Scratch

Beginner

60 mins

Teacher/Student led

+100 XP

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

Snowflake Catch

Get started with a fun Scratch project! Begin by creating a new project, deleting the cat sprite, and adding a winter backdrop. Then, add a Reindeer sprite and start coding to move it left and right.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Teacher Notes

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1 Introduction
2 Create a new Scratch project
3 Add the Winter Backdrop
4 Add the Reindeer sprite
5 Add the Snowflake sprite
Challenge

1 - Introduction

Welcome to our festive Christmas game! In this lesson, we will create a fun Scratch game where you control a reindeer to catch falling snowflakes.

Let’s get started and make it snow! This project will teach you important coding skills like using events, motion blocks, sensing blocks, and control blocks.

By the end of the lesson, you’ll have a working game and understand how clones work in Scratch to create multiple snowflakes.

Have fun coding your Christmas game!

2 - Create a new Scratch project

Go to Scratch and click on Create to start a new project. This will open a blank Scratch stage with a default cat sprite.

Click on the cat sprite in the sprites pane to select it. Then, click the trash can icon in the grey area around the sprite thumbnail to delete the cat sprite. Your project is now ready for the Christmas game!

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

3 - Add the Winter Backdrop

Scratch: How to add a backdrop from the library

To add a backdrop from the backdrop library follow these steps:

Put your mouse over the Choose a Backdrop button
Click on the magnifying glass
Find the backdrop you want in the library
Click on your chosen backdrop

You can use search box or the filter links (Fantasy, Music, Sports etc) to locate your backdrop.

4 - Add the Reindeer sprite

In the game we will move the Reindeer left and right at the bottom of the stage to try and catch falling Snowflakes.

Add the Reindeer sprite from the sprite library and give it the following code.

when green flag clicked go to x (0) y (-140) // place it at the middle bottom forever if < key (left arrow v) pressed? > then change x by (-10) // move left end if < key (right arrow v) pressed? > then change x by (10) // move right end end

Click on the green flag and you should be able to move the reindeer left and right using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Scratch: How to add a sprite from the library

To add a sprite from the sprite library follow these steps:

Put your mouse over the Choose a Sprite button
Click on the magnifying glass
Find the sprite you want in the library
Click on your chosen sprite

You can use search box or the filter links (Animals, People, Fantasy etc) to locate your sprite.

5 - Add the Snowflake sprite

Scratch: How to add a sprite from the library

To add a sprite from the sprite library follow these steps:

Put your mouse over the Choose a Sprite button
Click on the magnifying glass
Find the sprite you want in the library
Click on your chosen sprite

You can use search box or the filter links (Animals, People, Fantasy etc) to locate your sprite.

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Copyright Notice
This lesson is copyright of DigitalSkills.org 2017 - 2025. 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

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Snowflake Catch

Teacher Class Feed

1 - Introduction

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2 - Create a new Scratch project

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3 - Add the Winter Backdrop

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4 - Add the Reindeer sprite

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5 - Add the Snowflake sprite

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