Your complete step-by-step walkthrough — follow at your own pace, tick every box
Course: Game On (9GAMZA)Lesson: T1 — L03Time: ~75 minUnity: 2022.3.xOutcomes: G5-1, G5-2, G5-3
TOTAL XP0/ 60 XP
2
Open the Unity Essentials Project
~10 min • You'll open the special learning project that has all the scenes and assets pre-built for you.
+10 XP
▶
Key Terms for This Section
Unity Hub
The launcher app where you manage your Unity projects and editor versions.
Project
A folder containing all the files (code, images, scenes, etc.) for one game.
Assets
Any file used in your game — images, sounds, 3D models, scripts, etc.
Import
When Unity reads all the assets and converts them into formats it can use. This can take several minutes the first time.
2.1
Open your web browser (Chrome or Edge). Type learn.unity.com in the address bar and press Enter.
2.2
Click "Sign In" in the top-right corner. Use the Unity account you created last lesson.
Forgot your password? Click "Forgot password" and use your school email to reset it. If you used a Google sign-in, click the Google button instead.
2.3
Once signed in, you need to find the Unity Essentials pathway. There are two ways:
Option A: Click "Pathways" in the top menu bar → find "Unity Essentials" and click on it
Option B: Use the search bar at the top → type "Unity Essentials" → click the pathway result
2.4
Inside the Unity Essentials pathway, find the "Editor Essentials" mission. It should be the first mission in the list. Click on it.
2.5
You'll see a list of tutorials. Tutorial 1 is "Install Unity" — you already did that. Click on Tutorial 2: "Open the Unity Essentials project".
2.6
Read through the Unity Learn page. It will ask you to open Unity Hub.
How to open Unity Hub: Look for the Unity Hub icon on your Desktop or taskbar. If you can't find it, click the Windows Start button and type "Unity Hub".
2.7
In Unity Hub, you need to create the project using the Essentials Pathway template:
Click "New project" (blue button, top-right corner of Unity Hub)
Make sure Unity 2022.3.x is selected in the "Editor Version" dropdown at the top
In the template list on the left, scroll down and find "Essentials Pathway" (you may need to download it first — click the download icon if you see one)
Give your project a name, e.g. "Editor Essentials"
Choose a save location (the default is fine)
Click "Create project"
Alternative method: If Unity Learn gives you a direct "Open in Unity" button or a project download link, follow those instructions instead. The result is the same — the Essentials project will open in Unity.
2.8
WAIT. Unity is now importing all the assets. You'll see a progress bar at the bottom of the Unity window.
This takes 2–5 minutes. The first time you open a project, Unity needs to process every single file. Do NOT click anything while it's loading — let it finish. You can watch the progress bar at the bottom.
2.9
When loading is complete, the Unity Editor will appear. You might see a welcome dialog. If it says "Start Mission 1" — you can click it to follow the in-editor tutorial, OR you can close the dialog and follow this guide instead.
Recommended: Close the dialog and follow THIS tutorial guide — it's written specifically for you and breaks things down more clearly.
2.10
You should now see the Unity Editor with a 3D scene. It might show a robot on a white platform, or a playground scene, depending on which scene loaded first.
If you see a grey/empty scene: Look in the bottom of the screen in the Project window. Navigate to Assets → _Unity Essentials → Scenes. Double-click on "-1_Starter_Scene" to open it.
What you should see
The Unity Editor with a 3D scene — a robot character on a white platform with blue sky, or a colourful playground. The Editor has panels on the left, right, centre, and bottom.
✓
Checkpoint: "I can see a 3D scene in the Unity Editor. I'm ready to explore!"
⚠
Troubleshooting:
Project won't open? Check your Unity version is 2022.3.x (not 2021 or Unity 6)
Stuck on "Importing..."? Be patient — first import genuinely takes 3-5 minutes
Unity Hub says "No valid editor"? You need to install Unity 2022.3 via Hub → Installs → Install Editor
Unity Learn won't sign in? Try incognito/private window, or clear cookies
3
Explore the Editor Interface
~15 min • Learn what every window does, open a scene, select objects, and enter Play mode.
+10 XP
▶
Key Terms for This Section
Scene
A single level or environment in your game. A project can have many scenes.
GameObject
Anything that exists in a scene — a character, a light, a camera, a box, the ground.
Component
A property attached to a GameObject that gives it behaviour — e.g. a "Transform" component stores its position.
Play Mode
When you press Play, Unity runs your game inside the editor so you can test it.
Make sure you're looking at the -1_Starter_Scene (the one with the robot). If not, go to the Project window → Assets → _Unity Essentials → Scenes → double-click "-1_Starter_Scene".
3.1
Set the Default Layout. Look at the very top-right corner of the Unity window. You'll see a dropdown that says something like "Default" or "Tutorials". Click it and select "Default".
This makes sure your screen layout matches this tutorial. If the layout looks weird or windows are in strange places, this resets everything.
3.2
Now identify the 6 main windows. Look at your screen and find each one:
Hierarchy (LEFT side) — A text list of every GameObject in the current scene. Think of it like a "table of contents" for your game world.
Scene View (BIG CENTRE panel) — Your 3D editing canvas. This is where you see, move, and build things. It has a toolbar at the top with tools.
Game View (same area as Scene View, look for the TAB) — Click the "Game" tab next to "Scene" to switch. This shows what the player will actually see through the camera.
Inspector (RIGHT side) — Shows the details/properties of whatever object you have selected. If nothing is selected, it's blank.
Project Window (BOTTOM panel) — Your file explorer. Shows all folders and files in your project — scenes, images, scripts, etc.
Console (BOTTOM, look for the tab next to "Project") — Where Unity displays error messages (red), warnings (yellow), and info messages (white).
Open a scene from the Project window. In the Project window (bottom panel):
Look at the left column — it shows folders. Click the triangle next to "Assets" to expand it.
Click the triangle next to "_Unity Essentials"
Click on the "Scenes" folder
In the right side of the Project window, you'll see scene files. Double-click "-1_Starter_Scene" to open it.
Scene files have a Unity logo icon. Double-clicking a scene loads it into the editor. You should see the robot character appear in the Scene view.
3.4
Click objects in the Hierarchy. In the Hierarchy (left panel), you'll see names like "Robot", "Ground", "Stairs", "Star", "Boxes", etc.
Single-click on "Robot" — look at the Inspector (right). It now shows the Robot's properties!
Single-click on "Stairs" — the Inspector changes to show the Stairs' properties.
Double-click on "Stairs" — the Scene view camera zooms in to frame the stairs. This is called "framing".
Double-click on "Robot" — the camera frames the robot.
Double-click = Frame. This is super useful! Whenever you want to find an object, just double-click its name in the Hierarchy and the camera flies to it.
3.5
Click objects in the Scene View. Now try the reverse — click directly on an object in the 3D view:
Click on the robot character in the 3D scene view
Look at the Hierarchy — the robot's name is now highlighted/selected!
Look at the Inspector — it shows the robot's components
They're linked! Clicking in the Hierarchy selects it in the Scene, and clicking in the Scene selects it in the Hierarchy. The Inspector always shows whichever object is currently selected.
3.6
Look around the scene. Put your mouse cursor over the Scene View (centre panel).
Hold Right Mouse Button and drag your mouse left and right
The view rotates like you're turning your head — this is the View Tool
Let go of the right mouse button
Now press the Arrow keys on your keyboard to move forward, backward, left, right
3.7
Try the Pan tool. Look at the floating toolbar in the upper-left corner of the Scene View. The first button (hand icon) is the Pan tool.
Click the hand icon (or press Q)
Now left-click and drag in the Scene View — the camera slides left/right/up/down
3.8
Enter Play Mode! Find the Play button — it's the ▶ triangle at the very top centre of the Unity window.
Click the ▶ Play button
The view switches to the Game View — you're now inside the game!
Use Arrow keys or WASD to walk around
Press Space to jump
Hold Shift to run
Move your mouse to look around
Try to reach the star on top of the stairs (hint: it might be too high to reach right now!)
⚠
CRITICAL RULE: Always click the ■ Stop button when you're done testing! If you stay in Play Mode and make changes, those changes will be LOST when you exit. Unity does NOT save changes made during Play Mode.
3.9
Exit Play Mode. Click the ■ Stop button (same position as Play, now shows a square).
3.10
Edit a property in the Inspector. Let's move the star so you can actually reach it:
In the Hierarchy, double-click "Star" to frame it
Look at the Inspector on the right — at the top you'll see Transform with Position X, Y, Z values
Reduce the Y Position by 1 or 2 (click the number, type a lower value). This moves the star down closer to the platform.
You can also reduce the X Position by 1 or 2 to move it closer
Undo: Made a mistake? Press Ctrl+Z to undo. You can undo multiple times.
3.11
Test your change. Click ▶ Play again. Walk up the stairs. Can you collect the star now? Click ■ Stop when done.
3.12
Save your scene. Press Ctrl+S.
Look at the Hierarchy window — if you see an asterisk * next to the scene name, it means you have unsaved changes. After saving, the asterisk disappears.
✓
Checkpoint: "I can name all 6 windows. I can select objects. I can enter and exit Play Mode. I saved my scene."
💡
Lost in the scene? Double-click ANY object name in the Hierarchy and the camera will fly to frame it. This is your lifeline!
4
Master 3D Scene Navigation
~15 min • Scavenger hunt! Find 4 hidden numbers using Flythrough, Orbit, Zoom, and Focus.
+10 XP
▶
Navigation Controls You'll Learn
Flythrough
Hold right-click + WASD to fly like a first-person game. Best for exploring big areas.
Orbit
Alt + left-click drag to spin the camera around an object. Best for inspecting something from all angles.
Zoom
Scroll wheel to move closer/further. Quick and easy.
Frame / Focus
Select an object, press F. Camera jumps to centre on that object. Your "reset button".
Pan
Middle mouse button drag to slide the camera sideways.
4.1
Open the Playground scene. In the Project window (bottom):
Navigate to Assets → _Unity Essentials → Scenes
Double-click "1_Playground_Navigation_Scene"
If Unity asks to save the current scene, click "Save"
A colourful playground will appear with swings, a picnic area, a play structure, and a firepit. This is your navigation training ground!
4.2
Explore the playground areas. In the Hierarchy, find "Playground_Areas" and click the triangle ▶ to expand it. You'll see:
01_Swingset — double-click it. The camera frames the swings.
02_Picnic_Area — double-click it. The camera frames the picnic tables.
03_Play_Structure — double-click it. The camera frames the big play structure.
04_Firepit — double-click it. The camera frames the firepit.
Now double-click "Playground_Areas" (the parent) to see them all at once.
4.3
FLYTHROUGH MODE — This is the most fun navigation mode! Put your cursor over the Scene View, then:
Hold Right Mouse Button — your cursor turns into an eye
While holding right-click, press W to fly forward
Press S to fly backward
Press A to fly left
Press D to fly right
Press E to fly up
Press Q to fly down
Move your mouse while holding right-click to look around
Tip: Tap keys lightly for small movements. Hold keys for continuous flight. It feels like a first-person game — WASD + mouse, just like Minecraft or Fortnite creative mode!
4.4
Practice Flythrough. Use right-click + WASD to fly to the swingset. Then fly to the firepit. Then fly up high and look down at the whole playground.
Got lost? Double-click any object in the Hierarchy (like "01_Swingset") to snap back to it. This is your safety net.
4.5
FRAME / FOCUS — Select an object, then press F:
Click on the grill/BBQ in the picnic area (click it in the Scene view, or click its name in the Hierarchy)
Press F — the camera zooms to centre on the grill
Press F again — it zooms closer
Try this with different objects: select something, press F
This is the most important shortcut. Whenever you can't find something, or the camera is in a weird place, just select any object and press F. It always works.
4.6
ZOOM — Use the scroll wheel on your mouse:
Scroll up = zoom IN (closer)
Scroll down = zoom OUT (further away)
Try zooming in close to the grill — can you see inside it?
4.7
ORBIT — Spin the camera around a fixed point:
Click on the play structure (the big climbing thing) to select it
Press F to frame it
Now hold Alt + Left Mouse Button and drag
The camera spins around the play structure while staying pointed at it
Try orbiting all the way around to see the back, the bottom, the sides
Orbit vs Flythrough: Orbit keeps the camera pointed at one object and spins around it. Flythrough lets you fly anywhere freely. Use orbit when you want to inspect one specific thing from all angles.
4.8
PAN — Slide the camera without rotating:
Hold Middle Mouse Button (press down on the scroll wheel) and drag
The camera slides left/right/up/down without turning
No middle mouse button? On a laptop trackpad, try holding Alt + Right Mouse Button and dragging instead.
4.9
SCAVENGER HUNT! There are 4 hidden numbers in the playground scene. Each number is a single digit. Together they form a 4-digit code. Use your new navigation skills to find them:
Number 1: Hidden on the swingset — use Flythrough to get close, then look at the back of the top bar
Number 2: Hidden on/inside the grill/BBQ — select it, press F to frame, then zoom in close with scroll wheel
Number 3: Hidden on the play structure — use Orbit (Alt + left-click drag) to see the bottom surface
Number 4: Hidden around the firepit — try using the Scene view gizmo (the colourful cube in the upper-right corner of Scene view) to change viewing angles
Write down each number as you find it. You'll need all 4 digits to enter the code. Hint: the code is the year Unity was founded!
4.10
Enter the code. Click ▶ Play to enter Play Mode. You'll see a text box that says "Enter 4-digit code...". Type your 4-digit code and press Enter.
Correct code? You'll see fireworks! 🎆
Wrong code? Go back and double-check your numbers
Click ■ Stop to exit Play Mode when done.
4.11
Practice round. Before moving on, practice each control 3 more times:
☐ Flythrough (Right-click + WASD) — fly around the whole playground
☐ Frame/Focus (select + F) — frame 3 different objects
☐ Orbit (Alt + Left-click drag) — orbit around 2 different objects
☐ Zoom (scroll wheel) — zoom in and out on something
☐ Pan (Middle mouse drag) — slide the view around
✓
Checkpoint: "I can Flythrough, Orbit, Zoom, Focus, and Pan. I found the 4-digit code!"
💡
Pro Tip: If you ever get completely lost in any scene — camera in a weird spot, everything looks grey, can't find anything — just go to the Hierarchy, click any object, press F, and you'll snap right back to it. This works 100% of the time.
5
Pass the Scene View Flying Test
~10 min • Fly through rings using Flythrough mode — like an obstacle course for your camera!
+10 XP
▶
Make sure you're still in the 1_Playground_Navigation_Scene.
5.1
Activate the rings. In the Hierarchy (left panel), find the GameObject called "Rings".
Click on "Rings" to select it
Look at the Inspector (right panel) — at the very top, next to the name "Rings", there's a checkbox ☐
Tick the checkbox to enable it ☑
Red/coloured ring hoops should appear in the Scene View!
Why was it hidden? The Rings GameObject was disabled (unticked) to keep the scene clean during the earlier tutorials. Ticking the checkbox makes it visible.
5.2
Find the first ring. Expand the "Rings" object in the Hierarchy (click the triangle). You'll see Ring_1, Ring_2, Ring_3, etc.
Double-click "Ring_1" to frame it — a red hoop should appear in your view
Use Orbit (Alt + left-click drag) to position yourself behind Ring_1, facing toward Ring_2
5.3
Method 1: Frame, Orbit, Zoom. A slower but more controlled approach:
Press F to frame the ring
Use Alt + left-click drag to orbit behind it
Use scroll wheel to zoom through the ring's centre
Move to the next ring and repeat
5.4
Method 2: Flythrough (recommended!). Much faster once you get the hang of it:
Hold Right Mouse Button
Use W to fly forward through each ring
Use AD to steer left/right
Use QE to fly down/up
Move your mouse to aim at the next ring
Fly through ALL the rings in order!
Speed control: Use the scroll wheel while in Flythrough mode (while holding right-click) to adjust your flying speed. Scroll up = faster, scroll down = slower.
5.5
Retry until comfortable. Don't worry if you miss rings or go the wrong way!
Go back to Ring_1 (double-click it in Hierarchy) and try again
Each attempt builds muscle memory — it gets easier every time
Try to complete all rings at least 3 times
5.6
When finished: Click on "Rings" in the Hierarchy. In the Inspector, untick the checkbox to hide the rings again. This keeps the scene clean for the next tutorial.
✓
Checkpoint: "I flew through the rings at least once!" or "I attempted the flying test at least 3 times and I'm getting better."
🎮
Speed Challenge: Time yourself! Can you fly through all the rings in under 60 seconds? Under 30 seconds? Challenge a classmate to beat your time.
💡
Can't find a ring? Expand "Rings" in the Hierarchy, double-click on the ring number you're looking for (e.g. "Ring_5"), and the camera will frame it. Then orbit behind it and continue.
6
Design a Mural in the Scene View
~20 min • Use Move, Rotate, and Scale to arrange tangram puzzle pieces into a mural!
+10 XP
▶
Transform Tools
Move (W)
Drag coloured arrows (red=X, green=Y, blue=Z) to move objects along one axis. Drag the coloured squares between arrows to move along two axes at once.
Rotate (E)
Drag coloured rings/circles (red, green, blue) to spin objects. For the mural, you'll mostly use the green ring (Y-axis = flat rotation).
Scale (R)
Drag coloured squares to resize objects. Centre cube scales uniformly.
Global vs Local
Global = axes stay fixed (X is always right, Z is always forward). Local = axes rotate with the object. Use Global for the mural.
6.1
Activate the Mural. In the Hierarchy, find the GameObject called "Mural".
Click on "Mural" to select it
In the Inspector, tick the checkbox next to the name to enable it ☑
Colourful tangram puzzle pieces and a reference image should appear in the scene!
Double-click "Mural" in the Hierarchy to frame all the puzzle pieces
6.2
Get a top-down view. You need to look straight down at the puzzle pieces:
Look at the Scene view gizmo — the colourful cube in the upper-right corner of the Scene View
Click the green cone (the one pointing UP, labelled "Y") — this snaps to a top-down view
You should now be looking straight down at the puzzle pieces
Scene view gizmo: The colourful cube with cones shows which direction you're looking. Click any cone to snap to that axis view. Red = X (side), Green = Y (top), Blue = Z (front/back).
6.3
Set Global coordinates. Look at the Scene View toolbar (below the main menu). Find the dropdown that says either "Global" or "Local".
Click the dropdown and select "Global"
This means the Move arrows will always point in the same direction, no matter how the object is rotated
6.4
Switch to the Move Tool. Press W on your keyboard (or click the second button in the Scene View floating toolbar — the one with 4 arrows).
When you select a puzzle piece, you'll see coloured arrows appear:
Red arrow = X axis (left/right)
Blue arrow = Z axis (forward/backward)
Green arrow = Y axis (up/down — you won't use this much for the mural)
There are also coloured squares between the arrows — dragging these moves along two axes at once
6.5
Move your first piece!
Click on one of the large coloured triangles (a tangram piece) in the Scene View to select it
You'll see the Move arrows appear on it
Click and drag the red arrow to slide it left/right
Click and drag the blue arrow to slide it forward/backward
Or drag the small square between the red and blue arrows to slide freely on the ground plane
Move the piece to where you want it for your mural design
6.6
Rotate a piece. Press E to switch to the Rotate Tool.
Three coloured rings appear around the selected piece
Drag the green ring (Y-axis) to spin the piece flat on the ground — this is the one you'll use most
Tip: Drag your mouse in a straight line (not a circle) for more precise rotation
The red and blue rings tilt the piece in 3D — experiment with these if you want!
6.7
Learn the keyboard shortcut workflow. The fastest way to work is:
Click a piece to select it
Press W → Move it into position
Press E → Rotate it to the right angle
Press W → Fine-tune the position
Repeat for the next piece!
Full tool shortcuts:Q = Hand/View, W = Move, E = Rotate, R = Scale. You'll use W and E the most.
6.8
Design your mural! You can either:
Follow the reference image (like a turtle or house design shown in the scene) — match the piece positions
Create your own design — make a face, your initials, a rocket, a pattern, or anything you want!
Use at least 5 pieces
Use both Move (W) and Rotate (E)
Undo mistakes: Press Ctrl+Z to undo. You can undo many steps. Scale (R): Want to make a piece bigger/smaller? Press R and drag the coloured handles.
6.9
Hide the reference image. In the Hierarchy, expand "Mural" and find "Tangram_Reference". Click on it, then in the Inspector, untick the checkbox to hide it. Now you can see just your mural!
Use Orbit (Alt + left-click drag) to view your mural from different angles
Right-click the Scene gizmo and re-enable "Perspective" if you want a 3D view
6.10
Take a screenshot of your mural. Get a nice angle of your finished mural, then:
Press Win+Shift+S (Windows Snip & Sketch)
Draw a rectangle around your mural in the Scene View
The screenshot is copied to your clipboard — you can paste it into Google Classroom later
6.11
Save your scene! Press Ctrl+S. Check the Hierarchy — the asterisk * should disappear.
✓
Checkpoint: "My mural has at least 5 pieces. I used both Move (W) and Rotate (E). I took a screenshot."
🏆
Extension: Can you create a recognisable picture? Try making a face, a house, or your initials. Challenge: use Scale (R) to resize pieces too!
7
More Things to Try (Extension)
If time permits • 3 optional challenges of increasing difficulty
+10 XP
▶
These are bonus challenges. Only do them if you've finished Tutorials 2–6. Pick whichever sounds fun!
7.1
EASY CHALLENGE: Rings Flythrough Round 2. Re-enable the Rings (tick its checkbox in the Inspector). This time, complete the rings course using Q and E for vertical movement — fly up and down, not just forward/left/right.
Right-click + WASD to fly
E = fly UP, Q = fly DOWN
Adjust speed with scroll wheel while in Flythrough
7.2
MEDIUM CHALLENGE: Create a Second Mural.
Select a puzzle piece, then press Ctrl+D to duplicate it
Move the duplicate to a new area using Move (W)
Create an entirely new design using duplicated pieces
Pro tip: Use the top isometric view (click the green Y cone on the gizmo) for easier piece placement
Pro tip: Drag the small square at the intersection of the Move tool arrows to move on two axes at once
7.3
EXPERT CHALLENGE: Assemble the Broken Tube Slide. Somewhere in the scene there are 3 broken pieces of a tube slide. Can you:
Find the 3 tube slide pieces in the Hierarchy
Switch to Local coordinates (dropdown near the Scene View toolbar)
Use Move (W) and Rotate (E) to assemble them back into a complete slide
Use the leg geometry as positioning guides
7.4
Complete the Quiz on Unity Learn. Go back to learn.unity.com and find the "Editor Essentials Quiz" at the end of the mission. It's a short quiz to test what you've learned. Pass it to earn your badge!
✓
Checkpoint: "I've completed at least one bonus challenge and/or the quiz!"