Mathematics Scratch Geography

Advanced

60 mins

Teacher/Student led

+70 XP

What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC or iPad/Tablet

Volcano

In this lesson we will make a volcano smoke, rumble and then erupt with lava. We will create the sprites for the smoke and lava and use messages to time when everything happens.

Warning: Your screen size is quite small for viewing this. Rotate your device into landscape mode if you can.

1 Create a new Scratch project
2 Colour the backdrop blue
3 Add the volcano sprite
4 Paint a new smoke sprite and create costumes
5 Make the volcano smoke
6 Make the volcano shake
7 Paint a new lava sprite and create costumes
8 Make the volcano erupt
9 Try it out!
Quiz

1 - Create a new Scratch project

Create a new Scratch project and delete the cat sprite.

scratch.mit.edu

Scratch: How to create a new project

Go to the Scratch website using the link below and click on the 'Create' link in the blue bar at the top.

By default, each new project starts with the cat sprite already added. To delete the cat click on the x in the blue circle beside the cat in the sprite list.

https://scratch.mit.edu

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+5 XP

2 - Colour the backdrop blue

Colour the backdrop blue by following these steps.

Click the Convert to Bitmap button.
Select the colour blue in the Fill tool.
Click on the Paint Bucket tool.
Click on the backdrop to change it's colour to blue.
Click on the Convert to Vector button.

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+15 XP

3 - Add the volcano sprite

Included with this lesson is a volcano picture that we're going to upload into our Scratch project. To first download the picture file onto your computer and then upload it into your project.

The volcano sprite will upload into your project and appear in the stage area. Drag the volcano to the bottom of the stage area.

We will make the volcano smoke when we press the space bar. Add the following code to the volcano sprite:

when [space v] key pressed broadcast [smoke v]

Scratch: Using a tablet or iPad? Tap here for different controls

If you're using a tablet or iPad without a physical keyboard, you won't be able to use keyboard keys like the arrow keys in your project. Instead, we'll add simple on-screen buttons (using sprites) that you can tap to do the same things. This keeps your project working great! Just follow these steps wherever the lesson talks about pressing a key.

First, add a new sprite for your button:

Click the "Choose a Sprite" button in the bottom right.
Pick a simple shape, like an arrow or a circle. Make it small and place it on the screen where it's easy to tap, like the bottom corner.

Now, program your button sprite to make things happen when you tap it. Here's how it works for different situations:

Example 1: If the lesson uses a key to trigger an action on a specific sprite (like making something move, turn, or jump)

Instead of code like this on your target sprite:

when [left arrow v] key pressed change x by (-10) // or any action

Or this:

if < key [left arrow v] pressed? > then change x by (-10) // or any action end

Add this code to your new button sprite:

when this sprite clicked broadcast [do action v]

Then, on your target sprite, add this to receive the message:

when I receive [do action v] change x by (-10) // or any action

Tap the button on the screen, and the action will happen, just like pressing the key! Use a unique broadcast name for each different action or key.

Example 2: If the lesson uses a key to change a variable (like adding to a score or setting a value)

Instead of code like this:

when [space v] key pressed change [score v] by (1)

Or this:

if < key [space v] pressed? > then change [score v] by (1) end

Add a new button sprite. Then, put this code on the button sprite:

when this sprite clicked change [score v] by (1)

(If the variable is "for this sprite only," make sure it's set to "for all sprites" so the button can change it.)

Tap the button, and the variable changes, no message needed since it's something shared!

+25 XP

4 - Paint a new smoke sprite and create costumes

To simulate smoke coming from the volcano we're going to paint a new sprite. Click on the 'Paint new sprite' button (the paint brush highlighted in yellow) and follow these steps:

Click the 'Convert to vector' button.
Click the Ellipse tool.
Select the 'filled in' option.
Select a gray colour.
Draw a sideways ellipse in the center of the editor.
Right click on the costume in the costume list and duplicate the costume 3 times.
Change the colour of these other costumes to be different shades of gray using the paint bucket tool.

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Copyright Notice
This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2026. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.

Scratch is developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is available for free at https://scratch.mit.edu