What Grade Level is Scratch For?

If you’ve ever looked at coding programs for kids, you’ve probably heard of an MIT coding platform called Scratch. It’s a very popular beginner-friendly block coding tool, with over 200 million students using it over the last year alone and billions of projects created. With so many students using this tool, you may be wondering: what grade level is Scratch for? The short answer is, Scratch coding is suitable for almost all students in grades K-10. However, depending on the age group, the specific version of Scratch used as well as how much time is spent on Scratch varies. We’ll break it down below.

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What grade level is Scratch for?

There are two different Scratch tools, each targeted at different age ranges. Gores Jr. is for students from pre-kindergarten to first grade, meanwhile Scratch targeted primarily at students in grades 2 through 8. Both tools use block-based programming languages, but Scratch Jr has more simplified blocks for younger readers. Scratch also has more advanced coding concepts. It’s worth noting that this range is not a hard limit, as young advanced students may be able to get started straight away with Scratch, and high school students with no previous experience may benefit from learning Scratch’s block-based coding as well. With this tool, students can create their own programs, games and animations.

Scratch is best suited for younger age ranges or those with no coding experience because it uses block-based coding instead of text-based coding. Text-based coding languages ​​have complex syntax that is difficult for beginners to understand, which can cause unnecessary frustration. Some students may not have the typing skills necessary for text-based coding, but by utilizing block coding, students can focus on basic concepts such as conditional logic, variables, functions, and more.

All of these skills will transfer to a text-based language like Python when they are old enough to use it effectively. If you’re still unsure whether your child should use Scratch or Python, check out this article. This visual will also help you choose the right language to start your students’ coding adventure with.

Get started with free Scratch

Scratch and Scratch Jr are both 100% free to use because they are supported by donation to the Goresan Foundation. Students will have full access to all Scratch features (no ads) forever! Scratch Jr. is a mobile app whereas Scratch is better accessed via desktop.

Help your students set up a free Scratch coding account by following these simple steps:

1. Visit the Scratch website in your web browser.
2. Click Join Early in the top right corner.
3. Create a username. Keep in mind that if you choose to share your project, other people can see your username.
4. Create a password. Make sure your password is unique and hard to guess. We don’t want you to lose your hard work.
5. Click next. Questions will appear asking about your location, date of birth, gender, and email address.

If you want a more comprehensive guide to creating a Scratch account, check out our article on four steps to getting started on Scratch.

How to code in Scratch

Then it’s time to do it start coding with Scratch!

1. Click the create button in the top left corner of the Scratch screen. This will create a new project.
2. To start coding, drag blocks from the toolbar and put them together to create a program. All code must have one of the event blocks to begin with. It is recommended to use the “when green flag is clicked” block to start the code when you click start! There are other blocks that have different functions, such as controlling character movement or playing sounds.
3. To test your code, click the green flag button in the top right corner of the stage. This will run your program and show its appearance and behavior.

Here’s a quick overview of each Scratch block category:

• Motion block (Blue): These blocks allow you to control the movement of sprites (characters or objects) on the stage. For example, you can use a motion block to make a sprite move in a certain direction or to a certain position.
• Block view (Purple): This block allows you to change the appearance of a sprite, for example by changing its costume or size.
• Sound block (Pink): This block allows you to play sound or music in your program. You can also manipulate sound properties, such as changing the volume.
• Event block (Yellow): This block allows you to set events that trigger your program to run, for example when a green flag is clicked or when a certain button is pressed.
• Control block (Tangerine): These blocks allow you to control the flow of the program, such as repeating sections of code or terminating the program.
• Sensing block (Teal): This block allows you to create programs that respond to input from the user or the environment. For example, you can use a sensing block to check whether the mouse was clicked or whether a sprite touched another sprite.
• Operator block (Green): This block allows you to perform mathematical operations or compare values ​​in your program.
• Mathematical Operator Block (Green): This block allows you to perform mathematical operations or compare values ​​in your program.
• Variable block (Orange): This block allows you to create variables (named values ​​that can change) in your program and use them to store and manipulate data.
• My Block (Red): This category starts with a blank. This is where students can create and save their own coding blocks, known as functions. This is a more advanced concept that they won’t need until they become more experienced coders.

Explore the game Scratch

The best way to experience Scratch coding is to get out there and try it! For students who are new to coding, we recommend doing this Scratch coding exercise first. Then, here are some examples of fun game tutorials that you can try Scratch:

1. Make a game in Scratch: This simple tutorial will guide you in creating your first game.
2. How to make a sprite jump in Scratch: Learn how to make any character jump – a feature you can add to any game or animation you want to create.
3. Create a piano in Scratch: Like music? Give your hand to create your own music device that can be played online.
4. Make a Mario game: Everyone loves this classic video game! Create your own variations.
5. Catch the game in Scratch: Create a fun game of catch in Scratch with any character, and keep track of the score!

What grade level is Scratch for?

Scratch is a great free block coding tool that is great for introducing kids to basic coding concepts. Students can have fun channeling their creativity into games and animations, while learning important coding skills. In general, children in Pre-K through 1st grade should use Scratch Jr, while children in 2nd grade and above should use Scratch. If Scratch sounds like an interesting tool you’d like your students to try, sign up for the free introductory Scratch Ninja course at Create & Learn, to learn from hands-on guidance from experts and a curriculum designed by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT!

Written by Create & Learn instructor Dominic Occhietti. Dominic is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he studied music performance and computer science. She really enjoys teaching, whether it’s coding classes, French horn lessons, or even downhill skiing lessons!