Animation for Kids with Scratch Programming: Create Your Own Digital Art, Games, and Stories with Code

by Danny Takeuchi

Overview

Think Logically. Present Artistically.

The myth: Programming is only for kids who are good at math and science.

The reality: Anyone can learn how to code. Kids with an artistic bent and curious minds can give life to technology that shapes our daily experience.

Don’t believe it? Give this book a try! It will prove to be the best investment for your kids.

This book teaches kids how to create animations and games with code. No big words or scary concepts. Only step-by-step, visual programming laced with digital art, games, and storytelling projects. It starts with programming fundamentals, then covers animation techniques, and ends with complete animation examples. It is a great art and code mixer. Animation for Kids with Scratch Programming is the perfect first taste that any budding programmer could fall in love with.

This book has three sections:

• Section one starts with simple projects to help students learn basic programming concepts. Those projects give students hands-on learning experience in developing their own games and animations.
• Section two provides students with animation techniques to fuel their creativity and imagination. It provides them tools to create more interesting animations.
• Section three guides students through four complete animations, each with its own storyboard. Kids learn how to manage the complexities of development, the interactions of multiple characters, and the timing of separate events. Many of the animation techniques introduced earlier are utilized to create these projects.

Free webinar classes included with the book purchase:

Two hours of free webinar classes are included with the purchase of this book. In this online class, we will walk students through the first chapter. To register for the free webinar, please go to www.MentorsCloud.com.

This book highlights the following areas:

Art and Code: Art and code go together like cookies and milk. This book leads with what kids know – art, games, and story-telling. Let them discover their Aha moments while having fun.

Simplicity: No kids study grammar to figure out how to talk. They learn by talking. Why should it be different with programming? No more concept overload and wordy explanations. Start coding from day one.

Projects: The book guides students to create their projects step-by-step. The instant gratification gained in each project reinforces their confidence and love for learning. Use this book in classrooms or for self-learning.

Techniques: This is the 1st book focusing on animation techniques in Scratch. Kids can use it as a great reference book for building their own games and animations.

Storyboard: Actions and scenes have to be planned out just like in filmmaking. This book teaches kids how to use the storyboard to guide their programming logic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692527573
Publisher:	Mentorscloud LLC
Publication date:	09/23/2015
Pages:	158
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Section 1: Programming Fundamentals
Chapter 1: Learning the Basics
• Motion and Speech Commands
• Graphic Effects and Sound Effects
• Block Repetition
• Sending and Receiving Broadcasts
Chapter 2: Disco Pop
• Changing Costumes to Animate Sprites
• Painting Backdrops to Animate the Stage
• Time Intervals
Chapter 3: Catch the Ca
• Colorful Pen Commands
• Tracking the Score with Variables
• The Arithmetic and Random Operators
• Initialization and Debugging
• Game Add-On: Click the nimble cat 10 times before it disappears.
Chapter 4: Star Storm
• Cloning Sprites
• Tracing the Program with Timer
• Playing with Stamp
• Game Add-On: Dodge the flying stars for as long as possible.
Chapter 5: Cake Lift
• Explore Webcam and Video Motion
• Sprite Proximity
• Game Add-On: Generate enough energy to levitate the cake to Gobo for his birthday.
Chapter 6: Basketball Toss
• Simulate Free Fall
• Color Sensing
• X and Y Grid Coordination
Chapter 7: Rescue Mission
• Create a Storyboard
• Manage Multiple Sprite Interaction
• Game Add-On: Slay the Dragon with lightning bolts while avoiding its Fireballs.

Section 2: Animation Techniques
Chapter 8: Paint Editor
• Green Apple
• Hair
Chapter 9: People Sprites
• Walking Man
• Blinking Eyes
• Talking Face
Chapter 10: Simulating Nature
Rain
Rain Splashing
Snow
Clouds
Wind
Waves
Chapter 11: Theatrical Effects
Lightning and Thunder
Nervous Face
Chapter 12: Layering Technique
• Merry-Go-Round
Chapter 13: Words and Letter Techniques
• Gliding Words
• Zooming Words
• Listing Letters
. Chapter 14: Scrolling Sprites
• Messages with Vertical Scroll
• Winding River with Vertical Scroll
• Moving Ground with Horizontal Scroll
• Animated Background with Horizontal Scroll
15: Snapshot Technique • Marine Life

Section 3: Super Duper Animations
Chapter 16: Oil in the Ocean Documentary
Chapter 17: The Robositter Movie Trailer
Chapter 18: The Jump Rope Challenge
Chapter 19: Sherlock Holmes' Adventure

Editorial Reviews

I like how creative this class was and how many free choices it gave us in our programming projects."
 --- Michael, 5th Grade, Kuna, Idaho

"Everything was fantastic! My son does not love going to school, but he loved this class.  Thank you!"
--- Trena - Parent, Meridian, Idaho

From the Publisher