Digital Game Design
Developed with i2 Learning by Derek Breen,
author of Scratch for Kids for Dummies
Grade
6
In this course, students will use Scratch to create an original video game with custom graphics,
sound effects and music. Students will begin by remixing an existing game, gradually gaining design
skills and confidence. When they are ready to develop a whole new game, students will learn how
to focus their ideas, integrate player feedback and refine their 2D games before sharing them with
the world. No prior computer programming experience is required.
Course Schedule
4 hours per day | 20 hours per week | Student-Led Showcase
5 additional hours of curriculum available
Sample Activities
Throughout the week, students will create their own games, learning about the
different aspects of creating games through activities like those below.
Demo Games
GameStorming
Students play some existing games to help Students generate ideas for their own games
them answer the questions “What is a game?” and discuss ideas with other groups.
and “What types of games can be made using
Vector Graphics
Scratch?”
Students follow a Vector Graphics plan to modify
Scratch Orientation
and then design custom sprites.
Students follow a Scratch Orientation plan that
helps them create an account and immerses Sound Effects and Music
Students explore the wealth of sound and music
them in their first game design project.
options available in Scratch and add audio to
Scrolling
their games.
Students are introduced to scrolling games using
the Flapping Bat game and then begin to create Game Instructions
Students compose, refine, and add player
their own scrolling game.
instructions to their games.
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Materials and Classroom Requirements
Curriculum guide and materials kits provided for all activites
Hardware: 1 Chromebook or laptop per 2 students.
Software: Google Chrome web browser version 35 or
later.
Strong internet connection.
Additional materials to be
provided by the school
• Rulers
• Post-it Notes
• Paper
Standards Addressed in the Unit
Common Core standards
Reading Standards for Literacy in
Science and Technical Subjects
3. Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out
experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
MA Science and Technology/Engineering Standards
G6-8: 1.2 Identify successful troubleshooting strategies for minor
hardware and software issues/problems (e.g., “frozen screen”).
G6-8: 1.24 Create a multimedia presentation using various media
as appropriate (e.g., audio, video, animations, etc.).
G6-8: 3.4 Independently use appropriate technology tools (e.g.,
graphic organizer) to define problems and propose hypotheses.
G6-8: 3.6 Develop and use guidelines to evaluate the content,
organization, design, use of citations, and presentation of
technologically enhanced projects.
MA Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards
(Draft)
6-8.DTC.a Digital Tools
6-8.DTC.a.4 Use advanced tools to design and create online content
(e.g., webpage, blog, digital portfolio, multimedia), individually and
collaboratively.
6-8.DTC.b Collaboration and Communication
6-8.DTC.b.1 Communicate and publish key ideas and details
in a way that informs, persuades, and/or entertains working
individually or collaboratively using a variety of digital tools and
media-rich resources.
6-8.DTC.b.2 Collaborate synchronously and asynchronously
through online digital tools (e.g., not necessarily in the same time
and place).
6-8.CS.a Computing
6-8.CS.a.5 Devices Design and demonstrate the use of a device
(e.g., robot, e-textile) to accomplish a task, individually and
collaboratively.
6-8.CS.a.7 Identify steps involved in diagnosing and solving
routine hardware and software problems (e.g., power, connections,
application window or toolbar, cables, ports, network resources,
video, and sound) that occur during everyday computer use.
6-8.CT.a Abstraction
6-8.CT.a.1 Demonstrate how data is abstracted (e.g., mouse’s
position and x and y coordinates, image and screen pixels, Internet
Protocol (IP) addresses and domain names) by listing the attributes
of common objects (e.g., address, position, color, shape).
6-8.CT.a.2 Define a simple function that hides the complexity of a
task/problem and can be reused to solve similar tasks/problems.
6-8.CT.b Algorithms
6-8.CT.b.1 Design solutions that use repetition and two-way
selection (e.g., IF/ELSE, FOR, WHILE).
6-8.CT.b.2 Use logical reasoning to predict outputs while showing
an understanding of inputs.
6-8.CT.b.3 Decompose a problem and create a sub-solution for
each of its parts (e.g., video game, robot obstacle course, making
dinner), individually and collaboratively.
6-8.CT.b.4 Recognize that more than one algorithm can solve a
given problem.
6-8.CT.b.5 Recognize that boundaries need to be taken into
account for an algorithm to produce correct results.
6-8.CT.d Programming and Development
6-8.CT.d.1 Select the ‘best’ algorithm based on a given criteria (e.g.,
time, resource, accessibility) to solve a problem, individually and
collaboratively.
6-8.CT.d.2 Use functions to hide the detail in a program (e.g.,
perform abstraction).
6-8.CT.d.3 Create a program that implements an algorithm to
achieve a given goal, individually and collaboratively.
6-8.CT.d.4 Implement problem solutions using a programming
language, including all of the following: looping behavior,
conditional statements, expressions, variables, and functions.
6-8.CT.d.5 Engage in collaborative program development (e.g., pair
programming).
6-8.CT.d.7 Use iterative development and debugging to explore
the problem domain.
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Digital Game Design
TECHNOLOGY
REQUIREMENTS
Hardware
This course uses ‘Scratch’ (https://scratch.mit.edu/), a web-based, visual programming
language. Scratch can be accessed from any of the devices below:
• PC Desktop or Laptop
• Mac Desktop or Macbook
• Chromebook
Scratch is designed to support screen sizes 1024 x 768 or larger.
Number of Devices: 1 device / 2 students
Software
The ‘Scratch’ site can be accessed from any of the following web browsers:
• Chrome 35 or later
• Firefox 31 or later
• Internet Explorer 9 or later
It is also necessary for the browsers to have Adobe Flash Player version 10.2 or later
installed.
Internet Connectivity
A high speed (DSL / Cable / T1) internet connection is required to access the
Scratch site. Sufficient bandwidth is required for access to the Internet by the entire
grade at the same time.
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