Code with Wren: Scratch Animation and Games for ASN/SEND Learners (5 Lessons)

Code with Wren is a complete five-lesson Scratch unit for ASN bases, nurture groups, SEND units and supported mainstream classes (S1-S4 / KS3-KS4). Wren, a friendly bird, is the star of every project. Each lesson adds one new idea, and pupils finish by planning, building, testing and sharing their own short show.

The five lessons (about 60 minutes each)

1. Meet Wren: green flag, move and say (sequence and events)
2. Wren Goes Exploring: x and y, glide and backdrops
3. Wren Learns to Dance: loops, costumes and timing
4. Wren’s Remote Control: key presses, clicks and parallel scripts
5. Wren’s Big Show: plan, build, test and share a 3-scene show

Three routes in every lesson
Supported: the project is almost finished, so pupils add one block. Core: pupils build the script step by step. Extend: pupils add their own ideas. Each route has its own symbol, name and colour.

What is included (35 files)

• Five PowerPoints. Each slide is designed for its own job: hook, teacher demo with real Scratch 3 screenshots and numbered callouts, I do / We do / You do, mid-lesson check, movement break, predict, debug and a symbol exit ticket. Full speaker notes give a script, timings, likely misconceptions and what to do if something goes wrong.
• Worksheets for each lesson: 12 single A4 sheets (task card with screenshots, matching or sequencing, predict-and-test, debugging) in three routes. White and cream PDFs, plus editable Word versions.
• 31 tested Scratch files: starters for each route, Debug Me, Solution and Extend Solution for every lesson, plus a skills check starter.
• Printables: A5 block cards in real block colours, visual timetable and First/Then board, an “I can” certificate for each lesson and a vocabulary mat with a symbol for every word.
• Assessment: practical skills check, 20-mark written check with symbols and picture options (scribe-friendly), marking scheme and Excel evidence tracker.
• Teacher pack: unit plan and teacher guide with adjustments by need, support assistant briefing for each lesson, setup and accessibility guide and curriculum map.

Designed for ASN/SEND
One instruction per slide, 15 words or fewer. Arial 14pt or larger, left-aligned. No accounts needed: use Scratch online or the free offline app. The guide shows how to use High Contrast, zoom, language and the Debug button. No labels or diagnoses, and all pupils mentioned are fictional. Wren and all sprites, backdrops and sounds are original.

Curriculum links
Scotland: CfE Technologies TCH 2-14a, 2-15a, 3-15a (partial 3-14a). It also provides evidence towards National 3 Building Digital Solutions and National 4 Software Design and Development.
England: KS3 Computing (create, reuse, revise and repurpose digital artefacts; visual programming).

Part of the Steady Steps with Wren range. Lesson 1 is free in my shop.