Scratch Interactive Coding Competition

Overview

The Scratch Interactive Coding Competition is a fast-paced Scratch coding competition where students have just 20 minutes to create an interactive animation, dance party, or visual experience using a provided template. The competition is divided into three divisions: Elementary, Middle, and High School, with challenges tailored to each level. For some inspiration, check out this example!

Participants must think quickly, code efficiently, and showcase their creativity under time constraints. The challenge emphasizes rapid problem-solving, interactivity, and artistic expression.

Note: Competition rules are subject to change up until the day of the competition.

Divisions & Age Groups

• Elementary Division (Grades 3-5)
• Middle School Division (Grades 6-8)
• High School Division (Grades 9-12)

Competition Format

• Session Length: 20 minutes
• Provided Template: Each participant starts with a basic Scratch project that includes a background and one or two sprites.
• Goal: Modify and expand upon the template to create an interactive experience.
• Judging: Entries will be reviewed immediately after submission based on creativity, interactivity, and technical implementation.

General Rules (All Divisions)

1. Start with a provided Scratch template—outside projects aren’t allowed to keep things fair.
2. Get creative from scratch! No pre-made scripts—everything should be coded during the 20-minute session.
3. Make sure your project includes at least one interactive element (like keyboard, mouse, or sound input).
4. Bring your animations to life! By the end, they should be working and visually engaging.
5. Keep it school-friendly—no inappropriate content.
6. Want to work with friends? Teams of up to 3 are welcome!
7. Submit on time—once the timer runs out, no late entries can be accepted.

We know that solving problems quickly can be tricky, so feel free to use the internet to help you during the competition!

Need Help Getting Started?

We’ve got extra templates to give you more inspiration! Feel free to explore different styles:

• Basic Interactive Template – A simple project with interactive characters.
• Basic Animation Template – A basic animation with sound that switches frames.
• Text to Speech Template – Features some characters with text blocks while speaking.

Use these as a starting point, then make them your own!

Division-Specific Challenges

Elementary Division (Grades 3-5)

Challenge: Create a fun, animated scene that reacts to user input.

Template Link

Template Features:

• 1 background
• 2 sprites (e.g., a dancing character and an object)
• Some starter motion blocks

Requirements:

• At least one sprite must move or animate.
• Use one form of interaction (keyboard, mouse, or automatic animation).
• Sound effects or music are optional.

Middle School Division (Grades 6-8)

Challenge: Design an interactive visual experience with dynamic movement.

Template Link

Template Features:

• 1 background
• 3 sprites with different initial animations
• A basic event block structure

Requirements:

• At least one user interaction is required.
• Broadcast messages can be used for sprite interactions.
• Using a variable is optional.

High School Division (Grades 9-12)

Challenge: Develop a sophisticated, interactive artistic piece in just 20 minutes.

Template Link

Template Features:

• 1 background
• 4 sprites with some preset movement or animation
• Starter logic for sprite interactions

Requirements:

• At least two types of user interaction.
• Cloning or custom blocks are optional.
• Randomization or physics effects would be cool!

Judging Criteria

Projects will be judged on a 10-point scale per category, with a maximum of 50 points: