What it shows
Two lists hold matching words at the same positions, and the program picks a random position to ask a question. It shows how lists store related data in order.
The science
A list is a numbered row of items. Item 3 of the hindi list is matched with item 3 of the english list, so one number finds both words. Picking a random number between 1 and the length of the list gives a random question. Scratch ignores capital and small letters when comparing text, so Water and water are equal.
Materials
Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- A computer, laptop or phone with a browser (free)
- Scratch 3 in the browser at scratch.mit.edu (free, no sign-in needed to code)
- A list of 10 Hindi words in English letters with their English meanings (for example paani and water)
- A notebook and a pencil
Safety
This project uses safe, everyday materials. Still, read the rules below with a parent before you start.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesStep by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
In Variables click Make a List and create two lists for all sprites named hindi and english, plus a variable n and a variable score.
Start a script: when green flag clicked, delete all of hindi, delete all of english, set score to 0.
Add add (paani) to hindi followed by add (water) to english; repeat for ten pairs like roti and bread, kitaab and book, ghar and house.
Add repeat 5 and inside it set n to (pick random 1 to (length of hindi)).
Add ask (join [What is ] (join (item (n) of hindi) [ in English?])) and wait.
Add if (answer) = (item (n) of english) then change score by 1 and say Sahi! else say (join [It is ] (item (n) of english)).
After the loop say (join [Score: ] (score)) and tick the list boxes to hide them from the stage.
Add a new word pair every day and test your family.
What you should see
The cat asks five random Hindi words, accepts the right English meaning, tells you the answer if you are wrong and shows your score at the end.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1What is a list?
An ordered collection of items, each with a number.
2How are the two words matched?
They sit at the same position in the two lists.
3What does length of hindi give?
The number of items in the list.
4Why delete all at the start?
So words are not added again every time the game starts.
Take it further
Let the player add new word pairs with ask blocks and add them to the two lists while the game runs.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
Computer & office
Computer Fundamentals Study Book
The complete study notes, practice questions and glossary for Computer Fundamentals