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Scratch Maths

Scratch story maps maths mission

A practical mini-mission using story maps to practise position through questions, examples and child-friendly challenges.

Quick answer

Scratch story maps maths mission is a fun way to learn about position and coordinates by creating a story adventure where characters move around a map using x and y coordinates.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use x and y coordinates to describe where things are on a map and move characters to new positions using Scratch. Success signs:
  • You can explain what x and y coordinates mean
  • You can find the position of objects on a grid
  • You can move a character to a new position using coordinates
  • You can create your own simple story map with character movements

Why this matters

Understanding position and coordinates is like having a secret code to find your way around! You use this maths every day when you:
  • Read a map to find your way home
  • Play games like Battleship or Connect Four
  • Build with LEGO or Minecraft
  • Play football and know where to stand
  • Arrange furniture in your room
In Scratch, you'll learn to make your own story adventures with characters that move around like in a video game. This helps you understand how position works in the real world and how to use maths to solve problems.

How it works

Think of a grid like a giant piece of graph paper. Every point on the grid has a special address made of two numbers:
  1. The first number is the x-coordinate - how far across from the left
  2. The second number is the y-coordinate - how far up from the bottom
In Scratch, we use these coordinates to move characters around the screen. The bottom-left corner is usually (0,0) and the numbers get bigger as you go right and up.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're creating a treasure hunt adventure. Here's how it works:
Character Position Move To Why
Dragon (5, 3) (8, 6) To find the treasure
Princess (2, 1) (4, 5) To get to the castle
Wizard (10, 2) (7, 8) To cast a spell
Example 1: If the dragon starts at (5, 3) and moves to (8, 6), it goes 3 steps right and 3 steps up. Example 2: If the princess starts at (2, 1) and moves to (4, 5), she goes 2 steps right and 4 steps up. Example 3: If the wizard starts at (10, 2) and moves to (7, 8), he goes 3 steps left and 6 steps up.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Lost Treasure Hunt You are going on a treasure hunt with your friends in the magical land of Scratchia! You have a treasure map that shows where the treasure is hidden. But first, you need to practice moving your characters around the map. Step 1: Draw a grid on paper like this:
  • Draw 5 rows and 5 columns
  • Label the bottom-left corner as (0, 0)
  • Label the rows as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Label the columns as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
Step 2: Place your character at (2, 1) - that's 2 steps right and 1 step up. Step 3: Move your character to (4, 3) - that's 2 more steps right and 2 more steps up. Step 4: Now, try moving your character to these positions:
  1. (1, 0)
  2. (3, 4)
  3. (0, 2)
Step 5: Draw your own treasure map with at least 3 different locations and write down the coordinates for each.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Confusing x and y coordinates - thinking x is up and y is across Why: The order is easy to mix up when you first learn it Fix: Remember "X is across, Y is up" or use the phrase "X goes across, Y goes up"
  • Mistake: Starting from the wrong corner - using top-left instead of bottom-left Why: You might be thinking of how we read words, not how Scratch works Fix: Remember in Scratch, (0, 0) is the bottom-left corner
  • Mistake: Counting the starting position as one of the moves Why: When moving from (2, 3) to (5, 7), children often count the starting point Fix: Count only the steps you take to get there
  • Mistake: Forgetting that negative numbers can be used Why: Not all children know about negative numbers yet Fix: Start with positive coordinates first, then introduce negatives later

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with Scratch story maps:
  • Start with a simple grid and paper activity before using Scratch
  • Use real-life examples like your house layout or a floor plan
  • Ask questions like "Where would you put the kitchen?" or "How many steps to get to the garden?"
  • Encourage your child to create their own story with characters and movements
  • Remember that mistakes are learning opportunities - they're normal!
  • Keep it fun - this is about exploration, not perfection
  • Use the mini adventure to practice together - it's more fun when you do it as a team
  • Look for opportunities to use coordinates in daily life: "What's the position of your toy on the shelf?"
  • Don't worry if your child doesn't get it perfectly the first time - this is a new skill

Practice questions

  1. Where is the character at position (3, 2) if it starts at (1, 1)? Answer: 2 steps right and 1 step up
  2. If a character moves from (0, 0) to (5, 4), how many steps right and up did it take? Answer: 5 steps right and 4 steps up
  3. What position is 3 steps right and 2 steps up from (1, 1)? Answer: (4, 3)
  4. How do you move from (2, 3) to (6, 5)? Answer: 4 steps right and 2 steps up
  5. Where is a character at (0, 5) if it starts at (3, 2)? Answer: 3 steps left and 3 steps up

FAQ

What is a coordinate in Scratch?

A coordinate in Scratch is a pair of numbers that tells you exactly where something is on the screen. The first number is how far across (x-coordinate) and the second number is how far up (y-coordinate).

How do I use coordinates in my Scratch story?

You can use coordinates to move your characters around the screen. When you want to move a character to a new position, you give it a new x and y coordinate value.

Why do we use coordinates in games?

Coordinates help us know exactly where things are in a game. This makes it possible to move characters, place items, and make games work properly.

Can I use negative coordinates in Scratch?

Yes, you can use negative coordinates in Scratch, but it's usually not needed for simple projects. You might use them if you're making a more advanced game.

How can I practice coordinates at home?

You can practice by drawing grids on paper, placing objects at different positions, and describing where they are using coordinates. You can also play games like Battleship that use coordinates.