What is ScratchJr?
ScratchJr is an introductory programming language that enables young children (ages 5-7) to create their own interactive stories and games. Children snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. Children can modify characters in the paint editor, add their own voices and sounds, even insert photos of themselves — then use the programming blocks to make their characters come to life.
Why ScratchJr?
ScratchJr is designed based on evidence. Informed by over 20 years of research in computer science and early childhood education, ScratchJr is designed to create the best learning experience for children. ScratchJr is a coding playground – promoting exploration, creativity, and discovery.
As young children code with ScratchJr, they learn how to create and express themselves with the computer. In the process, children learn to solve problems and design projects, and they develop sequencing skills that are foundational for later academic success. They also use math and language in a meaningful and motivating context, supporting the development of early-childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, children aren’t just learning to code, they are coding to learn.
Coding (or computer programming) is a new type of literacy. Just as writing helps you organize your thinking and express your ideas, the same is true for coding.
Story of ScratchJr
ScratchJr was inspired by the popular Scratch programming language (scratch.mit.edu), used by millions of young people (ages 8 and up) around the world. In creating ScratchJr, we redesigned the interface and programming language to make them developmentally appropriate for younger children, carefully designing features to match young children’s cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development.
ScratchJr was created through a National Science Foundation grant that funded a partnership between the DevTech Research Group directed by Marina Umaschi Bers, and the LifeLong Kindergarten group directed by Mitchel Resnick. The two groups together, with Paula Bonta from the Playful Invention Company, created ScratchJr, which is now maintained by both the DevTech Research Group and the Scratch Foundation.