5 Back-to-School Icebreaker Activities with Scratch!
It’s back-to-school season in the Northern Hemisphere, and many educators are helping students get to know one another as they gear up for another year of learning and growing together. There are plenty of tried-and-true classroom icebreaker activities to choose from, but this year, why not mix it up and get kids creating together with Scratch? We’re sharing 5 Scratch tutorials and lesson plans that will help kids share their passions, express themselves, and learn more about their peers to get the year started off right.
- Lesson Plan: Activity Swap
For students that have a grasp of the Scratch basics, Activity Swap is the perfect icebreaker. In this lesson, students use Scratch to share something they are passionate about and then “swap projects” with each other to remix and try out different ideas. Students are invited to create a Scratch project that includes a craft, idea, tutorial, or activity that can serve as inspiration for others. Then, they’ll “swap” with peers to try the activity or expand upon what was shared — for instance, a peer could follow along with a drawing tutorial and share the results, or fold an origami shape based on project instructions. This is a great way for students to get to know each other and share their skills.
Tip: This activity can also work any time learners are in a creative slump or looking for inspiration.
2. Video Series: Make Your Own Asset Pack
An asset pack is a collection of assets (sprites, sounds, backdrops, or costumes) related to a specific theme, project type, cultural event, geographical region, or idea. In our video series, created in collaboration with STEAM for Vietnam, you can learn how to help students create their own asset packs, which they can share with their classmates to explore and remix into their own projects. Students can learn more about each other’s cultures (a holiday asset pack could include traditional garments for a dress-up game, or special food and decorations for celebrations, for example); discover what their classmates are passionate about; and learn how remixing can be an exciting way to collaborate with others.
3. Lesson Plan: Bring Yourself Into Scratch
Scratch can be an exciting, low-pressure way for students to express themselves. In the Bring Yourself Into Scratch lesson, students are invited to explore multiple pathways to share their identity, voice, and creativity through development of a unique asset (a “sprite” in Scratch) that is meaningful to them. Our worksheets and step-by-step guide walk them through brainstorming, creating, reflecting, and sharing with their peers.
4. Tutorial: How to Make an “About Me” Project in Scratch
Looking for a quick alternative to the Bring Yourself Into Scratch lesson plan? This activity is perfect for Scratch beginners and experts alike, encouraging students to share likes, dislikes, favorite foods, and more with art, text, and whatever they can imagine. At just 8 minutes long, this tutorial is the perfect introduction to a classroom warm-up activity.
5. Tutorial: How to Make a Story in Scratch
Want to give students a new way to share what they’ve been up to this summer, or to tell a story about themselves or their families? The How to Make a Story in Scratch tutorial walks students through creating characters, dialogue, and scenes inside a Scratch project, so they can create a narrative project they’re proud to share with their classmates.
