September

Coding Contest

September Coding Contest Entry Form

September Theme: “The Day Everything Changed”

Imagine a single moment when your world turned upside down — where something surprising, magical, or unexpected happened that changed everything forever. It could be a fantastical event, like animals suddenly speaking, or a real-life moment, like moving to a new town or making an important decision.

Bring your story of change to life with Scratch! Create an interactive animation that shows how your characters or world transform on “The Day Everything Changed.” Use code, sprites, sounds, and user interaction to build a fun, unique, and engaging experience that tells your story through animation and player input.

Each month, a new theme invites you to explore different storytelling styles and coding challenges — so there’s always a fresh way to impress!

📌 How It Works

  • Age Groups:

    • 6–8 years

    • 9–12 years

    • 13–17 years
      (Additional age brackets may be created based on the number of submissions.)

  • Format:

    • Submit by uploading your Scratch project file (.sb3) only — no links or external hosting.
    • Make sure your project is fully saved and tested before uploading.
🛠️ Coding Requirements

To keep submissions focused, your project must be an interactive animation that includes:

  • At least 2 distinct sprites (characters, objects, or backgrounds related to your story)

  • A clear event or trigger that causes “the change” to happen (e.g., clicking a sprite, a timer, or a broadcast message)

  • Visible change in the project—sprite costume changes, background switches, new behaviors, or similar

  • Sound or music—at least one sound effect or background track to enhance the experience

  • User interaction—the project must require user input such as mouse clicks, keyboard presses, or other controls to progress the animation or story

  • A clear start and end (or loop) that tells your story about the change

🌟 Recommended Enhancements

  • Use custom blocks to keep your code organized and efficient

  • Utilize variables or lists to track story progress or game state

  • Add comments or notes inside Scratch to explain your code logic

  • Employ broadcast messages for clear event management

💰 Entry & Fundraising Options

    • Contest Entry Fee: $5 — grants eligibility for prizes and official judging within your age group

    • Showcase-Only Option: Submit your project for inclusion in our end-of-month digital showcase without entering the contest

🏆 Prizes

  • First Place in Each Age Group: Wins 50% of that group’s total entry fees as a cash prize

  • Showcase Perk: Winning and non-winning projects (with permission) will be featured in the digital gallery

📅 Key Dates

  • Submissions Open: September 1

  • Submission Deadline: October 1

  • Winners Announced: October 15

  • Showcase Release: October 15

📋 Judging Criteria

Projects will be evaluated on:

  • Creativity & originality in interpreting the theme

  • Effective use of Scratch features and coding best practices

  • Visual and audio presentation quality

  • Clear demonstration of “change” in the project

  • Engagement and user experience

  • Age-appropriate complexity and polish

September Coding Contest Entry Form

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