Introduction
Design a dynamic, interactive Halloween card! Explore animation and personalization, bringing characters to life and letting readers shape the story. Are you up for this exciting challenge? 🎃
Objectives
Students will:
- Design a Halloween-themed card with characters and backgrounds.
- Personalize the message using fill-in-the-blank user inputs.
- Code animations using sequences and loops to bring the card to life.
Code Stories and Games with Elementari
Elementari’s makes it easy for students to create and code. Students can choose characters from a vast library of illustrations, design their page, and add a layer of code using the node-based visual coding environment. This platform makes coding for kids fun and accessible.
New to Elementari? Click on the orange Start button to jump right into the lesson for free. Check out our Getting Started Guide for an overview of how Elementari works with your class. Get started for free for up to 35 student accounts.
Coding Concepts Covered
Text Variable User Input Field Function in Parallel Functions in Sequence Background Music User Navigation Relative Position Loop DurationStudent Instructions
Select a Halloween character and background. Add a speech bubble with a question and an input field for the reader's reply.
Using the On Text Input block, set the reader's answer to a text variable which you will use to personalize the narrative on page 2.
On page 2, pick a character and background. Show the reader's personalized answer using the text variable, highlighting their unique response.
On page 2, animate your character movement to move back and forth across the page with the "Flip" and "Move" blocks.
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
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
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.