To add a new sprite, click
one of these buttons.

NEW SPRITE BUTTONS:

Paint your own sprite

Choose a new sprite from a file

Get a surprise sprite

To add this sprite, click

then go to the People folder
and select “jodi1”.

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 l
9 E e!
xp or
Now you can tell the sprite what to do. Try the
following, or explore on your own.

SAY SOMETHING
Click inside the SAY block and
type to change the words.
Try the THINK block, too...

IMAGE EFFECTS
Use the pull-down menu to choose
different effects.
Then double-click the block.
To clear the effects, click the Stop button.

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 xplo
10 E re More!
ADD SOUND
Click the SOUNDS tab.
Record your own sound.
Or IMPORT a sound file
(MP3, AIF, or WAV format).

Then, click the SCRIPTS tab,

and use a PLAY SOUND block.
Choose your sound from
the pull-down menu.

ANIMATE
By switching between costumes,
you can animate your own sprite.
To add a costume, click the
COSTUMES tab.
Then, click IMPORT to choose a
second costume. (For example,
try the image “jodi2” from the
People folder.)

Now, click the SCRIPTS tab.

Create a script that switches
between costumes.

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 w W
N hat?
o
You can create many different types of projects with Scratch.

To see example projects, click

the OPEN button, and choose
from the folders.

You may want to start with a

photo of yourself. Or your favorite
character. Or, start by animating
the letters in your name.

When you have an idea for a new

project, click NEW and start creating.

Click SHARE! to upload your

project to the Scratch website:
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Visit the Scratch website
to learn more!

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Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy
to create your own interactive stories, games, and animations –
and share your creations with others on the web.
Scratch is developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten research
group at the MIT Media Lab (http://llk.media.mit.edu). Our
group develops new technologies that, in the spirit of the
blocks and fingerpaint of kindergarten, expand the range of
what people can design, create, and learn.
The development of Scratch has been supported with funding
from National Science Foundation, Microsoft, Intel Foundation,
Nokia, and the MIT Media Lab research consortia.

This guide and other Scratch print materials were created by

Natalie Rusk and other members of the Scratch development team.
Special thanks to Kate Nazemi and Lauren Bessen for the design of
the print materials.

Supported by NSF Grant No. 0325828. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions
or recommendations expressed on this site are those of the authors and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

©2006-2008 Lifelong Kindergarten Group, MIT Media Lab