What kids want is "Fun", "Cool", & "Good looking". IMO, over 50% class performance depends on teacher's teaching skill.
I remember the time when I mentioned Scratch in my class. I was asking: "How many of you guys had learned Scratch? Raise your hand please." And soon there is one student replies: "Sir, do you mean the UGLY YELLOW CAT?" Yeah~ the Scratch cat is neither cute nor cool. Not to say using Scratch to emulate planet orbital or Newton's law.
The key is how to trigger students' eager for those contents you've brought into class. If teacher do some special things, students will think the whole class is treasure.