May 1, 2024
Updated May 9, 2025
18 minute read
Scratch is a high-level, block-based visual programming language and an online community targeted primarily at children aged 8 to 16 as an educational tool for learning to code. Users can create interactive stories, games, and animations by snapping together graphical blocks, much like digital LEGO bricks. This intuitive approach lowers the barrier to entry for programming, allowing individuals to focus on creativity, logic, and problem-solving without getting bogged down by complex syntax.
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Reading list
We've selected 18 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Scratch.
Is excellent for gaining a broad understanding of Scratch through hands-on game creation. It's project-based, making it engaging for beginners and suitable for high school students and undergraduates new to programming. The step-by-step instructions and focus on building complete games solidify fundamental programming concepts.
Created in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab, this book offers a fun, comic-book style approach to learning Scratch by building games. It's ideal for introducing basic programming concepts in an engaging way, making it suitable for high school students and as a foundational text for undergraduates. It helps build a solid understanding through practical projects.
This visual guide offers step-by-step instructions for creating a variety of projects in Scratch, including animations, games, and simulations. It's a practical book for high school students and undergraduates to deepen their understanding through diverse applications. It serves as a good reference for project ideas and implementation.
This visual guide focuses specifically on creating games in Scratch, offering step-by-step instructions and visual examples. It's a practical resource for those who want to deepen their understanding of Scratch through game development, suitable for high school students and undergraduates interested in this area.
A continuation of the beginner's guide for educators, this book delves into more complex Scratch concepts and projects for K-12 teaching. It's valuable for educators and graduate students looking to deepen their understanding of using Scratch for more advanced computer science topics in an educational setting.
Provides a beginner-friendly introduction to Scratch 3.0, covering fundamental concepts and project creation. It's a good starting point for high school students and undergraduates new to Scratch, helping them gain a broad understanding of the platform.
Written by an experienced computing teacher, this book offers practical guidance and lesson plans for teaching programming with Scratch in primary schools. It's a valuable resource for educators and those in graduate programs focusing on computer science education.
Offers a collection of 20 game projects to create with Scratch, providing ample opportunity to deepen understanding through varied examples and challenges. It's suitable for high school and undergraduate students interested in game development.
Is designed as a beginner's guide to coding using Scratch. It introduces fundamental programming concepts in a simple and accessible way, making it suitable for high school students and those starting their programming journey in undergraduate programs.
Guides readers through creating retro-style arcade games with Scratch. It's a project-based approach that helps solidify programming skills through fun and recognizable examples, suitable for high school and undergraduate students.
Focuses on a specific genre of game development in Scratch: platform games. It allows users to deepen their understanding of Scratch programming by applying it to a particular type of project, suitable for high school and undergraduate students interested in game design.
Uses examples to help readers of all ages understand Scratch coding. It covers the Scratch interface and project creation, providing a good resource for gaining a broad understanding and building a foundation for other programming languages.
A cookbook-style resource provides solutions and approaches to common tasks and challenges in Scratch. This is valuable for users looking to deepen their understanding by exploring different techniques and implementing specific functionalities in their projects. Suitable for undergraduates and those seeking to expand their Scratch skills.
These cards offer a hands-on, activity-based approach to learning Scratch 3.0. While presented as cards, they function as a practical guide for creating projects and understanding concepts through doing. Useful for all levels for quick project ideas and reinforcement.
Part of a 'Made Easy' series, this workbook provides a simple introduction to Scratch 3.0. While geared towards younger learners, it can be a quick reference for anyone needing a basic overview of the Scratch 3.0 interface and core functionalities to gain a broad understanding.
While aimed at a younger audience (ages 5-7), this book foundational text as it comes from the creators of ScratchJr (a simplified version of Scratch). For educators and professionals, it provides valuable insight into the pedagogical approach behind block-based coding for early learners, offering context for the Scratch environment.
The original edition of the popular 'Scratch Programming Playground,' this book covers Scratch 2. While Scratch 3 is the current version, this book is still valuable for understanding the evolution of the platform and core programming concepts that remain relevant. It can be used as supplementary reading to see the development of Scratch.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/lsn9ve/scratc
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