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SAM Blockly is the next step up from visual flow coding. Like Scratch, you snap colourful blocks together to build programs — but here each block carries a text label, so students start reading and writing real programming vocabulary. SAM Blockly replaces the older Google Blockly Workbench and runs entirely inside SAM Studio, making it easier to manage across a classroom.

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How SAM Blockly Differs from SAM Space

If you’re deciding between environments, use this comparison to choose the right fit for your students:
FeatureSAM SpaceSAM Blockly
AudienceK–5Grades 4–8
Block styleIcon-only, flow-basedText-labelled, snap-together
Programming conceptsVisual cause-and-effectLoops, conditions, variables, events
Text requiredNoYes (labels on blocks)
Virtual hardware✓✓
Cloud auto-save✓✓
SAM Blockly introduces the building blocks of real programming — loops, if/else conditions, variables, and events — while keeping the drag-and-drop experience that removes syntax errors from the equation.

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Creating a SAM Blockly Project

1

Open SAM Studio

Sign in and go to your dashboard.
2

Start a new project

Click New Project, enter a name, and click Create.
3

Select SAM Blockly

Choose SAM Blockly from the environment picker. The block workspace loads with a palette of categorised blocks on the left.
4

Explore the block categories

Blocks are grouped by type — Inputs, Outputs, Logic, Loops, Math, and Variables. Click a category to expand it and see what’s available.
5

Build your program

Drag blocks from the palette into the workspace and snap them together. Blocks only connect where they make logical sense, so mismatched types won’t attach.
6

Connect hardware or go virtual

Pair your SAM Labs hardware over Bluetooth using the Connect button, or enable Virtual mode on any block to simulate it without physical devices.
7

Run and iterate

Hit Play to run your program. Watch the hardware (or virtual blocks) respond, then adjust your code and run it again.

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What a Blockly Program Looks Like

Because SAM Blockly is visual, here’s a written description of a simple example — a light-sensing lamp:
When the program starts, set a variable called brightness to the value read from the Light Sensor block. Inside a repeat forever loop, check: if brightness is less than 50, then turn on the LED (set colour to white). Else, turn off the LED (set colour to black). At the end of the loop, wait 500 milliseconds before reading the sensor again.
In the Blockly workspace this looks like a stack of colour-coded puzzle pieces:
  • A yellow repeat forever block wraps everything.
  • Inside it, a green if / else block contains the condition.
  • A blue LED set colour block sits inside each branch.
  • An orange wait block closes the loop.
This structure teaches students that programs run top to bottom, that loops repeat actions, and that conditions choose between outcomes — all without writing a single character of text.

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Key Concepts SAM Blockly Introduces

Loops

Repeat a sequence of actions — forever, a set number of times, or while a condition is true.

Conditions

Make decisions with if, if/else, and if/else if blocks that respond to sensor values or variable states.

Variables

Store and update values — like a sensor reading or a counter — and use them anywhere in your program.

Events

Trigger code when something happens, such as a button press or a threshold being crossed.

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Virtual Hardware Support

You can run a complete SAM Blockly project without any physical hardware. Toggle the Virtual switch on each block in the hardware panel to simulate inputs (move a slider with your mouse) and watch virtual outputs respond in real time. This is ideal for homework assignments or days when the hardware kit isn’t available.
SAM Blockly saves your project to the cloud automatically every 30 seconds. Look for the Saved indicator in the top bar — you never need to press a save button manually.

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Ready for More?

Once students are comfortable with loops, conditions, and variables in Blockly, they’re ready to write real code. SAM Script lets them see the JavaScript or Python that corresponds to their blocks — a natural bridge from visual to text-based programming.