Story Coder is a block coding studio in the style of Scratch, made simpler for primary school children. Children choose a backdrop such as the beach, the bush or outer space, add up to six characters, and give each one its own scripts. Blocks start with an event (when the green flag is clicked, when this character is clicked, when a key is pressed, when the score reaches a number) and then run motion, looks, sound, control and score blocks in order. Several scripts run at the same time, just like real programs. Projects save on this device, can be shared as a link, downloaded as a file, and the stage can be saved as a picture.
If a character does not do what you expected, read its script out loud from the top, one block at a time. The bug is usually where your words and the character stop matching.
- Writing algorithms as visual programs
- Using events and user input to start code
- Repeat loops, forever loops and if-then decisions
- Using a score variable
- Debugging by running, watching and fixing
- Planning and telling a story with digital tools
Game designers, animators and app developers use the same ideas: events, loops, decisions and variables. Scratch, which many Australian classrooms use, works the same way, so the skills carry straight over.
- Ask your child to explain what each character will do before they press the green flag, then check if they were right.
- Play their game and suggest one small change, such as a faster character or a higher target score.
- Try the challenges together and talk about why the Check button says the code is finished or not yet.
- Share the project link with family so your child can show off their story.
Year 2 children can make a character say hello and move when the flag is clicked. Years 3 and 4 add key controls, repeat loops and clicks. Years 5 and 6 build small games with a score, "if touching" decisions and several characters working at once.
This game practises these content descriptions. Tap a code to see its full wording and other games for it.
- AC9TDI2P04 (Year 2 Digital Technologies) use the basic features of common digital tools to create, locate and communicate content
- AC9TDI4P04 (Year 4 Digital Technologies) implement simple algorithms as visual programs involving control structures and input
- AC9TDI4P06 (Year 4 Digital Technologies) use the core features of common digital tools to create, locate and communicate content, following agreed conventions
- AC9TDI6P05 (Year 6 Digital Technologies) implement algorithms as visual programs involving control structures, variables and input
- AC9TDI6P07 (Year 6 Digital Technologies) select and use appropriate digital tools effectively to create, locate and communicate content, applying common conventions
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