TPACK Template

Subject English

Grade 11
Level

Learning 2017 Computer Science SOL

Objective
Algorithms and Programming
CSF.14 The student will design and iteratively develop programs for practical
intent or personal expression, incorporating feedback from users

2017 English SOL

Content

Communication: Speaking, Listening, Media Literacy

11.2b Use media, visual literacy, and technology skills to create products.

Activity
In this lesson, the students will write and create an adventure game for Hour of Code,
using the Scratch program. The game must have all elements and parts of the Dramatic
Structure in literature, such as rising action, climax, protagonists/antagonists, etc. The
teacher may need to review Dramatic Structure with the students before beginning the
Hour of Code activity. It will also be helpful to project Freytag’s Pyramid on the
whiteboard during the Hour of Code so that students can have visual reference of the
Dramatic Structure.

Figure 1. Freytag’s Pyramid from PaulGorman.org

After reviewing the background knowledge needed to make a basic literary plot, the
teacher will separate the students into small groups of 2-3. The teacher will also give
each group a worksheet where they can fill out the boxes for their plot and characters.
The students will have 10-15 minutes to write a short adventure story (using the
worksheet as a guide). The story should be separable into 5 parts, one part for each
Pedagogy

stage of the Dramatic Structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action,
resolution). The students should also make sure they have at least one protagonist and
one antagonist, as per the worksheet. After 15 minutes, the class will reconvene, and
 the teacher will show the 3-minutes tutorial video on Scratch.

Creating the adventure game on Scratch entails basic block programming. Through
screenshare or projection, the teacher can model how to begin designing a game on
the website (for example: choosing player sprites, typical part 1 “introduction” scenes).
Like with the worksheet and Freytag pyramid projection during the story drafting
portion of the activity, students should be given an mBlock sheet where they can see
what a basic block program for one scene should look like. After this. The students will
move to one computer station per group, and begin designing the 5-part adventure
game that they wrote.

During the designing portion of the activity, the teacher will circulate around the
classroom to assist groups as needed. Because the students are working in groups of 2-
3, they may need to delegate roles among themselves, such as who will be on the
computer, who will use the worksheet and mBlock handout, etc. The greatest
challenge for many students will probably be designing the movement of the sprit in
their game. This is where the mBlock handout can come in handy; in case the teacher is
busy helping another group, the other groups can explain the programming to each
other and experiment using the handout. The Hour of Code adventure game is
considered “finished” once students make sure their game has 1) sprit movement, 2)
sounds and effects, and 3) clear elements of the stages of Dramatic Structure.

Completing this activity fulfills two SOLs at once. Students will have created a unique
product using a combination of their media, visual literacy, and technology skills. The
game they make can also be used by other students to learn about the basics of plot in
literature. This activity shows that, like with many stories in film and books, writing
skills benefit games. Experimenting with block programming on Scratch is also a form
of learning a new language.

Groups who don’t finish their adventure game can finish it for homework. Next class,
students should plan to test out the games created by their peers. They will give and
receive constructive feedback about their story, game design choices, and overall
success of their game to their adult and peer audience.

Technolo https://hourofcode.com/scratchadventure
Technology

gy Internet access
Computer or laptop with Adobe Flash Player
Pen and Paper for game storyboard
 Link to
the “Share” button is unavailable. I uploaded my Scratch Project .sb3 file on Blackboard
example instead.
product

Works Cited

“Dramatic Structure”. https://paulgorman.org/writing/dramatic_structure.html. Accessed Nov. 28,

2018.