Scratch User Guide: Installing & Getting Started with Scratch
Scratch Tutorial Note
This user guide was written for Scratch version 1.4, which is available at the Scratch 1.4 download page. Additional tutorials are available on the download page. Information about the most recent version of Scratch is available at the MIT Scratch website.
Installing Scratch
Scratch is a free, easy-to-use programming language from MIT that you can use to make all sorts of animated stories, art, music, and even interactive games. Installing Scratch is simple. All you need to do is go to the Scratch 1.4 download page, and follow the simple instructions there to download and install Scratch for free. Be sure you have permission to install the program on the computer you are using.
Getting Started with Scratch
- In addition to our own user guide, the Getting Started with Scratch guide and Scratch Reference Guide contain a lot of useful information. However, you do not have to sit down and read all this material in advance. It might be more fun to open up Scratch and just start playing around! Then, you can refer back to the reference materials when you need help or get stuck.
- Scratch has a very simple programming environment, made up of five main areas. Figure 1 shows where each of those areas is located, and Table 1 provides more details about each area.

Screenshot of the program Scratch showing block categories, block list, scripting area, stage, and sprites list. The block categories appear in the top-left of the program window, while the list of blocks sidebar appears directly underneath. In the center of the page is a scripting area where blocks can be placed. The right side of the page includes a large display area to see how programs run and a sprites list area underneath it.
Figure 1. Labeled in orange are the five areas of the Scratch programming environment. Also notice the green flag and red octagon icons, circled in blue. When the green flag is clicked, the program you've created runs in the stage window. Clicking the red octagon stops the program.
Area | Function |
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Scripting Area | Within the scripting area, there are three tabs:
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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.
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List of Blocks | Once you click on one of the categories listed, the different blocks that are included in this category are listed. |
Stage | This is the area where the sprites execute or run the script that you built in the scripting area. Clicking on the green flag allows you to start executing the script (if you set up your script to do so) and the red button will make the script stop. |
Sprite List | There are three buttons here that you can use to create a variety of sprites and backgrounds.
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Table 1. This table lists all the functions available in each of the five Scratch programming environment areas.
- Scratch programs, also called projects, are created by dragging, dropping, and snapping together different blocks. All blocks that are joined together are called a script. Simple programs may have just one or two scripts, whereas more complex programs have many scripts.
- You now have enough information to get started writing scripts and experimenting with Scratch. Open up the Scratch programming environment and start playing around.
- For example, click on one of the menus in the upper left of your screen, like the Motion menu. In the screen below it, you will see all the commands that are available under that menu. Try clicking on one of the commands, like "Move" or "Turn" to see what happens to the cat sprite. Then change numbers inside the commands (for example, change "Move 10 steps" to "Move 30 steps") and click again on the command to see what happens to the sprite.
- If you'd like a more complete description of what each block does, read MIT's Scratch Reference Guide. This guide is very detailed and helpful once you have had a chance to play with Scratch a bit.
- If you have a specific question about how to do something in Scratch (like change colors, make a sprite jump, or keep score in a video game), try a Google search for "how to __________ in Scratch" (and fill in the blank with what you want to do). Many times, you will be able to find example code online, or forum posts discussing the same topic.
Step-by-Step Instruction Resources for Learning to Program with Scratch
One of the nice things about using Scratch is that there are a lot of people and places to turn to for help. If you get stuck programming, or are confused about how to start a specific project, consult the Science Buddies Help, I'm Stuck! Troubleshooting a Program in Scratch page. Table 2 also lists some additional options for learning more about Scratch or asking questions.
Type of Resource | Citation |
---|---|
Book for beginners about programming with Scratch. | Ford Jr., Jerry Lee. Scratch Programming for Teens. Boston: Course Technology, 2009. |
Book for beginners about programming with Scratch. | Badger, Michael. Scratch 1.4 Beginners Guide. Packt Publishing, 2009. |
Official Scratch getting started resources | https://scratch.mit.edu/tips |
Scratch wiki with more information about Scratch | https://wiki.scratch.mit.edu/wiki/Scratch_Wiki_Home |
Scratch forum where you can ask questions | https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/ |
Table 2. Resources with step-by-step help for learning to program with Scratch.