Shadow Ridge Middle School Rams

What is the purpose of keeping track of score in a game? Do you think the game would be more exciting or less fun if it didn’t track score? Why?
Explain to your students that they will be creating a game where characters appear and disappear in random places, and score is kept.

1. Introducing Random Numbers (Video)

Students will watch a short video where Professor Ada uses dice to introduce the concept of random numbers.

2. Concepts (Video)

This module introduces three coding concepts:
- “When I receive” block- This block is necessary for an Actor to do something with a message it gets from a “broadcast” or “message” block.
- "Pick a random number" block- Ada illustrates a variety of ways that the block can be used to generate a random number.
- "Score"- This is a special Tynker Actor that is pre-programmed to keep track of and display the score during a game. You send the Actor messages telling it what to do with the score.

3. Balloon Game Example (Example)

Students will view a balloon game project, then create their own version in the next module!
Tell students to pop the balloon by tapping (for mobile) or clicking (for web) on it.

4. Balloon Game (DIY)

In this DIY project, students will program a balloon to fly up in the sky when they press the “Start” button, and pop when they tap or click it!
Students will program two Actors: a balloon and “Start” button. Students will add code to the “Start” Actor to broadcast a start message to all Actors when clicked or tapped.
Emphasize to students that the “when I receive” code block listens for a message or broadcast from other scripts before activating. In this example, the balloon Actor uses a “when I receive” code block so that when it receives the start message, it begins to rise up slowly.

5. Balloon Game II Example (Example)

Students will view an example of a project that expands on their balloon game by repositioning the balloon and moving the ballon when it’s popped.
Tell students to click the “Start” button to start the game.

6. Balloon Game II (DIY)

In this DIY project, students will enhance their balloon game by randomizing the balloon placement, allowing the balloon to reappear after it is popped.
This version of the game uses new random number concepts, as well as concepts learned in previous lessons (e.g., “hiding” and “showing”)
Students are introduced to the “pick random” code block, which chooses the x-value for where the balloon will appear on the Stage. Note: The y-value will always be -200, so it can always start at the bottom of the Stage.
The “pick random” block always needs to be given a lowest number and highest number to pick from.
Emphasize to students that the “pick random” block is always dragged inside another code block.
Encourage students to repeatedly push the “Start” button so they have a visual representation of the “pick random” block being applied to the balloon Actor--which causes the balloon to appear randomly across the screen!

7. Adding Score Example (Example)

In this module, students will view a balloon game that uses a Score counter!
Ask students, “What did the Score Actor do?” (Keep track of how many balloons were popped)

8. Adding Score (DIY)

In this DIY project, students will add on to their balloon game by including a Score Actor, which keeps track of how many balloons are popped!
Students are introduced to a pre-programmed Actor called “Score,” that sends a message every time a balloon is popped, tracking the number of pops.
When students play the game, they can now see their score on the Stage.

9. Pop the Candy (Puzzle)

To solve this puzzle module, students will need to add a popping animation and score to the jelly bean popping game.
Give a hint: Tell students that they need to program Codey to move by following the mouse pointer or touch location.
Are students struggling? Tell them that their code blocks need to: Add 1 to the score; move through 8 costumes that each jelly bean uses when it pops; and make the jelly bean disappear. Also tell students that their “send message” block should add score to “Score.”

10. Ghost Game Example (Example)

11. Ghost Game (DIY)

In this DIY project, students will create a fun ghost hunting game!
Activities include programming a ghost to appear and disappear in random locations, and increasing the score whenever a ghost is clicked or tapped on.
Students will need to use two “pick random” blocks inside the “go to” block, one for the x-value and one for the y-value. Remind students of the screen bounds in both the x- and y-directions.
Emphasize to students that this game is different from the balloon-popping game--when you click or tap on the ghost Actor, it doesn’t pop.
Did students finish early? Encourage them to enhance their game by adding a ghostly sound to the background and adding a sound when a ghost Actor is clicked or tapped on.

12. Quiz (Multiple-Choice)

12551 Holly Street

Thornton, Colorado 80241

720-972-5040

Tynker 101