Introduction
What if a sea creature went missing—and you had to solve the mystery? In this interactive storytelling lesson, students become ocean explorers. They research real animals, write a branching story, and use Elementari to code choices, clues, and kind actions that earn Friendship Points.
Objectives
Students will:
- Research two real ocean creatures (one missing, one needing help)
- Write an original story with a mystery, clue, and underwater setting
- Design one real choice and one fake choice with different reader outcomes
- Code interactive logic using a variable (Friendship Points), buttons, and navigation blocks in Elementari
Code Stories and Games with Elementari
Elementari helps students turn stories into interactive adventures. In this project, students use code blocks to create branching paths based on reader choices. They design a simple scoring system with a Friendship Points variable, code choices that affect what happens, and add an illusion of choice for complexity. All the while, they combine storytelling with interactive design—adding sounds, animations, and clickable clues to make their ocean mystery immersive and meaningful. It's storytelling with logic, empathy, and creativity all in one.
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Teacher Notes
In this lesson, students create a 7-page interactive ocean mystery using Elementari. They research real ocean animals, write a branching story, and code choices, variables, and clues using simple blocks.
Before Coding:
- Have students complete the Writing Organizer
- Use the Research Choice Board to guide ocean animal selection
- Model a sample story using the Example Project to show how logic and choices work
After Building:
- Students test all story paths and polish visuals and sounds
- Use the Assessment Rubric to evaluate story and game design
- Optionally use the Peer Review Checklist to provide peer feedback and support revisions
Lesson Resources
Coding Concepts Covered
Number Variable Increment User Navigation Functions in SequenceStudent Instructions
Pick one ocean creature that’s missing and one that needs help. Use the Ocean Research Choice Board to research their habitat and problems.
Complete your Ocean Mystery Writing Organizer
Write the title of your story.
Code Overview: Use the Play Text Effect block to animate your title and Create Number Variables block to create a variable named points
Describe what the player sees. What’s strange? What’s missing? Set the scene and create suspense.
Code Overview: Use the Fade block to make your creature fade out or disappear when clicked.
Let the reader choose to help an animal or ignore the situation.
Use Increment Variable to add 5 points for the kind choice. Start coding the navigation for the buttons with Go To Page.
What happens if the reader helps? Is the creature saved? Include facts from your research.
Describe what happens if the player chooses not to help. How does it feel?
Code Overview: Update the Go To Page block on page 3 to go to the kind or the neutral/unkind pages.
Write a decision point — the choice feels important but doesn’t change the story.
Code Overview: Update the Go To Page block on page 4 and page 5 to go go to this page.
Place a clue object on the page.
Code Overview: When the player clicks the clue, reveal a hidden message using the Fade block.
Now it’s time to connect your buttons to your last page with the Go To Page blocks.
Describe where the player finds the missing animal and what happens next.
Ending message: “You earned {{points}} Friendship Points!”
Now it’s time to add those extra creative details!
🖼️ Add characters and background images
🎙️ Use the Play Record Sound block to play recorded voiceovers for characters or clues
🎶 Use the Play Music block to set the mood
📄 Copy and paste Page 3 to create another kind choice — this will copy the page and the code, so you can award more Friendship Points again!
Interactive Project Example for Students
Play through this lesson's example project created on Elementari. Use this example to guide and motivate your students.
Standards
CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017)
Algorithms & Programming
1B-AP-10 - Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.
1B-AP-11 - Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program development process.
1B-AP-15 - Test and debug (identify and fix errors) a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended.
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
2-AP-11 - Create clearly named variables that represent different data types and perform operations on their values.
2-AP-13 - Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs.
2-AP-17 - Systematically test and refine programs using a range of test cases.
ISTE Student Standards
Creative Communicator
6b - Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
6d - Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
6c - Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.
Computational Thinker
5a - Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.
Innovative Designer
4a - Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
4d - Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.
4c - Students develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.
4b - Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
AASL Standards
Inquire
I.A.2 - Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning
I.B.3 - Generating products that illustrate learning.
I.C.4 - Sharing products with an authentic audience.