Scratch Terminology

Scratch Terminology

What is Scratch?

• Scratch is a visual programming language. It can be accessed as a free desktop and online multimedia tool that can be used by students, scholars, teachers, and parents to easily make animations and create games.

User Interface

Blocks

• Blocks are the colored pieces that we move around to make Scratch programs. Different colored blocks are used to do different things. The block color is the same color that goes with the block tab where you find that block.

Script

• A script is a group of connected blocks that does something when you double click on it.

Sprite

• A sprite is a Scratch character. Each sprite has its own scripts, costumes, and sounds. Sprites are shown on the stage and in the sprites area in the bottom left part of the screen.

Costume

• The appearance of the sprite on the stage. Each sprite can have multiple costumes.

Stage

• The stage is in the upper left part of the Scratch editor. This is where you can see what happens when you run your scripts.

Block tabs

• In the top center of the Scripts tab of the Scratch editor, there is a list of colored rectangles and types of blocks. These are the block tabs.

Scripts, Costumes and Sounds

• In the top center of the Scratch editor, there are three tabs that say "Scripts", "Costumes", and "Sounds”. These are the tabs for each sprite.

MOTION BLOCKS

• Motion blocks deal with the movement of sprites. They relate mainly to the x and y position and direction of the sprite.

LOOKS BLOCKS

• Looks blocks are related to the appearance of sprites and the stage..

Sound Blocks

Pen Blocks

DATA BLOCKS

• Data blocks include two subcategories, Variables and Lists, but both are related to storing and accessing data. This category was called "Variables". Data blocks are used for storing information, such as a score in a project.
• A variable is a memory place in which you can store a value and from which you can later get that value

DATA BLOCKS (LIST BLOCKS)

• Lists are another subcategory of Data blocks. The blocks become visible once a list is created. Sets the variable to specified value

EVENTS BLOCKS

• Events blocks are related to various starts in a project, or when one part signals another to run.

CONTROL BLOCKS (LOOP BLOCKS)

SENSING BLOCKS

• Sensing blocks associate with sprites and the stage detecting conditions. For example, sensing blocks can be used to detect when one sprite touches another.

OPERATORS BLOCKS

MORE BLOCKS