Scratch is a block-based coding platform and an online community that gives kids the opportunity to code their own interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world.
How is Scratch for CS First different from Scratch?
Scratch for CS First allows students to create projects in a special version of the Scratch editor, without needing to leave the CS First website. Students can name and save their coding projects in their CS First accounts and share them with their teacher. Scratch for CS First also does not connect to the Scratch online community. If students and teachers wish to share their work with a global online community, they can continue to access scratch.mit.edu on their own (this video explains more about how to connect to the Scratch online community). Lastly, Scratch for CS First allows the option to use Google Workspace for Education accounts through a single sign-in process.
The following features are available in Scratch but are not available in Scratch for CS First:
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The Scratch community (commenting, sharing, remixing)
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The Scratch toolbar (a different toolbar is available in Scratch for CS First)
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The ability for students to use their camera to upload a costume
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The ability for students to record their own sound
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The Scratch Backpack, for sharing assets between projects
Most extensions: Scratch for CS First maintains the Music and Pen extensions
How the integration with Scratch works:
When students click on a starter project link from within a CS First video-based lesson or on Start from a text-based lesson, the Scratch for CS First editor will open in a new browser tab where students will proceed to create their projects. If students would like to keep the lesson video and their project open side by side, they can use their device's split screen or split view feature.
The Scratch Foundation works with the community to maintain a friendly and respectful environment for people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities. You can help your child or student learn how to participate by reviewing the Community Guidelines together. The Scratch Foundation uses a wide variety of tools and strategies to encourage good digital citizenship and maintain a positive environment for Scratchers to create in. Automated filters prevent private information from being shared or inappropriate content from being posted, and community members are encouraged to report content they feel violates the Community Guidelines.
See Scratch’s “For Parents” page for more information.
Note: CS First is unable to integrate with other products aside from Scratch.