ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Scratch Team Turtle Graphics: Using Pen Blocks in Scratch | Tutorial
Did you know you can draw cool pictures in Scratch using pen blocks? These drawings are called turtle graphics. Imagine a turtle with a pen attached to it, drawing on a big piece of paper. That’s how turtle graphics work! They help us learn about shapes, directions, and repeating patterns.
To start drawing in Scratch, you’ll need to use the Pen blocks. First, pick a sprite to be your turtle. This sprite will do the drawing for you. You can choose any sprite you like, but make sure it’s easy to see where it’s pointing.
Next, add the Pen extension. Look for the Extensions icon in the lower left corner of the Scratch editor and click on it. Then, select the Pen category. Now you’ll see the Pen blocks in your block palette, ready to use!
Before you start drawing, set up your sprite to begin in the center of the stage. This way, every time you run your program, it starts from the same spot. You can change this starting position later if you want.
Think about the shape you want to draw. How long are the sides? What angles do you need? Imagine you’re holding a pen and ready to draw. The first thing you’ll do is put the pen down. Can you find the block that does this?
Now, think about how your sprite will move. How far should it go, and in which direction? Break down the drawing into simple steps. Once you’ve drawn your shape, decide when to lift the pen to avoid extra lines.
Experiment with the Move and Pen blocks by clicking on them in the palette. Combine these blocks to create your drawing program. For example, let’s draw a square using the Motion and Pen blocks.
You don’t need to use all the blocks, and you can repeat blocks as many times as needed. Write your program, test it, and fix any mistakes. If your shape doesn’t look right, try to find the problem. Do you need to erase the lines before drawing again? Which block will help you do that?
Think about the order of your blocks. Are you using “erase all,” “pen up,” and “pen down” in the right places? What happens if you change their order? You can also use a “wait” block to slow down the drawing and see what’s happening.
There are many ways to draw the same shape. Compare your program with others to see different methods. Is one way faster or easier? You can use loops like “repeat” to make your code shorter and faster.
Try using different pen sizes or colors to make your drawings unique. Want to see your program run super fast? Turn on turbo mode by holding Shift and clicking the green flag.
What else can you do with Pen blocks? People have used them to create moving lines, complex shapes, fun patterns, and even drawing games. What will you create with your Pen blocks?
Choose a sprite to be your turtle and customize it! You can change its color, size, or even draw your own. Make sure it’s easy to see where it’s pointing. This will be your drawing tool, so make it unique and fun!
Use the Pen blocks to draw a simple shape like a square or triangle. Think about how many sides it has and the angles needed. Write a program to move your turtle sprite and draw the shape. Remember to put the pen down before you start!
Try changing the pen color and size to make your drawing more interesting. Use different colors for each side of your shape. Explore how these changes affect your drawing and make it more vibrant!
Learn how to use loops like “repeat” to draw patterns. Can you make a flower or a star? Think about how repeating shapes can create interesting designs. Write a program that uses loops to make your drawing faster and more efficient.
Show your drawing to a friend and compare your programs. Discuss the different methods you used and what you learned. Did you find a faster or easier way to draw your shape? Sharing ideas can help you discover new techniques!
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, with unnecessary details and repetitive phrases removed for clarity:
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Did you know you can draw in Scratch using pen blocks? These digital pen drawings, known as turtle graphics, are created when a cursor (the turtle) draws on a plane, like the Scratch stage. Turtle graphics were named after educational turtle robots that often had pen mechanisms, allowing the programmer to create designs on paper. Turtle graphics can be created in various programming languages and often focus on geometry concepts, direction, location, and repetition (looping).
Using the Pen blocks in Scratch to create a visual artifact helps you observe results, debug, and iterate. Let’s create a turtle graphic. First, choose a sprite to act as the turtle, which will be drawing. You can pick any sprite from the library, but be mindful that some sprites may hide the pen line if it’s short or may make it hard to tell the direction they face.
Next, add the Pen extension. In the lower left-hand corner of the editor, click the Extensions icon and select the Pen category. The Pen block category will then appear in the block palette. To start your program, add a starter script that positions your sprite in the center of the stage each time the program runs. You can adjust the values later for a different starting position.
Now, look at the shapes you want to recreate in Scratch using the Pen blocks. Consider the lengths of the sides and the angles. As you think about which blocks to use, imagine you are poised with a pen over a piece of paper, ready to draw the shape. The first step is to put the pen down to record the lines. Do you see a block that talks about putting the pen down?
Next, think about the movements: how far you would move the pen and in which direction. As you write your program, use clear instructions and break the task into smaller steps. Once you’ve finished drawing your shape, consider how to draw it again. Be clear about when to take the pen off the paper to avoid errant lines.
Experiment with the Move and Pen blocks by clicking on each block in the palette or script area. Combine the blocks to start your program. There’s often more than one solution to accomplish the task. For this example, I will choose to draw a square and focus on the Motion and Pen blocks to create the shape in Scratch.
You don’t have to use all the blocks, and you can use any block as many times as needed. Pause the video to think about which Scratch blocks you want to use for each step needed to create your shape. Write your program, test it, and debug it.
If your shape didn’t come out as expected, can you spot the problem? Do you want to erase all the lines before the program draws again? What block might you use for that, and where should it appear in your program? Remember that sequential order matters.
Consider where you’ve used blocks like “erase all,” “pen up,” and “pen down” in your sequence. Are you adjusting the direction before or after a move? What happens if you place these blocks at the beginning or end of a sequence? You could insert a “wait” block at key points to slow down the action.
Keep in mind that there’s often more than one solution to accomplish a task. You can compare your program with others drawing the same shape to see similarities and differences. Is one method more efficient? How could you use a loop like “repeat” to speed up your coding for repeated steps?
You can also use different pen sizes or colors when creating digital drawings. Experiment and customize the shape to your liking. Want to see your program run really fast? Try turning on turbo mode by holding Shift and clicking the green flag.
What else can you do with the Pen blocks? Scratchers have incorporated Pen blocks into their projects in creative ways, such as making moving lines, complex shapes, interesting patterns, drawing games, and more! What will you create?
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This version maintains the instructional content while removing redundancies and ensuring clarity.
Turtle – A small robot or virtual object in coding that can be programmed to move around the screen and draw. – In our coding class, we used the turtle to draw a square on the screen.
Graphics – Pictures or images created or displayed on a computer screen. – The graphics in the new video game are very colorful and detailed.
Scratch – A visual programming language that allows users to create stories, games, and animations by snapping together code blocks. – We learned how to make a simple game using Scratch in our computer class.
Pen – A tool in coding that allows the turtle or sprite to draw lines on the screen. – By using the pen tool, we were able to draw a star with our turtle.
Blocks – Pieces of code in visual programming languages like Scratch that can be snapped together to create programs. – I used different blocks to make my sprite dance across the screen.
Sprite – A character or object in a computer program that can be controlled and animated. – I chose a cat sprite for my animation project in Scratch.
Draw – To create shapes or pictures on the screen using code. – We learned how to draw a circle using a loop in our coding lesson.
Shapes – Forms like circles, squares, and triangles that can be created and manipulated in coding. – In our project, we programmed the turtle to draw different shapes on the screen.
Program – A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task. – I wrote a program to make the turtle draw a house on the screen.
Move – To change the position of a sprite or turtle on the screen using code. – I used a block to move the sprite to the right side of the screen.
