Getting Started With Scratch

What is Scratch, anyway?

Scratch is a beginner friendly programming language that allows you to create your own games, music, art, and/or animations. You can create powerful programs by editing your code directly in a web browser, or, you can download the Scratch editor to your own computer at home. Either way, the programs you create are shareable with your friends and family. Show people what you create!

What can I build with the Scratch programming language?

You're really only limited by your imagination. Though, as you become a better programmer, you may find yourself seeking more challenge. There are plenty of programming languages out there. Do some research first. If nothing jumps out that interests you immediatey, try learning JavaScript or C#.

The purpose today is to get you familiar with the Scratch programming language and the basics of most any programming language so that you can build anything you want. We'll start simply by making a cat dance on the moon. No really, it's simple! From there, you will be able to start creating anything you want and come up with your own ideas.

Let's Create An Account

The first thing we'll do is a make a cat dance on the moon. From there you can build whatever you want, but, to get started we'll first need to [go here](http://scratch.mit.edu/).

1. Create a new account by going to http://scratch.mit.edu.
2. Click on the 'Join Scratch' button in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Choose a user name & password. Make a note of this information so you don't forget it.
4. Enter your birthday, gender, country and email address.
5. Close the next window.

Your account is created and you can now use your account to create projects, ask for help on the website if you need it, browse projects other people have created, and upload your own creations to share with others.

A copy of the tutorial we will follow first can be downloaded here. However, it's not necessary to do that right now since we will be using a slightly different method of introduction as described below.

Let's Learn How To Write A Scratch Program

First, let's follow the onscreen tutorial by clicking on the small question mark symbol below the "See Project Page" blue button in the upper right hand side of the screen. The question mark is small and hard to see but it's there!

Next, click the 'Step-by-step Intro' blue link in the flyout window that opened. This will take you to the step 1 of our introductory tutorial.