Arts and Coding Unit       

           This unit is designed to teach students the basics of coding while also allowing them to explore art and use it as a way to help make sense of coding. For this unit, Scratch will be used to introduce students to coding and allow them to create programs of their own. Scratch is a free website that can be accessed by following this link: https://scratch.mit.edu/ .

           The desired final project outcome of this unit is for students, with a partner, to be able to create their own Sprite on the Scratch website. Their final project should include their designed Sprite, a musical pattern, movement, a sound effect, pen tool, loops, if/then statements, and events. A possible final project could comprise of a Sprite that plays the music note pattern the students created if prompted, and then instructs the user to draw a picture using colors and the pen. Students can take the project in a variety of different directions. Encourage creativity in your students. 

           Note that this final project is not meant to be a game, but rather an opportunity for students to show what they have learned about coding and art through the medium of Scratch.

 

Art standards addressed in our unit.

GLE: 1.1.6 Understands, applies, and creates the element color when producing a work of art.

GLE: 1.1.7 Understands, applies, and creates repetition/pattern, contrast, variety, balance, movement/rhythm, and proportion in a work of art.

Computer science standards addressed in our unit.

Students develop their understanding of algorithms, nested loops, while loops, conditionals, and events. Beyond coding, students learn about digital citizenship.