Science Buddies: Scratch User Guide: Installing & Getting Started with Scratch

Block Categories
There are eight block categories. Notice that the blocks have different shapes. This gives you a clue about which blocks can be snapped together and which blocks can’t be snapped together. If the shapes fit together, then they will work together.

• Motion: These blocks are used to move the sprite around the screen.
• Looks: The blocks listed here change the appearance of the sprite. For example, having the sprite say or think something changes the appearance of the sprite, so these blocks are included in the Looks category.
• Sound: These blocks are used to add different sounds to the sprite’s script. You can access the various sounds that you designed in the scripting area’s Sounds tab with these blocks as well.
• Pen: Use these blocks to write on the screen or to make drawings and patterns.
• Control: This category contains the blocks that control the execution of blocks or a set of blocks. Included are “when” blocks, conditional statement blocks (“If” and “If/Else”), “forever,” and “repeat.” To use control blocks, simply drag the block into the script tab and then drag whatever other blocks you need into the control block.
• Sensing: These blocks allow the sprite to interact with its surroundings and allow the user to interact with the program, using devices such as the PicoBoard or the Lego WeDo.
• Operators: These blocks allow you to compare variables and sprite positions.
• Variables: In this category, you can define different variables that you require in your program.