With Scratch, you can programme your own interactive stories, games and animations – and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab and is provided free of charge and completely online (nothing needs to be downloaded).
The young people began by setting up their own online Scratch accounts, which will enable them to continue using their new programming skills at home or from the library public computers. They then learnt the basics to Scratch by following step by step instructions to create a simple game.
Once they were confident with their new found skills the young people then set to work bringing their favourite book characters to life in a series of interactive online games that they devised themselves.
Everybody agreed that it was a fun session and all of the young people said that they would continue to use their new programming skills.
“Seven people have already played my game online. I’m really proud of that. I’m going to add different levels to my game at home.” Adam, Gateshead Reading Activist
“What other things are you doing at the library? I’d like to put my name down for everything.” Nathan, Gateshead Reading Activist
See an example and play one of the Gateshead Reading Activist games.
