Advanced Scratch Programming for Kids from Udemy

In this course, we'll learn how to make AMAZING games with Scratch. This is the follow-up to the immensely popular course "Programming for Kids and Beginners: Learn to Code in Scratch".

We already assume you know how to code in Scratch. In this course, I'll show you some advanced tips that will allow you to make high-quality games in Scratch. In this course, we'll learn how to program

perfect shapes
automatic drawings
optical illusions
perfectly symmetrical snowflakes
sound loops
stories and characters
power-ups and lives
intelligent enemies
visual effects
boss fights
explosions, lasers and more

As before, we'll learn by doing. The course is designed so that you create the games and applications with your own two hands. But what makes this course truly unique is the teaching method I've used live 4+ years. We learn a variety of computer science topics, but we hide the complexity behind characters, animations, analogies and fun.

That's because, in these carefully designed lessons, we train our intuition to make sense of what we want to achieve and how to get there. This will help you quickly master the basics. After this course, you'll learn text-based programming languages at a blazing speed and quickly make sense of any piece of code.

The content is designed to be fun. I made these games to optimize learning computer science topics while having fun along the way. I will also update the course on a regular basis with new content - and challenges.

This course is designed for

parents or teachers who want to give their children the best skills and most fun
kids and beginners who want to learn to code games
anyone new to programming who doesn't know where to start

I can't wait to have you in the course.

The course is regularly updated with new material, tips and tricks that you can use in your games and projects.

Please note that Udemy is a big place. Those under 18 may use this course only if a parent or guardian opens their account, handles any enrollments, and manages their account usage. I'm pretty sure you're doing that anyway, but it's worth emphasizing.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Getting Started

Auto-Draw

What We'll Build

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Assumes prior experience with Scratch, so learners should complete the introductory course or have equivalent experience before enrolling

Teaches how to program visual effects, such as explosions and lasers, which can be highly engaging for young learners interested in game development

Covers topics like drawing perfect shapes and symmetrical snowflakes, which can be integrated into art and math lessons, offering cross-curricular learning opportunities

Focuses on creating games and applications through hands-on projects, which reinforces learning through active participation and immediate application of concepts

Explores advanced tips for creating high-quality games in Scratch, which can help learners develop a deeper understanding of programming concepts and game design principles

Includes optional lessons on programming sound loops, which allows learners to explore audio integration and enhance the overall gaming experience

Reviews summary

Advanced game creation with scratch

According to learners, this course is a positive and engaging way to build upon basic Scratch knowledge, focusing on creating fun and complex games like a platformer and a space shooter. Students particularly appreciate the hands-on projects and the clear, easy-to-follow teaching style which makes advanced concepts accessible for kids. While many find it a great next step after a beginner course, some suggest that the content might not be truly "advanced" for those with significant prior coding experience, rating it more as a solid intermediate course.

Might not be 'advanced' for all users.

"While the course is good, I wouldn't necessarily call it 'advanced'. It felt more intermediate."

"Someone with prior coding experience beyond basic Scratch might find this course too easy."

"It's 'advanced' for someone coming straight from a beginner course, but not for someone with general programming knowledge."

Well-suited for young learners.

"My child (aged 9) was able to follow along with minimal help and enjoyed it a lot."

"The pace and content are perfect for kids who already know the Scratch basics."

"It keeps children engaged and motivated to learn programming through game creation."

Effective follow-up to introductory Scratch.

"This was a perfect next step after the beginner Scratch course. It really expanded my skills."

"I felt like I learned more advanced techniques than in my first Scratch class."

"It's a great way to go deeper into Scratch programming after covering the fundamentals."

Instructor makes concepts easy to grasp.

"The instructor explains everything very clearly, which makes it easy to follow along."

"The step-by-step instructions were excellent, I never felt lost."

"He breaks down complex ideas into manageable parts that anyone can understand."

Learn by building fun, hands-on games.

"The projects are very engaging and my kids loved building the games step-by-step."

"Building the platformer game was the highlight for me. It was challenging but rewarding."

"I learned so much by actually coding these games. The Space Defender project was great!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Advanced Scratch Programming for Kids with these activities:

Review Basic Scratch Concepts

Show steps

Reinforce foundational Scratch skills to ensure a smooth transition into advanced topics.

Show steps

Review the Scratch interface and basic blocks.
Practice creating simple animations and games.
Familiarize yourself with variables and conditional statements.

Read 'Scratch Programming Playground'

Show steps

Expand your knowledge of game development in Scratch by exploring different projects and techniques.

View Scratch 3 Programming Playground: Learn to... on Amazon

Show steps

Read through the book, focusing on game projects that interest you.
Try to recreate some of the games in Scratch, modifying them to your liking.
Pay attention to the programming concepts used in each game.

Explore 'Coding Games in Scratch'

Show steps

Learn how to build different types of games in Scratch by following a step-by-step visual guide.

View Coding Games in Scratch: A Step-by-Step Visual... on Amazon

Show steps

Choose a game project from the book that interests you.
Follow the step-by-step instructions to build the game in Scratch.
Experiment with different variations and modifications.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice Creating Perfect Shapes and Optical Illusions

Show steps

Improve your skills in creating perfect shapes and optical illusions by practicing different techniques.

Show steps

Experiment with different pen settings and loop structures.
Try to recreate various geometric shapes and patterns.
Explore different optical illusion techniques, such as perspective and color manipulation.

Create a Platformer Game with Power-Ups

Show steps

Apply the concepts learned in the course to build a complete platformer game with power-ups, reinforcing your understanding of game mechanics and programming logic.

Show steps

Design the levels and characters for your platformer game.
Implement player movement, jumping, and collision detection.
Add power-ups that grant the player special abilities.
Create enemies and obstacles to challenge the player.
Test and refine your game to ensure it's fun and engaging.

Create a Tutorial on Advanced Scratch Techniques

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of advanced Scratch techniques by creating a tutorial for others.

Show steps

Choose a specific advanced Scratch technique to focus on.
Create a clear and concise explanation of the technique.
Provide step-by-step instructions and examples.
Record a video tutorial or write a blog post.
Share your tutorial with the Scratch community.

Contribute to a Scratch Project on GitHub

Show steps

Enhance your collaboration skills and contribute to a real-world Scratch project by participating in open source development.

Show steps

Find a Scratch project on GitHub that you're interested in.
Fork the repository and clone it to your local machine.
Make changes or add new features to the project.
Submit a pull request with your changes.
Respond to feedback and revise your code as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Advanced Scratch Programming for Kids will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Educational Game Designer

An Educational Game Designer creates games that are designed to teach specific concepts or skills, often for children or students. This aligns directly with the course's intent to teach programming through fun and engaging projects. The course's design, which involves hiding complexity behind characters, animations, and analogies, mirrors the approach needed for effective educational game design. The sections on creating stories, characters, power-ups, and intelligent enemies help provide practical experience directly applicable to creating educational games. After completing this course, one may be more prepared to create games that are both entertaining and educational.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Game Designer

Video Game Designer

A Video Game Designer conceptualizes and designs video game elements including gameplay, storyline, and characters. This role is a natural fit for someone who has completed this course. The course, which includes making games with Scratch, helps build a foundation in game design principles. By learning how to program elements such as visual effects, power-ups, intelligent enemies, and boss fights, one can gain practical experience in game development, skills applicable to designing more complex games. The 'Space Defender' and 'Black & White: The Platformer' projects may be particularly useful for those who want to create games in the future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Designer

STEM Educator

A STEM Educator teaches science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, often in a school or educational setting. The course helps STEM Educators acquire strategies for teaching programming to children in a fun and engaging way. The course makes complex topics more approachable through animations and relatable characters. The lessons on optical illusions and symmetrical snowflakes could be valuable for teaching mathematical and geometric concepts. By completing the course, STEM Educators can integrate game-based learning into their teaching practices, fostering greater interest and understanding among their students.

See salaries and explore the career path for STEM Educator

Computer Science Teacher

A Computer Science Teacher teaches computer science concepts and programming skills to students. This course has a strong focus on game development, which helps Computer Science Teachers learn how to teach programming to students, especially young beginners, in a fun and engaging way. The course simplifies programming concepts through characters and animations, making it an invaluable resource for educators. The course enhances a teacher's ability to create engaging and effective lesson plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Science Teacher

Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates learning experiences and materials that are effective and engaging. The course helps build skills in designing game based learning experiences focused on programming. The course uses characters, animations and analogies to hide complexity. The course's modules on game design, visual effects, and user interaction provide a practical foundation for creating interactive learning modules. The insights gained can allow for the creation of more engaging and effective educational resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Curriculum Developer

A Curriculum Developer designs and develops educational materials and curricula for various subjects. This course, which focuses on using games to teach programming concepts, offers valuable insights into innovative teaching methods. The course's approach to hiding complexity behind fun characters and animations may serve as inspiration for Curriculum Developers looking to make learning more engaging. The projects on creating games with interactive elements, visual effects, and stories are particularly relevant to designing curricula that incorporate gamification techniques. The knowledge gained from this course may enhance one's ability to create engaging and effective learning experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

After School Program Leader

An After School Program Leader leads and supervises activities for children in an after-school setting. The course provides activities that leaders may incorporate into their programming. The course focuses on teaching programming through game design. The course aims to make complex topics more approachable through animations and relatable characters. By completing the course, After School Program Leaders can create fun and educational opportunities for children to learn about technology and develop valuable problem-solving skills in an engaging environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for After School Program Leader

Youth Program Coordinator

A Youth Program Coordinator plans and organizes activities and programs for young people. This course helps Youth Program Coordinators learn how to incorporate technology and game-based learning into their programs. The course provides hands-on experience in game development. The course aims to make complex topics more approachable through animations and relatable characters. By completing the course, Youth Program Coordinators can offer engaging and educational activities that promote interest in STEM fields and technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Youth Program Coordinator

Technology Trainer

A Technology Trainer teaches individuals or groups how to use specific software or technology. The course helps Technology Trainers develop skills in explaining complex technical concepts in an accessible way. The course uses the 'hiding complexity behind characters' approach, a technique that can be used to simplify the learning process for others. The course provides a foundation in game programming, enabling Technology Trainers to teach introductory programming concepts to beginners. The experience of creating games and interactive projects enhances one's ability to guide others through technical challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Trainer

Game Programmer

A Game Programmer writes code to implement a video game's mechanics, artificial intelligence, and user interface, working closely with designers and artists. This course may be useful for aspiring game programmers to learn the basics of game programming using Scratch. Completing the course helps cultivate programming skills by creating games and applications. The course's sections on creating visual effects, intelligent enemies, and boss fights are directly relevant to the work of a Game Programmer. The knowledge gained from the course facilitates a deeper understanding of game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Mobile App Developer

A Mobile App Developer designs, develops, and tests applications for mobile devices. The skills and knowledge that are taught in this course may be helpful for mobile application development. The course's emphasis on interactive game design and programming enhances the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for app creation. The sections on visual effects and user interface elements could be especially relevant to Mobile App Developers, providing basic experience in how to build engaging and functional mobile applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile App Developer

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, develops, and tests software applications. While this course focuses on game development, it helps build foundational programming logic and problem-solving skills that are transferable to software development. The course modules on drawing perfect shapes, automatic drawings, and optical illusions help instill logical thinking and attention to detail, which are important for Software Developers. Those interested in software development may find the course useful as an introduction to the world of programming.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Web Developer

A Web Developer builds and maintains websites, with the course's programming projects helping cultivate logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. The course modules focusing on interactive elements, visual effects, and user interface design help provide a foundation for building dynamic web content. The experience of creating games from scratch helps instill an understanding of programming structure and logic, which are transferable to web development. Web Developers who want to gain a basic understanding of programming may find this course beneficial as a learning tool.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Digital Artist

A Digital Artist creates artwork using digital tools and software. The course helps build skills in creating visual elements and animations that are essential in digital art. The course includes modules on drawing perfect shapes, optical illusions, and symmetrical snowflakes. Such training can be beneficial for digital artists looking to expand their skill set and create more complex and visually appealing artwork. The skills developed in the 'visual effects' modules can be used to create stunning digital art.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Artist

Animator

An Animator creates moving images using computer software or other techniques. The course, with its focus on visual effects and interactive game design, helps build a foundation in animation principles. The course's modules on drawing perfect shapes, optical illusions, and animations are relevant to the work of an animator. A deep understanding of animation principles is essential for creating compelling and visually appealing animations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Advanced Scratch Programming for Kids

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Advanced game creation with scratch

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses