Get students excited about coding with this fun Taxi Racer Game project using Scratch! In this hands-on activity, students will build their own side-scrolling game where a taxi jumps over traffic cones while the background moves across the screen. Perfect for introducing basic game design and programming concepts in an engaging way.

Students will practice key coding concepts including:

• Sprite movement and positioning
• Creating a scrolling background
• Keyboard controls (space bar input)
• Gravity and jumping mechanics
• Collision detection with obstacles
• Using timers to track score or survival time
• Basic game logic and conditions

Students create a Taxi Racer game where:

• A taxi drives across a city street.
• Traffic cones move toward the taxi.
• Players press the space bar to jump over the cones.
• The game ends if the taxi hits a cone.
• A timer tracks how long the player survives.

What’s Included

• Step-by-step 8-page student instruction guide
• Clear visual Scratch block examples
• Instructions for creating scrolling backgrounds
• Coding for taxi jumping and gravity
• Collision detection and game ending logic
• Timer system for scoring
• Scratch starter file instructions

Grade Levels

• Grades 7-11
• Beginner coding students
• STEM, Computer Science, Coding Clubs, or Technology classes

Requirements

• Access to Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
• Internet access
• Scratch account (recommended but optional)

Perfect For

• STEM lessons
• Computer science units
• Game design projects
• Coding clubs
• Early finishers
• Technology rotations

Why Teachers Love It

✔ Engaging game students love to build
✔ Reinforces core coding concepts
✔ Clear visual instructions
✔ Great introduction to Scratch game design