Make an Interesting Story With Scratch
Create an interactive animated story in Scratch by designing sprites, backgrounds, dialogues, and simple code blocks to tell a fun, user-controlled tale.
Step-by-step guide to make an interesting story with Scratch
How to Create an Epic Story in Scratch (with Examples!)
Step 1
Open Scratch by signing in or launching the Scratch desktop and click Create to start a new project.
Step 2
On your paper write a short story idea with a clear beginning middle and end in two or three sentences.
Step 3
In Scratch choose a sprite from the library or click Paint to draw your main character.
Step 4
Add one or two more sprites for friends or props by choosing or painting them.
Step 5
Click the Backdrops tab and create at least two different backdrops for your story scenes.
Step 6
Select your main character sprite and add a when green flag clicked block to start its script.
Step 7
Attach say blocks to the main character's script to make it speak the first lines of your story.
Step 8
Add a when this sprite clicked block plus a broadcast block on a sprite to send a message like "next" for advancing the story.
Step 9
On the Stage add a when I receive block to change the backdrop and show or hide sprites when the broadcast happens.
Step 10
Create two choice-button sprites and make each one broadcast a different message so the viewer can pick the story path.
Step 11
Save your project with a fun title to keep your work safe.
Step 12
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
I can't access the Scratch desktop or Paint to draw a sprite; what can I use instead?
Use the online editor at scratch.mit.edu and either pick a sprite from the library, upload a PNG as a sprite, or use the built‑in backdrop uploader instead of Paint.
My broadcasts don't change the backdrop or hide sprites—what might be wrong and how do I fix it?
Check that the exact message text on the choice-button's 'broadcast' block matches the Stage's 'when I receive' block and that your show/hide blocks are attached to the script that runs after that broadcast.
How can I change the activity for a 5-year-old versus a 12-year-old?
For younger kids use one main character, two simple backdrops, 'say' blocks, and single-click choice-buttons, while older kids can add multiple costumes, sound recordings, variables, extra broadcasts, and branching scenes for more complexity.
How can we extend or personalize the story after finishing the basic steps?
Add animated costume changes, use sound blocks to record voices or effects, create more branch‑choice sprites that broadcast different scenes, and then save with a fun title and share it on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make an interesting story with Scratch
How to make an interactive story on scratch!
4 Videos
How to make an interactive story on scratch!
How to Code a Story in Scratch | Episode 5/8 of Code Along Jr. from Black Girls Code
How to Make an Amazing Animated Story in Scratch | Cartoon Animation Tutorial
How to Make a Story in Scratch | Tutorial
Facts about Scratch and block-based programming
🐱 Scratch's mascot is the Scratch Cat and kids worldwide have created tens of millions of projects on the platform.
🧑🏫 Scratch was created by MIT's Lifelong Kindergarten group to help kids learn coding through playful creation.
🎮 Interactive stories in Scratch can let players pick choices, turning a tale into a simple game.
🎨 You animate sprites in Scratch by switching costumes and moving them a few steps each frame to create smooth motion.
🧩 Scratch uses colorful code blocks that snap like puzzle pieces so kids learn programming logic without typing.
