The Teacher’s Guide to Scratch Book Series is a 3 book set published by Routledge Eye On Education in 2024 written by Kai Hutchence. The three book series is designed as a comprehensive guide for teachers to learn how to use Scratch and how to use it in their teaching practice.
Book 1: Beginner
The first book in the series focuses on introducing Scratch, assuming zero pre-existing knowledge of either coding or Scratch. Readers will be introduced to the Scratch website and editor, taught the features and components of the code, costume and sound tabs, Scratch methodology and terminology and walked through four basic projects that showcase the range of possibilities Scratch provides. The book’s fourth chapter gives a meticulous explanation of Scratch’s components to provide a thorough understanding of where to go and what you can do with the editor and it’s three sections – Code, Costumes and Sounds. The Four projects range from music, animation, user experience and game focuses to help show off different areas of interest of students as well as establish a broad range of useful knowledge appropriate to grades 2 to 5.
Book 2: Intermediate
The second book of the series provides intermediate level training and information for readers. It advances on the established basics of Book 1: Beginner to delve into more complex projects and coding concepts. Readers will get introduced to the Extensions for Scratch and some useful techniques for bending the limits of Scratch allowing them to take projects to a higher level. The four projects range from math-based diagram drawing, to interactive fiction, to a physics-based game, to a limit-busting racing game. The projects and concepts covered are appropriate for grade 5 to 9.
Book 3: Advanced
The last book in the series covers the most advanced projects and concepts. It takes block coding to its limits, setting up readers to move on to text coding. It teaches some important advanced coding techniques such as working with list variables and data files, working with objects outside the stage window, and iterative cloning. The four projects give complex examples of projects, requiring complex game states and cloning. They include data visualization, as well as a point-and-click adventure, platformer and scrolling shooter games. The projects and concepts covered are appropriate for grade 8 to 12.
