4. Setting the Scene

In the previous step you should have signed in to Scratch and created the new project.

If you haven't done this yet, pause this video and click the blue arrow to go back to the previous step.

This video will introduce how to add sprites and a backdrop to your story as well as how to start a dialogue.

To start you'll need to add two sprites or characters to your story.

All scratch projects begin with the scratch cat.

To delete the sprite and select a new sprite.

Click the choose sprite from library button.

Here you'll see all the sprites you can choose from.

This example will use a duck for the first character and a penguin for the second character.

Remember though that you can select any characters you want for your story.

You might notice that these two characters aren't facing each other.

If they're going to talk they should probably turn around.

To flip a sprite click on it and select the costumes tab.

Then click the flip left, right button.

The sprite should flip to face the other direction.

If your sprite has more than one costume you can flip the other costumes as well.

Great, both costumes are now flipped.

Now that you've added two sprites it's time to add a backdrop or a setting for your story.

To do that click the choose backdrop from library and select a backdrop.

You can select any backdrop you want for your story.

Great, now this project has two characters and a setting.

The last step in this video is to start a dialogue between these two characters.

Next to this video you'll see a list of possible starter phrases you can use to get your dialogue rolling.

This example will use, "I didn't think you'd be here."

But you can choose any story starter you'd like for your project.

To get a character to say the dialogue you choose click on the character and select the looks menu.

Now there are two blocks you can use to have a character say something.

Say and say for 2 seconds.

Say blocks will show the same piece of dialogue until another save block is run.

Save for 2 seconds will show the dialogue for a specified length of time.

For stories you will almost always want to use a say for 2 seconds block instead of a say block.

Now drag out the say for 2 seconds block and type in the opening dialogue you chose from the list.

This example will use "I didn't think you'd be here."

Now click the block to test it.

Great!

Now it's your turn.

First, add two sprites.

Second, flip one sprite so that both sprites face each other.

Third, add a backdrop and then Fourth, use a say for 2 seconds block to make the sprite say the starter phrase you selected.

After you complete this step, move onto the next video to begin developing more dialogue for your story.