{"id":11840,"date":"2016-02-03T14:00:12","date_gmt":"2016-02-03T20:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fractuslearning.com\/?p=11840"},"modified":"2023-09-20T10:56:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:56:03","slug":"maths-with-scratch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fractuslearning.com\/maths-with-scratch\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Maths Meaningful Using Coding and Scratch"},"content":{"rendered":"

We know that students learn best when content is meaningful and has a direct connection and application to their lives. However, while some maths\u00a0concepts, such as telling the time or using money, can have immediate relevance, others seem to have very little application to children\u2019s daily lives. How often will 11 year old children really need to measure the size of angles, or work with cartesian graphs?<\/p>\n

I’ve<\/b>\u00a0found that teaching children to code may be part of the answer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year, I’ve been teaching students in Years 2-6 to create simple arcade games using\u00a0Scratch<\/a>. In order for my students to be successful, they\u2019ve been required to apply some core mathematical ideas that I\u2019ve struggled to find a relevant use for in the past.<\/p>\n

1. Cartesian Coordinates<\/h2>\n

It is almost impossible to do anything in Scratch without using X and Y coordinates. They are required to define the exact position of any object, and to allow objects to move either vertically or horizontally.<\/p>\n

Cartesian coordinates are required in this simple script to command an object to move to a specific location:<\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/p>\n

Here’s another simple script, this time using cartesian coordinates and the arrow key to move an object down:<\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/p>\n

2. Negative Numbers<\/h2>\n

The concept of negative numbers is one that my students often have trouble relating to. For some primary students, the idea of negative numbers is just too abstract. Coding with Scratch has provided a meaningful use for these<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The background stage in Scratch is a basic XY grid. Anything placed to the left of, or below the centre will require positioning using negative numbers. The cat sprite in this picture is positioned at X-125, Y-76:<\/p>\n

\"ScreenMovement also requires negative numbers. For example, a script that allows an object to move in a downwards direction will require an instruction to change Y by a negative number.<\/p>\n

3. Degrees of Turn<\/h2>\n

Working with Scratch has required my students to experiment with the size of a turn and use them to control objects. These two simple movement blocks the types of options that are available.<\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/p>\n

4. Decimals<\/h2>\n

Understanding and ordering decimals is usually challenging for primary school students. In Scratch, students use decimals to perform various functions such as adjusting the speed\u00a0of an object. If they want to move an object to the right, they can change X by 1. But to slow that movement down, they need to start using smaller numbers.<\/p>\n

In this movement block, the\u00a0size of the movement along the x axis\u00a0has been reduced to 0.15. My students experiment with the size of decimals until they achieve the result they are after.<\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/p>\n

Getting Started<\/h2>\n

When I started this project\u00a0with my classes,\u00a0I had no experience with Scratch and have been learning along with my students. The great thing is, it’s easy and there are many resources out there to help teachers who are at the beginning of their journey.<\/p>\n

These free Primary Lesson Plans<\/a> from Scratch.ie<\/a>\u00a0were my starting point. Each lesson takes around 45 minutes for my students to work through and they’ve provided a great foundation for the creative projects we’re now working on.<\/p>\n

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My students are learning maths by applying it creatively to something they love doing.<\/h4>\n

Tweet<\/a>
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