Scratch Maths: Targetboard

Over the last number of weeks, I’ve been showcasing some ways to use Scratch to make Maths Resources. Scratch is a really easy programming language that allows children to learn the basics of coding without any need to type a line of jargon. The last Scratch Maths tool I’m showing before Christmas is the Targetboard. A targetboard is a handy maths resource for mental maths in a classroom and is great for starting lessons. Essentially, it’s a grid of numbers and a target number to reach. The example below has a number of solutions:  (6 – 1) X 4 or (8 ÷ 4) + 9 + 9 and many others. To play the game, simply click on the green flag and a load of new numbers come up on screen. I aim to make a much more complex Scratch program in the future, which will allow users to input answers. I also aim to add scoring and timing to the program. This is it at it’s most basic. I’ve written a couple of other versions of this program for the Android OS and a Flash version using the great program, Stencyl. In fact, I have a whole web site dedicated to Targetboards!

From a programming point of view, this program features a number of sprites. The numbers in the grid and the target number are sprites with different costumes that simply show a different number. When you run the program, the program randomly selects a costume 10 times before settling on a randomly chosen costume. You can click on the picture to download everything.