Happy Halloween! Storytelling and folklore are Halloween traditions. By using Scratch you can give this centuries-old tradition a modern twist.  

Scratch is a free block based coding program developed by MIT. It can be used creatively to create stories and interactive cards, as well as to code products like the Makey Makey or micro:bit. It is geared towards elementary students, but older students and adults can also find it beneficial.  

When creating a scary (or not so scary) story with Scratch, there are a few things to consider.  First, the students should decide on a theme. This will help them not only in writing the story, but also in selecting backdrops and sprites.  Some other things to consider are if the students will be re-telling an old tale, maybe with an alternate ending. Or, will they be creating their own unique stories?  

The next thing to think about is what the purpose of the project will be. Will you be using it to assess a student’s proficiency in block based coding, as a capstone project, or is it just for fun?  Whatever you decide, you will want to make those expectations clear and create a rubric for any grading.  

Once you have decided on the project’s purpose, you will want to make the constraints clear.  For example: your story must be unique, include two sprites that interact, and include two background changes. You should also include any requirements around dialogue, costume changes, and sound effects. These requirements should then be reflected in the rubric and assessment.  

Telling stories around Halloween can be a super fun activity, and by adding in Scratch, you are now including 21st century and ISTE standards. This is a fun way to take a tradition and add a modern twist. 

If you need further instruction on using Scratch, check out our Intro to Scratch course  and our Scary Stories with Scratch course.

For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more articles on the Teq Talk blog.

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