🌟 Phase 1 · Getting Started
🟢 Beginner
MODULE 02
Make Characters Talk
Your progress in Phase 150%
🎯 What you'll learn: How to use the Say and Think blocks to give your sprites speech bubbles and thought clouds, how to switch between costumes to animate your character, and how to build a talking cartoon project!
Section 1
Say It! — The Looks Blocks
In Scratch, the Looks blocks (purple) control what your sprite shows on screen — including speech bubbles and thought clouds. Two of the most fun blocks are say and think!
PREVIEW — What your sprites will look like
🐱
Hello! My name is Scratch Cat! 😺
🐧
Hmm... I wonder what I should say...
💬 say [Hello!] for (2) secs
Shows a speech bubble for 2 seconds, then disappears. Great for timed messages!
💬 say [Hello!]
Shows a speech bubble that stays forever — until another say block runs or you stop.
💭 think [Hmm...] for (2) secs
Shows a thought cloud bubble for 2 seconds. Like a cartoon character thinking!
💭 think [Hmm...]
Shows a permanent thought cloud. Perfect for making your sprite look curious!
✨
Say vs Think — what's the difference?
Say creates a speech bubble (like the sprite is speaking out loud). Think creates a thought cloud (like the sprite is thinking silently). Both look great in cartoons!
Section 2
Costumes — Change Your Sprite's Look
Every sprite in Scratch can have multiple costumes — different images of the same character. Switching between them makes sprites look like they're moving, blinking, or changing emotions!
🐱Costume 1
🐱Costume 2
😸Happy
😿Sad
😾Angry
➕Add New
To see costumes, click the Costumes tab at the top of the editor (next to Code and Sounds). You can add new costumes from the Scratch library, draw your own, or upload a photo!
Costume Blocks — Looks Category
SCRATCH BLOCKS
switch costume to [costume2] → Jump to a specific costume next costume → Switch to the next costume in order switch backdrop to [backdrop1] → Change the background image set size to (100) % → Make sprite bigger or smaller set color effect to (0) → Change colour (0–199)
💡
The Scratch Cat has 2 costumes!
The default Scratch Cat already has two costumes — one with right leg forward and one with left leg forward. Switching between them rapidly creates a walking animation. Try it!
Section 3
Build: Talking Cartoon Project
Let's build a project where two characters have a conversation. This is called a timed sequence — blocks run one after another, each waiting before the next one runs.
1
Add two sprites
Delete the default cat (right-click → delete). Add two sprites from the library — try "Cat" and "Dog" or any two characters you like! Click the blue ➕ button at the bottom right.
2
Position them on stage
Drag each sprite to opposite sides of the stage — one on the left (around x:-150) and one on the right (around x:150). They should face each other!
3
Code the first sprite
Click on Sprite 1. In the code area, add the blocks below to make it speak first, then wait for the other character to reply.
4
Code the second sprite
Click on Sprite 2. Make it wait first (so it doesn't speak at the same time), then have its own conversation lines.
5
Press the green flag!
Click ▶ and watch your cartoon characters have a full conversation. You're a cartoon director now!
Sprite 1 (Cat) — Full Code
SCRATCH BLOCKS
when 🚩 clicked say [Hello! I'm the cat!] for (2) secs say [I love chasing mice!] for (2) secs wait (2) secs ← wait for the dog to speak say [Nice to meet you too! 😸] for (2) secs
Sprite 2 (Dog) — Full Code
SCRATCH BLOCKS
when 🚩 clicked wait (4) secs ← wait for the cat to finish first say [Hi cat! I'm the dog!] for (2) secs say [Nice to meet you! 🐶] for (2) secs
🎉
Level up your cartoon!
Add
switch costume to [happy] before a Say block to show emotion! Use set color effect to (25) to make a sprite blush. Switch the backdrop during the conversation for scene changes!Section 4
Lesson Summary
✅Say blocks show speech bubbles. Think blocks show thought clouds. Both are in the Looks (purple) section.
✅
say [text] for (2) secs shows a bubble that disappears. say [text] (no time) stays on screen.✅Costumes are different images of a sprite. Switch them to animate!
✅Use wait blocks (in Control) to time conversations between two sprites.
✅Each sprite has its own code — click the sprite to write code for it!
🧩 Knowledge Check — Lesson 2
Answer all 5 questions. Instant feedback included!
1. What type of bubble does the "Think" block create?
2. What colour are the Looks blocks in Scratch?
3. What are "costumes" in Scratch?
4. If you want Sprite 2 to wait before speaking while Sprite 1 talks for 4 seconds, how long should Sprite 2 wait?
5. Where do you find the Costumes for a sprite in Scratch?
Scratch Challenge — Lesson 2
Build a talking cartoon · Beginner Level
Create a 3-character conversation. Each character should have something unique to say!
Challenge: Three-Character Cartoon Show 🎬
Build a project with 3 different sprites that have a conversation one after another.
Requirements:
1. Each sprite must say at least 2 different things
2. Use
3. At least one sprite must use the
4. Change the backdrop at least once during the conversation
5. Make at least one sprite switch costume to show emotion
Build a project with 3 different sprites that have a conversation one after another.
Requirements:
1. Each sprite must say at least 2 different things
2. Use
wait blocks to time them so they don't all speak at once3. At least one sprite must use the
think block (thought cloud)4. Change the backdrop at least once during the conversation
5. Make at least one sprite switch costume to show emotion
💡 Show hints if you're stuck
- Click each sprite separately to write its own code
- Calculate wait times: if Sprite 1 says 2 things (4 secs total), Sprite 2 should wait 4 secs before speaking
- Change backdrop using
switch backdrop to [name]in Looks blocks - Add costumes like "surprised" or "happy" from the costume tab
- Use
set color effect to (25)to make a sprite blush — just for fun!
Finished this lesson?
Mark it complete to track your progress.
Module 02 of 16Phase 1 — Getting Started