Hello, ScratchJr coding enthusiasts! Are you looking for a fun, festive challenge to boost your skills? We’ve found a fantastic ScratchJr project that is perfect for beginners and seasoned young coders alike: a Christmas-themed Snowman catch game! Please click here you missed yesterday’s Christmas coding project.

This ScratchJr game teaches you key concepts like character movement, creating multiple sprites, and using delays to manage gameplay flow. Get ready to create a winter wonderland that you can actually play!

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Step 1: Crafting Your Characters and Setting the Scene

Before you start coding, you need your game pieces.

• Design Your Snowman: The tutorial starts by creating a custom Snowman sprite using the paint editor ([00:00:26]). You’ll draw two circles for the body, add a hat, eyes, buttons, a carrot nose, and brown stick arms ([00:00:31]). Remember to adjust the size so the snowman can move easily across the screen ([00:01:34]).
• Pick Your Background: Select a wintry background and use the paint tools to remove any unwanted features, clearing space for the action ([00:01:39]).
• Create the Presents (The Catch Items): Design multiple gift-box sprites using the paint tool, giving each a different colour scheme (red with blue ribbon, purple, etc.) ([00:01:53]). You can add as many as you like!

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Step 2: Coding the Falling Presents

The presents are the objects your snowman needs to catch (or avoid). The key here is making them fall at different times.

The code for each present follows this structure:

1. Start and Appearance: The code begins with the green flag. Use the show block to make the present visible ([00:03:35]).
2. Delay (Crucial Step): To make the presents fall sequentially, you must use the wait block. The tutorial advises setting different wait times (e.g., 10, 20, 30, 40 tenths of a second) for each present ([00:04:02]).
3. Falling Action: The present then uses the move down block inside a forever loop to continuously fall, disappearing when it reaches the bottom ([00:03:47]).
4. Collision and Disappearance: Use the bump block. If the present touches the snowman, it should stop the code and use the hide block to make the present disappear ([00:04:53]).
5. The “Winner” Present: For one specific present, you can add a fun twist! Instead of just disappearing, code it to say “Winner” before it hides ([00:05:21]).

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Step 3: Coding the Snowman’s Movement

You need controls so the player can move the snowman to catch the falling objects.

1. Create Control Buttons: Add two new sprites for your control buttons (e.g., a blue button for left and a red button for right) ([00:06:11]).
2. Send Messages: Code each button to send a unique message when tapped (e.g., the red button sends a red message, the blue button sends a blue message) ([00:06:36]).
3. Receive and Move: Go back to your Snowman sprite. Use the receive message blocks (red and blue) to make the snowman move right and left accordingly, allowing the player to control the character’s movement across the screen ([00:06:54]).

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This Snowman catch game is a rewarding ScratchJr project that introduces you to timing and interaction in game design. It’s simple, fun, and a great way to practise your sequencing and control blocks!

Ready for more festive coding fun? Continue your journey and try more engaging Christmas coding projects, or here for the next ScratchJr Xmas project.

Alternatively, if you are looking for Coding Tutor in Hertfordshire to support your children with this, I can also help.