Lesson Plan: Introduction to Scratch Using "The Lion King" Musical

3rd-5th Grade

Lesson will take about 40 minutes

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Objective:

Students will understand the various components required to create a musical production and learn how these components translate into animation elements within the Scratch platform allowing them to use their schema to understand how Scratch works.

Materials:

- Video clip from The Lion King (approximately 3-5 minutes)

- Projector or smartboard to show video and demonstrate Scratch

- Computers with access to Scratch (online or offline editor)

- Whiteboard or digital board for brainstorming

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Lesson Outline:

Introduction and Clip Viewing https://youtu.be/pluUQ6qXGEQ?si=dv4rNuI_BynD2d_O (Lion King Musical)

Begin by having students close their eyes until they hear the first sound.

Show the trailer of “The Lion King Musical”, focusing on scenes with various production elements (e.g., costumes, music, lighting). You can use any musical, but this one was very relatable to my students.

Ask students to watch carefully and observe all the different components that make up the performance.

Group Brainstorming

After the clip, ask the question: "What are all the things you need to put a musical on stage?"

Prompt students to think beyond just the actors—consider costumes, lighting, script, stage, music, who are the audience, producers, directors, etc.

Write down responses on a whiteboard or digital board, creating a bank of ideas that will relate to different aspects of Scratch.

Introduction to Scratch and Animation Components

Transition to discussing animation and the Scratch platform.

Explain that today, they’ll learn how Scratch has all the same components needed to create an animation like a musical.

Briefly show them the Scratch interface, pointing out where they’ll find the main elements they brainstormed relating to their knowledge of a play.

Connecting Musical/Play Components to Scratch

Sprites (Characters/Objects): Explain that the sprites in Scratch are like the actors or objects on stage.

Stage and Backdrops: Describe the stage as a fixed space and the backdrops as changeable backgrounds, similar to scene changes in a musical.

Costumes: Show how sprites can have different "costumes," representing changes in outfits or expressions.

Motion Blocks: Compare the motion blocks to choreography, where we script specific movements on stage using X and Y coordinates.

Sound Blocks: Connect the sound blocks to music and sound effects in the musical.

Say Blocks: Link "say" blocks to dialogue that appears as speech bubbles on the screen.

Green Flag: Relate the green flag to the moment the curtains open, signaling the start of the show.

Brief Scratch Demonstration

Create a simple example of an animated scene in Scratch by programming a sprite to move across the screen, say something, and play a sound.

Walk students through each step, briefly explaining how each component connects back to what they identified as elements of a musical.

.Reflection and Wrap-Up

Ask students to reflect: "How does creating an animation in Scratch feel similar to putting on a musical?" and “What was one component that surprised you in how it matched the stage?”

Explain that in future lessons, they’ll have the chance to create their own animations, just like their own mini-musicals!

Assessments

Observe students’ participation during the brainstorming and discussion to gauge their understanding of the connections between musical components and Scratch elements.