Visual Programming

Overview

Do your students fancy their chances as computer game developers? Through challenging, creative activities and using well established game authoring software, this unit leads you through the development of a standalone maze game including keyboard sprite control, following algorithms, flowcharts, coordinates and documentation. Students will learn the fundamentals of algorithmic thinking, using their knowledge to design and build an engaging two player game.

Lesson by lesson key content

Lesson number	Indicative content	Homework
1	Introducing control systems including; inputs and outputs challenge using Scratch; simple introduction to flowcharts, input, output, and selection; extension task - manipulating outputs in Scratch.	Downloading and investigating Scratch.
2	Experimenting with the scratch user interface; using the keyboard to make sprites move based on a flowchart; animating sprite costumes; consolidation exercise.	Investigating coordinates.
3	Plotting precise locations on a grid; using flowcharts to move sprites using given coordinates; using x and y coordinates to accurately move sprites.	None for this lesson.
4	Building a two player game; making sprites move with the arrow keys; getting sprites to interact with each other; using interactions to keep score.	Playing games on the Scratch website to get ideas.
5	Design your Mission Escape simulation game.	Produce an introduction for your report.
6	Produce a report about the unit; introduction; design; build; evaluation write up.	None for this lesson.

Computing curriculum content

• Design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems;
• Use two or more programming languages, [at least one of which is textual], to solve a variety of computational problems;
• Design and develop modular programs that use procedures or functions;
• Undertake creative projects that involve selecting, using, and combining multiple applications.

Literacy curriculum content

• Writing for a wide range of purposes and audiences including notes;
• Summarising and organising material;
• Applying their [growing] knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and text structure to their writing;
• Paying attention to accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling;

Numeracy curriculum content

• Move freely between different numerical, [algebraic], graphical and diagrammatic representations;
• Identify variables;
• Begin to model situations mathematically;
• Order positive and negative integers, decimals and fractions;
• Use the number line as a model for ordering of the real numbers;
• Work with coordinates in all four quadrants;