Instructions for Scratch Key Terms: Game Design
The terms and definitions for this assignment include:
1. Scratch – Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy to create interactive stories, games, and
animations – and share your creations with others on the Web.
2. Scratch interface – The Scratch interface includes everything needed to create a project. On the left are the
categories of blocks known as palettes, in the center is the Scripts area, and on the right is the Stage.
3. sprites – Sprites are objects that wear costumes that are used to make up Scratch projects.
4. costume – Costumes are images used to define how a sprite looks. Costumes may be any of these image
formats: JPG, BMP, PNG or GIF (including animated GIF).
5. script – A script is a sequence of actions or a program created by snapping blocks together into stacks of graphic
blocks which are used to tell a sprite what to do.
6. Stage – The Stage is the area where you see your stories, games, and animations come to life.
7. Sprite List – The Sprite List displays thumbnails with the name of each sprite below the thumbnail for all sprites
in a project.
8. mouse x-y display – The mouse x-y display is located just below the Stage and is used to find out the x-y
positions on the Stage.
9.
backgrounds – When a sprite is the stage it is known as a background. Backgrounds are used to change the
appearance of the Stage.
10. Green Flag – The Green Flag provides a way to start many scripts at the same time.
11. Canvas – The Canvas is the area in the Paint Editor which allows the user to create or edit costumes and
backgrounds.
12. Clear button – The Clear button removes all content from the Canvas.
13. Project Notes – Project Notes allows you to write and save notes about your project, such as instructions on how
to use it. Project Notes is found in the File menu.
14. Hats – Hats are blocks with smooth tops which can only be placed at the top of a stack of blocks.
15. Blocks – Blocks are categories of instructions including Motion, Looks, Sound, Pen, Control, Sensing, Operators
and Variables.