If you don’t see these options, you may need to update your Scratch to a newer version. Next select ‘Add an Extension’ and then LEGO WeDo. Once you’ve got your kit, just plug it into the USB slot, start up Scratch and go to ‘More Blocks’. Having said that, I would recommend buying the Power Function Lights, as they’re relatively cheap, and are fully compatible with Scratch and the WeDo hardware.

The LEGO WeDo Software is sold separately, but you don’t need anything extra if you’re using Scratch instead. This kit includes a hub you plug into your computer, a motor, a tilt sensor, a distance sensor, and loads of LEGO blocks. This post is all going to be about the original WeDo. LEGO launched a new version of WeDo, WeDo 2.0, in January 2016, and the Scratch team has since released an extension that works with it. If instead you’re using the Scratch Offline Editor, everything you need is already built-in, so you’re good to go. The plug-in doesn’t seem to work reliably across all browsers and operating systems – so if you’re having problems try a different browser. If you go for the first approach, you also have to install a browser plug-in (see here). You can either use the online version at the website, or you can download and install the Scratch 2.0 Offline Editor. Scratch is developed by The Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is completely free to use. If it’s red, you need to install the browser plug-in. The yellow dot next to LEGO WeDo in the middle column indicates that the WeDo hub hasn’t yet been plugged into the computer. Scratch once the WeDo extension has been enabled. I want to tell you about how I’ve been using Scratch and WeDo with children in the UK.

Even better, Scratch has a built-in extension that allows it to work with LEGO’s WeDo robot kits. It’s a child-friendly system where you code by dragging around colored blocks and snapping them together – and for that reason some schools call it ‘Computer LEGO’. You may have heard of the computer programming language Scratch.

Wedo 2.0