Module 1: Boat Race

Official Raspberry Pi Project

This lesson is based on the official Raspberry Pi Foundation project. Open it alongside this guide to access the starter project, step-by-step instructions and community remixes.

How to use it: Click the link above, then click See Inside on the Scratch project to explore the finished version. Use Remix to get your own copy to edit.

What You Will Build

Design a top-down racing game with a countdown and obstacle course.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this project you will be able to:

• Use Events blocks to start scripts and respond to clicks
• Combine Motion, Looks and Sound blocks to create behaviours
• Use variables to track game state and scores
• Apply the specific Scratch concepts introduced in Module 1

You Will Need

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Create a top-down water track backdrop with defined lanes.
2. Add a boat sprite controlled by arrow keys.
3. Add boundary detection: if the boat touches the bank, slow it down.
4. Add a speed variable. Arrow keys increase/decrease speed.
5. Add obstacle sprites (rocks, logs) that float across the track.
6. If the boat hits an obstacle: slow down significantly.
7. Add a countdown timer from 60 seconds.
8. When the boat crosses the finish line: stop timer, show final time.
9. Add a record time variable — congratulate if beaten.
10. Add a second boat sprite (AI) that follows a path at constant speed.

Extension Challenges

Try these after completing the main project:

• Add a two-player mode with different key sets.
• Add power-ups that boost speed for 3 seconds.
• Design 3 track layouts as different backdrops.

Reflection Questions

1. Which Scratch blocks did you use most in this project?
2. What would you add or change if you had more time?
3. How could you reuse the ideas from this project in a different context?

Share Your Work

When your project is complete, click Share in Scratch and post the link to your class or the Techbase community.