Using Conditional Blocks in Scratch Jr Desktop

Conditional blocks are a powerful feature in Scratch Jr that allow you to create more complex and interactive programs. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use conditional blocks in Scratch Jr desktop:

What are conditional blocks?

Conditional blocks are used to make decisions in your program based on certain conditions. They allow your program to respond differently depending on the situation.

Types of conditional blocks:

Scratch Jr has two types of conditional blocks:

1. If-Then block: This block checks if a condition is true and then executes a specific action.
2. Ask block: This block asks a question (e.g., "Is the cat hungry?") and then executes an action based on the user's answer.

How to use conditional blocks in Scratch Jr:

1. Open Scratch Jr desktop and create a new project or open an existing one.
2. Click on the Blocks tab to access the block palette.
3. Find the Control section and drag the If-Then or Ask block into your script area (the grey space where you build your program).
4. For the If-Then block:
   • Drag a Sensor block (e.g., Touch, Sound, or Light) onto the "If" slot.
   • Connect a Action block to the "Then" slot. This is what will happen if the condition is true.
5. For the Ask block:
   • Enter the question you want to ask in the "Ask" slot (e.g., "Is the cat hungry?").
   • Drag an Action block onto the "Yes" or "No" slot, depending on how you want your program to respond.

Example: Using an If-Then block

Suppose you want a character to say "Hello!" only when the user touches the screen. Here's how you can do it:

1. Drag an If-Then block into your script area.
2. Connect a Touch Sensor block to the "If" slot.
3. Connect an Announce block with the message "Hello!" to the "Then" slot.

Now, when the user touches the screen, the character will say "Hello!".

Tips and Variations:

• You can use multiple conditional blocks together to create more complex logic.
• Use the Repeat block in combination with a conditional block to repeat an action until a certain condition is met.
• Experiment with different types of sensors (e.g., tilt, proximity) and actions to create unique interactions.

By using conditional blocks, you can add nuance and sophistication to your Scratch Jr projects. Happy coding!