For kids aged 5-7, ScratchJr offers a fun and engaging way to dive into the world of programming. By dragging colorful blocks, young learners can create programs that make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. This intuitive platform allows children to craft their own interactive stories and games, sparking creativity and imagination.
With ScratchJr, children can personalize their projects using the paint editor to modify characters, add their own voices and sounds, and even include photos of themselves. They then use the programming blocks to bring their creations to life, making the learning process both interactive and enjoyable.
Inspired by the renowned Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), which is popular among older children, ScratchJr has been specifically tailored for younger audiences. The interface and programming language have been carefully designed to align with the cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development of young children, ensuring an age-appropriate learning experience.
We believe that coding is a new form of literacy, akin to writing. Just as writing helps organize thoughts and express ideas, coding does the same. While coding was once considered too challenging for most, we advocate that it should be accessible to everyone, much like writing.
As children engage with ScratchJr, they not only learn to code but also use coding as a tool for learning. They develop problem-solving skills, design projects, and enhance their sequencing abilities, which are crucial for future academic success. Additionally, ScratchJr integrates math and language in a meaningful context, fostering early numeracy and literacy skills.
ScratchJr is a collaborative effort between the Developmental Technologies group at Tufts University, the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, and the Playful Invention Company. The Android version was implemented by Two Sigma, with graphics and illustrations crafted by HvingtQuatre Company and Sarah Thomson.
If you enjoy using this free app, consider supporting the Scratch Foundation (http://www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit that sustains ScratchJr. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated.
This version of ScratchJr is compatible with tablets that are 7-inches or larger and run Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) or higher.
For more details, please review our Terms of Use at http://www.scratchjr.org/eula.html.
What's New in the Latest Version 1.5.11
Last updated on Nov 28, 2023
Minor bug fixes and improvements. Install or update to the newest version to check it out!
