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This activity is designed to give ākonga a warm, personal way into coding using ScratchJr to introduce themselves to their classmates in te reo Māori. Turn a simple self-introduction into a digital outcome, and connect early programming skills with identity, language, and belonging in the classroom.
Learners will build a backdrop, choose a sprite, and personalise it with a selfie taken on the device’s camera. They will then sequence a Start on Green Flag block with a Say block to script a short greeting, before testing and debugging their program to make sure it runs as intended.
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Creating a personal digital avatar by combining a library sprite with a photographed selfie
Manipulating the sprite’s appearance using ScratchJr’s paint and camera tools
Sharing a self-introduction message with classmates through a teacher-led digital task
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Sequencing a Start on Green Flag block with a Say block to trigger an introduction message
Running the program to check whether the message displays and reads correctly
Debugging the sequence by adjusting blocks or text when the introduction doesn’t play as intended
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learning-languages
See ‘Te Reo Māori’ link below.
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Introducing themselves in te reo Māori, scripting a simple personal greeting and name for their ScratchJr character to share aloud or in text
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Simplify the greeting to a single word or short phrase for learners needing more support, to keep the coding task itself achievable
Open up backdrop and sprite choices, to let ākonga decide how they want to represent themselves visually
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Stretch the sequence with a second Say block sharing an extra fact about themselves, to build a longer self-introduction. Prepare extra prompt questions to include fun facts, like favourite kai or pet’s name, to build the introduction and support te reo Māori vocabulary beyond name.
Challenge confident coders to add a Wait block between messages, to pace their character's introduction like a real conversation.
Layer in a recorded voice clip of themselves saying the greeting, to add a spoken, personalised dimension to their character's introduction.
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Teachers should consider:
Device and camera readiness, including checking tablets are charged and the ScratchJr camera permission is already enabled before ākonga start.
Photo permissions & comfort, including making sure the appropirate permissions have been granted, that ākonga are prepared to take their own picture, and having an alternative ready, like a self-drawn face or accepting a photo of a favourite object, for any ākonga who’d rather not take a selfie of themselves.
Te reo Māori pronunciation support, including displaying a simple modelled greeting phrase the class can refer to while scripting their own message.
Pacing across the five steps (backdrop, sprite, photo, code, test), including having an early-finisher extension ready (see Extension Ideas at the bottom of the sidebar column).
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ScratchJr is a free, closed, tablet-based app with no login or account required, no ads or in-app purchases, no internet browsing, and it doesn’t collect information that identifies a child by name, making it a lower-risk digital tool. ScratchJr works fully offline once installed, with all projects and files saving locally to the device they are created on. Even so, always take steps to make sure device use is safe, supervised, and purposeful throughout.
Before the activity
Make sure the ScratchJr app is up to date.
Consider turning off internet access on tablets since ScratchJr doesn’t need it to run.
Remind ākonga to handle tablets with care and to consider what is appropriate to include in their project during photography and programming.
Remind ākonga of your school’s digital use agreement before beginning any lesson that involves digital devices, digital platforms, or the internet.
During the activity
Set clear expectations around safe and purposeful device use at the start of each lesson.
Supervise and actively support device use throughout, including camera use, so selfies are taken sensibly and only of the learner themselves.
Discuss openly what is and isn’t appropriate to include in a ScratchJr project, as well as support ākonga to re-take rather than feel stuck with a photo.
Check in with any ākonga who seem uncomfortable being photographed, and be prepared to offer alternatives (as noted in Kaiako Notes above).
Support ākonga to know that if they encounter content that feels inappropriate, confusing, or upsetting that they can flag this with kaiako without concern.
After the activity
Since finished projects and photos stay on the device, agree how they’ll be identified and shared later.
If tablets are shared with other classes, agree who’s responsible for keeping track of or clearing digital projects and images, so no one’s self-introduction or selfie gets lost, mishandled, or deleted by accident.
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>>> y0-3 | Y0-3 | 1 Lesson (Guided)
Introduction & Backdrop — Introduce the idea of a digital avatar to the whole class, and connect it to the idea of presenting about themselves. Then guide ākonga step by step to open the Background icon and choose or paint a backdrop.
Add a Sprite — Demonstrate tapping the Plus icon, and support ākonga to choose a character with a blank face from the library.
Take a Selfie — Walk ākonga through selecting the Paint icon then the Camera icon, and support them take a selfie to personalise their sprite’s face.
Code the Greeting — Model adding a Start on Green Flag block and a Say block together as a class, then prompt each learner to type a simple te reo Māori greeting, like “Kia ora! Ko ___ tōku ingoa.”
Test & Debug — Support ākonga to press the Green Flag to run their program, and guide them to check, fix, and re-test their message until everything plays correctly and smoothly.
Share & Celebrate — Play back the finished introductions together, celebrating what each ākonga created and debugging any issues in a supportive way that focuses on collaborating to find constructive solutions.
>>> y4-6 | Y4-6 | 1 Lesson (Guided to Independent)
Backdrop & Sprite Set-Up — Introduce the idea of a digital avatar to the whole class, and connect it to the idea of presenting about themselves. Then set ākonga the task of independently creating a backdrop and adding a sprite with a blank face from the library.
Personalise the Character — Have ākonga personalise their sprite by taking a selfie with the Paint and Camera tools.
Script the Introduction — Challenge ākonga to sequence a Start on Green Flag block with a Say block, scripting a greeting that answers more than one prompt, like their name and one personal detail.
Extend the Message — Prompt confident ākonga to add a second Say block or a Wait block to build a longer, paced introduction.
Test & Share — Direct ākonga to test their program with a partner and debug any blocks or text that don't run as intended. Then, take turns sharing their finished introductions with the class.