Scratch

Intermediate

40 mins

Teacher/Student led

130 points

What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC or iPad/Tablet

GIFtastic

In this lesson, students will learn how to create their own GIF animations using Scratch. They will start a new project, upload GIFs, add code to animate them, and explore adding effects and sound.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Teacher Notes Lesson Files

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1 Introduction
2 Create a new project
3 Upload the Earth GIF
4 Make it 'Animate'
5 Upload the Homer GIF
6 Make it 'Animate'
7 Explore
8 Finishing Up
Challenge
Quiz

1 - Introduction

Have you ever seen a GIF? It's a type of picture that can move, like a mini movie without sound! Today, we're going to learn how to make one using Scratch.

2 - Create a new project

First, we need to start a new project. Go to the Scratch website by clicking here. Once you're there, start a new project and say goodbye to the little cat sprite by deleting it.

Scratch: How to create a new project

Go to the Scratch website using the link below and click on the 'Create' link in the blue bar at the top.

By default, each new project starts with the cat sprite already added. To delete the cat click on the x in the blue circle beside the cat in the sprite list.

https://scratch.mit.edu

5 points

3 - Upload the Earth GIF

Have you ever seen a spinning globe? It's like a mini movie of the Earth turning around! Today, we're going to make one using Scratch.

First, you need to save the spinning Earth picture that comes with this step onto your computer (remember what folder you save it into!). Then, upload it into your Scratch project as a sprite.

After you've uploaded it, click on the 'Costumes' tab. You'll see it has 44 costumes. Each costume is a picture of the Earth turned a little bit from the last one.

This is how moving pictures work. They're just a bunch of still pictures that, when you flip through them quickly, look like they're moving. This is how all videos work, even the super clear ones. They're just a bunch of still pictures (or frames) that are shown really fast. This is called FPS or 'Frames Per Second'. The only difference between these moving pictures and videos is that these pictures don't make any sound.

Scratch: How to upload a sprite

You can upload images and sprite files into your project. To upload a sprite follow these steps:

First save the image or sprite file onto your computer. You do this by right clicking on the image or link and then selecting 'Save image/link as...'.
Choose a location on your computer such as your desktop and save the file.
In your Scratch project, put your mouse over the Choose a Sprite button.
Click on the 'Upload Sprite' button.
Go to the folder you saved your file.
Select the file and click 'Open'.

The new sprite will upload into your project and appear in the stage area.

20 points

4 - Make it 'Animate'

Now let's add some code to quickly step through the costumes to make the GIF's animation play.

Add the following code to the earth rotating sprite.

when green flag clicked forever next costume end

Once you've added the code click on the green flag and you will see the GIF animate as it steps through the still images.

15 points

5 - Upload the Homer GIF

Delete or hide the earth rotating sprite as we will be uploading and coding a new GIF sprite.

Included with this step is a GIF of Homer Simpson moving backwards into a hedge. Save it to your computer and then upload into your Scratch project as a sprite.

Scratch: How to upload a sprite

You can upload images and sprite files into your project. To upload a sprite follow these steps:

First save the image or sprite file onto your computer. You do this by right clicking on the image or link and then selecting 'Save image/link as...'.
Choose a location on your computer such as your desktop and save the file.
In your Scratch project, put your mouse over the Choose a Sprite button.
Click on the 'Upload Sprite' button.
Go to the folder you saved your file.
Select the file and click 'Open'.

The new sprite will upload into your project and appear in the stage area.

15 points

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This lesson is copyright of DigitalSkills.org. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.

Scratch is developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is available for free at https://scratch.mit.edu