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University of Massachusetts

GameCraft: Coding & Interactive Design with Scratch + Sports Adventures for Grades 4-5

GameCraft: Coding & Interactive Design with Scratch + Sports Adventures for Grades 4-5

Embark on an imaginative and active journey with GameCraft: Coding & Interactive Design with Scratch + Sports Adventures!

This engaging course is designed to equip students with mastery in block-based coding and game creation using Scratch. They'll delve into fundamental game design and development concepts, such as programming logic, user interface design, and interactive storytelling, building a strong foundation in digital literacy and technological creativity. As students create their interactive games, they'll also enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, tackling challenges with logical reasoning and innovative approaches. Additionally, the course integrates Sports Adventures, where students engage in various sports activities each afternoon, fostering physical coordination, fitness, and important social skills like teamwork and communication. This comprehensive approach ensures a balanced experience, merging technological skill-building with physical education and cooperative play for a summer full of learning, creativity, and fun.

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  • Camp Hours: 9AM-3PM
  • After Camp, M-TH: 3PM -6PM*
  • Friday Family Showcase: 2PM-3PM

*Location Dependent. This option will appear after selecting a camp week if this location has it available.

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  • About GameCraft: Coding & Interactive Design with Scratch + Sports Adventures for Grades 4-5

    Dive into a creative and dynamic adventure with GameCraft: Coding & Interactive Design with Scratch. This captivating course aims to provide students with expertise in block-based programming and game development utilizing Scratch. Participants will explore key aspects of game design and creation, including programming fundamentals, interface design, and engaging narrative techniques, laying the groundwork for advanced digital skills and technological innovation. As they design their own interactive games, students will bolster their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, addressing hurdles with strategic thought and inventive solutions.

  • Topics Covered

    • Discover the fundamentals of game design and game mechanics.
    • Explore diverse game genres from memory games to platformers.
    • Deep dive into game development, from Space Invaders to Flappy Birds.
    • Build a game from concept to coding and through to debugging and playtesting.

  • Engineering and Technology Proficiency

    Students will acquire foundational skills in robotics engineering by building and programming Wonder robots. This includes understanding robotic design basics, programming movements, and responses and applying these skills to solve narrative-based challenges.

  • Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

    Students will enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities through hands-on challenges with Wonder robots. They will learn to approach problems systematically, think creatively to find solutions, and adapt to various scenarios.

  • Physical Development and Team Collaboration

    Students will participate in various sports to develop physical coordination, fitness, and social skills like teamwork, communication, and sportsmanship. This holistic approach supports physical education and social-emotional learning, balancing technological skills with physical and cooperative play.

Sample Schedule

Here’s a sample of what a week in this course could look like. Keep in mind, our experienced instructors will build the camp that is right for your student, and this outline demonstrates some of the key materials and the overall camp experience.

Collapsible content

Monday: Racing and Balancing Fun

Explore the core of engaging video games with an introduction to racing game design, followed by the creation of balanced games and mazes.

Tuesday: Platformers and Debugging

Dive into the world of platformer games, understanding their structure and mechanics. Students will refine their game, identifying and fixing bugs, enhancing gameplay through newly learned techniques.

Wednesday: Creative Coding with Classics

From the nostalgic Flappy Bird to designing an 8-bit game, students will journey through game development history.

Thursday: Storytelling and Innovation

Embark on storytelling and creative expression with educational games and a poem generator. Students will craft an educational game, offering a pitch for their unique game concept.

Friday: Arcade Classics and Game Polish

The week wraps up with a focus on arcade inspirations and game refinement. The day ends in the Game Designers' Club, where students review, refine, and polish one of their game projects, readying it for the showcase.

Course Format

This course is part of a weeklong summer camp running Monday through Friday. Your child will learn in a small group setting on an inspiring university campus from an experienced instructor. An exciting daily schedule balances learning and exploration of this topic with a variety of outdoor and recreational activities within the larger camp setting. Lunch and aftercare options are available based on location.

Our Instructors Are Our Top Asset

At BAM!, our vision for innovative K-8 education extends beyond just curriculum; it encompasses the educators who bring that curriculum to life. Selecting & training our educators is a continuous and meticulous process, ensuring they are not just equipped with subject matter expertise but also the skills to inspire and connect with students on a personal level.

  • 100% adult educators recruited from prestigious universities ( No CITs at BAM!)
  • Highly refined interview and background check process 
  • Extensive training that goes well beyond curriculum & classroom management
  • Ongoing year-round opportunities to teach in our summer camp. After-school, and structured recess programs.

We celebrate your success!

Upon the conclusion of your child's program, they will be presented with an official Brains & Motion Education certification.