Lesson Plan Itch Bouncing Ball & Breakout

Computer ScienceGrades 6 - 12

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OverviewThis lesson will introduce students to Scratch visual block coding using the Itch user interface. Itch includes courses at varying levels of difficulty suitable for Middle School through High School. At the end of this lesson, students will have a basic understanding of the tools included in Itch, and the basic principles of visual block coding. All courses follow a project based learning approach and utilize differentiated learning.

ObjectivesThrough this lesson student will:

recognize and describe visual block coding access and navigate coding within Itch create a simple computer animation using Itch

Instructional Activities5 min: Teacher Instruction: The teacher will demonstrate how to access and navigate Itch and create an initial bouncing ball project. Use the Access and Logging In handout provided below.10 min: Student-directed: Students will have self-directed time to expand on the initial activities provided in the Bouncing Ball instructional video from Itch.15-20 min: Student-directed: Students will have self-directed time to expand on the initial activities provided in the Breakout instructional video from Itch. The concepts in Breakout build on the initial skills learned in Bouncing Ball.5-10 min: Share projects using the Itch teacher interface. Students can share from their Bouncing Ball work or from their Breakout work.

AdaptationsIt is possible for students to work in pairs on a project. They will follow a pair programming approach where they must take turns of 5-10 minutes at the control with other students.Teachers may have students share their work after Bouncing Ball and again after Breakout, or they may decide to do one sharing-out at the end of class.

EvaluationEvaluation is possible from a direct review of each student’s project, accessible in the "Lesson" area. Student work can be accessed from the teacher interface, and teachers can provide written feedback within Itch.

MaterialsComputer capable of:

1. Latest Google Chrome or Firefox with Flash plugin

2. Screen size 1024x768 or greater (preferred)

3. Headphones

4. Video playback (hosted from YouTube)

5. Access to http://itch.ucodemy.com

Teacher’s computer should additionally have speakers to playback any shared projects to the class.

Other ResourcesStudent password sheet (useful to have students keep track of username & password)

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Access and Logging In1. Open Google Chrome or Firefox with Flash plugin and navigate to: http://itch.ucodemy.com

2. Click on the course you’d like to take.3. Click to take the course (the course may be locked, in which case you need to enter the access code

from the instructor):

4. Either “Register as a new student” if this is your first time on Itch or enter your previous credentials in the email and password field (It’s a great idea to use our password passport sheets for students to help them remember).We don’t confirm email address so students can enter fake email addresses and names if necessary (usually if they are under 13 you would want to do this). E.g. Tim Dorshy might enter Tim D as there name and TimD@ucodemy.com as their email perhaps.

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5. The students should now be in the course and will have an introduction to Itch video (once they dismiss the splash login screen):

6. Students should now be in the lesson and can watch more intro videos or go to the first Lesson under the “Lessons” section and start following the instructional videos within Itch and creating their own

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projects:

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