Module 3: Flappy Parrot

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

Make a side-scrolling game where a parrot avoids obstacles.

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 3

You Will Need

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Add a sky backdrop (or scrolling cloud background).
2. Add a parrot sprite with flapping costumes.
3. Apply gravity: in a forever loop, change y by [-3].
4. When space is pressed: change y by [10] to flap.
5. Add pipe/obstacle sprites on the right side.
6. Make them scroll from right to left: change x by [-4] in a forever loop.
7. When a pipe exits the left edge: reset it to the right side at a new random y gap position.
8. If the parrot touches a pipe or the edge: stop, game over.
9. Add a score that increments each time a pipe pair is passed.
10. Increase difficulty over time: pipes move faster as score increases.

Extension Challenges

Try these after completing the main project:

• Add different bird/character skins that unlock at score milestones.
• Add moving pipe gaps that shift up and down.
• Add power-ups like shield or slow-motion that appear randomly.

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.