We Got Game!

Actually, we've got games. Stone Age games, that is.

We our winding up our (albeit quick) week-long unit on the Stone Age, and today the students worked in small groups to create a board game that - once again - fused fact with imagination.

The first thing students were asked to do, was to (as a group) list all the facts they could remember from their Stone Age studies. Next, they brainstormed ideas for creating a unique board game. They had to come up with a layout and design for the actual board, and really think about why they wanted to use that design, how would it add to the game?

Then they had to decide how players would move through the game...by rolling dice? Picking cards? etc...Would there be a beginning square and ending square? Stopping places (i.e. “Jail” in Monopoloy)? Would players answer questions? Would they have to write, draw or act out anything? Would there be rewards and punishments? How does a player “win” the game?

They also had to decide what the game pieces were to look like, come up with rules - how many people could play? How do players move around the board? What can and can’t you do? Students were encouraged to keep it consistent and realistic (as in fact-based and “do-able” ).

The afternoon flew by as the students brainstormed, concocted and created! One group completely finished their game, while the other groups will be given some time to finish up tomorrow. Though disagreements seemed to come up here and there, overall, each group seemed to find positive ways to work together to complete their task in a timely and creative manner.

I will look forward to seeing and hearing each of the games presented tomorrow.

Cheers,
Ms. Pitman