Sparks Flying
A page for Educators & Parents
The Sparks Flying skillmap introduces simple game design and computer science concepts through a simple and fun “clicker” style arcade game.
In this set of activities, students will create a 5-level clicker game with MakeCode Arcade. This map is intended for students who are new to MakeCode with little or no previous coding experience.
Designed for students between the ages of 10 & 16, this experience contains a total of 3 tutorials (approximating 45 minutes of instruction). At the end of the learning path, students receive a certificate of completion and a badge.
| Minutes* | Key Concepts | |
|---|---|---|
| Pile of Sticks | 18 | sprites, events, effects |
| Win Some, Lose Some | 22 | sprites, win, lose |
* Minutes are approximate, based on time to follow instructions as written. Providing extra time for creativity and debugging is encouraged.
Objectives
After completing Sparks Flying, students will have gained exposure to all the elements they need to successfully create their own clicker game using MakeCode Arcade, including:
Computer Science Concepts
- Sequencing and algorithms
- Events
- User input
Game Design Concepts
- Sprites
- Design, Sounds, and Effects
- Timers
- Game Score
- Win/Loss Criteria
1. Pile of Sticks
| Activity | Pile of Sticks (18 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Learn to use MakeCode Arcade and add fire pit sprite to your project. |
| Blocks used | [scene.setBackgroundImage(img`.`)] [let kindling = sprites.create(img`.`, SpriteKind.Player)] [controller.A.onEvent(ControllerButtonEvent.Pressed, function () {})] [info.changeScoreBy(1)] [let kindling: Sprite = null; kindling.startEffect(effects.fire, 500)] |
| Solution option | Pile of Sticks Project |
2. Win Some, Lose Some
| Activity | Win Some, Lose Some (12 min) |
|---|---|
 |
Add win and loss conditions to your game using events. |
| Blocks used | [game.onUpdateInterval(1000, function () {}] [info.changeScoreBy(1)] [info.onScore(30, function () {})] [game.setGameOverScoringType(game.ScoringType.LowScore) ] [info.setScore(0)] [game.gameOver(true)] |
| Solution option | Win Some, Lose Some Project |
Game Mod Ideas
After students complete Sparks Flying they can head back to the skillmap and click “SAVE TO MY PROJECTS”, which will open the game in a window with a full-featured toolbox. Here are some modifications they can try:
- Change the scene to something new. Try making a water fountain in Greece or a raining cloud
- Make it a two player game where one person plays as a fire and the other as a sprinkler
- Add sound effects and/or background music
What’s Next?
After completing Sparks Flying, students can move on to the following activities:
arcade-carnival=github:microsoft/arcade-carnival
arcade-storytelling=github:microsoft/arcade-storytelling
arcade-text=github:microsoft/arcade-text
sparks=github:kiki-lee/sparks#v0.0.4