Junior Tinkerers (Ages 8–10)

• Brief review of how computers "think"
• Event-driven programming: when I click, press, or touch
• Smart sprites: costumes, speech bubbles, and timing
• Using sound and animation together

Mini project:

"Animated Greeting" — a sprite introduces itself with movement, voice, and timing.

• Deeper into loops: repeat vs. forever
• Understanding x/y coordinates and planning movement
• Adding simple conditions ("if" something happens, do this)
• Using variables for speed, direction, or score

Mini project:

"Race Time" — build a simple race where players control a sprite and track laps or score.

• Message passing between sprites ("broadcast" and "when I receive")
• Tracking progress with variables
• Introducing randomness to make games less predictable
• Debugging: finding and fixing errors systematically

Mini project:

"Catch It" — a reaction game where players catch or avoid moving objects.

• Planning: sketching a game flow or interactive story map
• Combining skills: motion + loops + conditions + messages
• Polishing: instructions, sound effects, and title screens
• Peer testing and sharing projects

Mini project:

"Showcase Game" — design and present an original mini-game or interactive story.