Hippo’s Coding Adventure

I think coding is such a cool learning tool to bring into the classroom! During my pre-internship, I was fortunate enough to use Ozobots with the students. It just happened that the class I was in had received these robots! My unit was on plant growth and change, we were on the lesson about bee pollination. There just so happened to be a lesson on bee pollination with the Ozobots and I would encourage you to go check the Ozobot website out! The website has an instruction video, printable activity sheets, and a full downloadable lesson plan.

 

Here is a rundown of my creation while I explored Scratch!

Game Concept

• Character: Flying hippo that moves up and down to avoid obstacles.
• Obstacles: Buildings moving from right to left
• Objective: Collect apples for points and avoid crashing into buildings.

Steps to Create the Game

1. Setting up the Stage

• I chose a background which was the sky and added a hippo character and apples and sprites.

2. Programming the Flying Hippo

• Use arrow keys to move the hippo up and down, also making sure the hippo stays within bounds and does not go off the screen.

3. Creating Obstacles

• I made buildings that moved from right to left continuously and also put some buildings upside down to create a narrow path.

4. Collecting apples

• I placed apples at random positions on the screen but was able to make them disappear when the hippo touched them.

Learning Reflection

Scratch is a great platform for beginners to learn programming concepts visually and interactively. Through this blog, I learned, how to respond to input and game events, manage multiple spirited an their behaviours, and balance difficulty with obstacles and rewards.

Why Coding is Important

Coding teaches us to break down complex problems into manageable steps. It also allows students and teachers to bring ideas to life and express themselves through interactive projects.

In all

Creating games like the flying hippo in Scratch is enjoyable and educations. It teaches fundamental coding concepts while allowing for creativity and experimentation. Whether someone wasn’t to pursue coding professionally or not, these skills are invaluable in today’s digital world.