Alligator Game Challenge!
A One Hour Introductory Activity for Hour of Code
!1
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
Time:
45-60 Min
Materials:
Tablets or Computers with the full version ofThe Foos (includes Foo Studio)
Learning Goals:
Learn how to build an alligator challenge game in Foo Studio using the commands:
• Loop
• Show & Hide
• Wait
Prerequisites:
Players must finish Chapter 2 of the puzzles (Construction Foo) in order to use the
"Loop" command.
!2
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
To unlock the "Hide" and "Wait" commands, purchase the Police Foo and a Foo pet
from the Foo Store.
You can also purchase some color blocks from the Foo Store. We bought green
blocks for our alligator but you can use any color!
To unlock the "Build Your Own Game" section, players must have played through the
first seven sections of the tutorial.
!3
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
Introduction:
Begin with a group discussion of what players have learned from the first 2 chapters
of the puzzle levels. Remind them what a sequence is, what a loop does and how a
loop can be used:
• Sequence: The step by step order of a set of instructions
• Loop: A set of instructions that is repeated over and over again
• Parameters: Command specific settings represented by drop down menus
attached to some commands in The Foos
Show them the icons for the "Hide" and "Wait" commands. Ask them what they think
these commands do.
The wait command creates a pause before the next command is
performed.
The hide command makes programmed game elements (spikes in this
tutorial) appear and disappear.
Each command has a set of parameters. Press on a command to open up
the parameters available. For the hide command, “hide” and “show” are the
two parameters.
*You can watch a video tutorial of this lesson here: https://youtu.be/YAvkRJdIFgs
*If you want to see what the completed level looks like, input level code DN65KP6BV
into the search bar in Foo Studio.
!4
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
Getting Started – Make an Alligator Game:
To begin the activity:
1.
Have students create a new game level
2. Start by building the alligator's mouth. Make sure to make the mouth wide
enough for the Ninja Foo to jump around in. Place the star in her mouth and don't
forget to give her an eye!
!5
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
3. Next, create the alligator's body. Add some feet so she doesn't look like she’s
floating in the air.
4. Give her some teeth by using the spike blocks. Rotate some spikes 180 degrees
to create the upper teeth.
!6
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
5. Put a spike on her nose and some spikes on her back to make her a fearsome
alligator.
6. Click on the teeth. By default, the spikes take a heart from the player. While we
want to keep this behavior, we also want the teeth to hide and then come back.
That way friends playing as Ninja Foo must figure out when to jump through the
teeth to get the star without getting hurt.
!7
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
7.
To make teeth hide and come back over and over again, add a loop. A loop with
an infinity sign means the code in the loop will run continuously from the start of
the game until the end of the game. Place the hide command inside the loop.
8. Press play on the game. You'll see that now the teeth disappear completely. Now
this game is too easy! We need the teeth to come back.
!8
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
9. To create a cycle where the teeth disappear and reappear, click on the teeth
again. Place another hide command inside the loop, but this time, change the
parameter from "hide" to "show."
10. Now test the game! The teeth hide, then come back, then hide again and so on…
But now the cycle is far too fast. To slow it down use the "wait" command.
!9
Lesson 1
Build An Alligator
The Foos
11. Press play to test the game. Congratulations!!! Everyone just made an
alligator game in Foo Studio! To publish the game, play it and grab the star.
Then, tap on the world icon at the top of the screen.
!10
Lesson 1
Build an Alligator
The Foos
Debrief Discussion:
• What was the most challenging part of the activity?
• Brainstorm other animal games they can create in Foo Studio.
• If time allows, have them play around in Foo Studio and create more games.
Download Our Full Curriculum and
more fun lessons at
thefoos.com/hourofcode
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialNoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
!11