Computer Science
Grade 1
20 min
Adding Backgrounds
Adding Backgrounds
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the button to change a background.
Open the background library.
Select a new background from a library.
Add a chosen background to their project stage.
Explain that a background is the 'where' of a story.
Change an existing background to a different one.
Where does your favorite animal live? 🦁 In a jungle? Let's build a home for our characters!
Today, we will learn how to add a background. This makes our stories and games more fun. A background tells us where the story is happening.
Real-World Applications
The places in your favorite cartoons 📺
The pictures behind words in a storybook 📖
The worlds you see in a video game 🎮
The picture on your tablet's home screen 🖼️
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
BackgroundThe picture behind our characters. It is the place where our story happens.A sunny beach 🏖️, a spooky castle 🏰, or a cozy bedroom 🛌.
CharacterThe person, animal, or thing in our story. Also called a 'Sprite'.A friendly cat 🐱, a dancing robot 🤖, or a bouncing ball 🏀.
StageThe whole screen where our story happens. The background fills the stage.The big white box where you see your character and background together.
LibraryA big collection of pictures you can choose from.A list of many different backgrounds, like a farm, a city, or space. 🚀
SelectTo pick or choose something by clicking on it.You select the apple 🍎 when you click on it with your mouse.
3
Core Syntax & Patterns
Find the Background Button
Look for the button that looks like a picture or a landscape. 🖼️
This button is usually near the stage. It lets you add a new background.
Choose From the Library
Click the button ➡️ Open the Library ➡️ Click your choice.
After you click the background button, a library of pictures will open. Click the one you want!
One Background at a Time
A new background replaces the old one.
Your stage can only show one background at a time. If you pick a new one, the old one goes away.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
A story starts with a dog at the park. Then, the dog goes home. The code is: `SET BACKGROUND TO 'PARK'` -> `DOG WALKS`. Where do you add the `SET BACKGROUND TO 'BEDROOM'` block?
A.Before `SET BACKGROUND TO 'PARK'`
B.Instead of `DOG WALKS`
C.You don't need it.
D.After `DOG WALKS`
Challenging
You have a background of a dark, starry night sky ✨. You add a character of a bright, smiling sun ☀️. What might be a problem with this story?
A.The sun is too big.
B.The sun and the night sky usually don't appear at the same time.
C.The background has too many stars.
D.The sun character can't move.
Challenging
For a surprise party, you want the background to change from an empty room to a party room 🥳 when you click a button. What kind of block do you need?
A.block that waits for a long time.
B.block that makes the character spin.
C.block that makes the background smaller.
D.block that changes the background when the button is clicked.
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