Computing is a complex subject, rich in specialised language and terminology. One of its most challenging strands is coding. But how do you deliver everything the national curriculum requires if you’re not a specialist? This computing medium-term plan approaches this challenge by using video games as a contextual foundation.
Video games are widely understood and relatable for most children, helping them make sense of key computing vocabulary.
Over the course of six lessons, pupils will learn the core coding concepts needed to create a simple game, using MIT’s free Scratch software.
The code examples in the accompanying teacher’s resources are annotated with comments, and could be shared with children who need a little extra scaffolding.
Those pupils with more experience in Scratch can be encouraged to support their peers and, of course, to develop their own games beyond the objectives of these six lessons.
Computing medium-term plan learning objectives
- Character movement with user input: code a sprite to move using arrow keys
- Add a star sprite and use ‘Selection’ (and collision detection) so the player can collect it
- Introduce debugging
- Use loops to check for collisions, and to create multiple stars
- Create a variable to keep track of the score
- Clone the star sprite
- Make clones vanish when the player touches them
- Consolidate learning and apply coding concepts by refining a playable game
John Bolton is a computing teacher in a primary school in the South West.
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