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Where is time language hiding in ScratchJr page timers?

Use before, after, faster and slower in animated stories.

Quick answer

In ScratchJr, timers help you control how long things last, and they use time language like "before", "after", "faster", and "slower" to make your stories move smoothly.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to use timers in ScratchJr to make your stories happen in the right order and at the right speed. Success signs:
  • You can explain what "before" and "after" mean in your story
  • You can make a character move faster or slower using timers
  • You can use timers to make your story have a clear start, middle, and end
  • You can create a short animated story using timers and time words

Why this matters

Using timers in ScratchJr helps you make your stories come alive! When you use time words like "before", "after", "faster", and "slower", you're telling your story in a way that makes sense to others. This is how we understand time in real life too. Whether you're waiting for your birthday, running to catch a bus, or watching a movie, time helps us know what comes next. In ScratchJr, timers help you build stories that feel real and exciting.

How it works

In ScratchJr, timers are like invisible clocks that tell your story when to do what. You can use them to:
  • Control how long a character waits
  • Make characters move faster or slower
  • Set a time for a character to do something
To use a timer in ScratchJr:
  1. Open the Timers block from the Control menu
  2. Choose how long you want the timer to wait (in seconds)
  3. Set what happens after the timer is done
You can also use timers to show time words like:
  • Before something happens, set a timer to wait
  • After something happens, start a new action
  • Make a character faster by using a shorter timer
  • Make a character slower by using a longer timer

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're making a story about a cat who wakes up: Step 1: The cat is sleeping. You set a timer for 3 seconds. Step 2: After the timer is done, the cat wakes up and says "Good morning!". Step 3: Then, the cat walks slowly (longer timer) to the kitchen. Step 4: After walking for 5 seconds, the cat eats breakfast quickly (shorter timer). In this story:
  • Before the cat wakes up, there is a timer
  • After the timer, the cat wakes up
  • The cat moves slower to the kitchen (long timer)
  • The cat moves faster to eat (short timer)
You can draw this story like this:
Time Word Action Timer Length
Before Cat sleeps 3 seconds
After Cat wakes up 0 seconds
Slower Cat walks to kitchen 5 seconds
Faster Cat eats breakfast 2 seconds

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Time Traveling Robot You are a robot who needs to go on a journey through time. But you must follow a special time rule to move forward! Step 1: The robot starts in the garden. Step 2: You must wait before you can go to the forest. Step 3: After 4 seconds, the robot goes to the forest. Step 4: In the forest, the robot moves slower to find a treasure. Step 5: It takes 6 seconds to search. Step 6: Then, the robot moves faster to get back home. Step 7: It takes only 2 seconds to go home. Mini Challenge: Can you draw your own time journey for the robot? Use time words and timers to show the steps.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to set a timer before an action. Why it happens: Kids think the story will move on its own. Fix: Always set a timer before you tell your character to do something new.
  • Mistake: Using the same timer for everything. Why it happens: Kids want everything to happen at the same speed. Fix: Change the timer length to show faster or slower actions.
  • Mistake: Not using time words in your story. Why it happens: Kids focus only on actions, not timing. Fix: Think of your story like a real day – there's a start, middle, and end.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Playing along with your child's story and asking questions like, "What happens before the robot moves?"
  • Using real-world time examples: "Before we eat dinner, we wait 5 minutes."
  • Encouraging your child to change the timer length to make actions faster or slower.
  • Letting your child try different time words like "after", "before", "faster", and "slower" in their story.
  • Not worrying if your child makes mistakes – they're learning how time works in stories!

Practice questions

  1. What does "before" mean in a story?
  2. How can you make a character move faster in ScratchJr?
  3. How can you make a character move slower in ScratchJr?
  4. What timer length would you use to make a character walk slowly?
  5. What timer length would you use to make a character run quickly?
Answers:
  1. "Before" means something happens first.
  2. Use a shorter timer.
  3. Use a longer timer.
  4. Use a longer timer, like 5 seconds.
  5. Use a shorter timer, like 2 seconds.

FAQ

What is a timer in ScratchJr?

A timer in ScratchJr is a block that waits for a set number of seconds before doing something next in your story.

Can I use timers to make my character move faster?

Yes! A shorter timer makes your character move faster because it waits less time between actions.

How do I make a character move slower?

Use a longer timer. The longer the wait, the slower the character moves.

What does "after" mean in a story?

"After" means something happens next, or after another action has happened.

Do I have to use timers in my ScratchJr story?

No, but timers help make your story flow better and show time clearly.