A Combination of Design Thinking and Language Skill-Building Power a Game Design Project
Build background knowledge of thinking, learning, and collaboration styles, explore the design of different types of games, build a word bank of vocabulary words, and apply design thinking, learning styles, and game design to create and play an interactive vocabulary game with friends and classmates.
Your students will combine design thinking with language arts skills to complete a game design project in this project-based learning unit for grades 3-5 language arts. They'll learn about different thinking and learning styles, dive into how games and game rules are designed by carefully researching the rules for the game "Words with Friends," work together to build a word bank of vocabulary words, and then design an interactive word game to practice vocabulary with their friends and classmates.
What's Inside
Packed with hands-on inquiry-based activities, extensions and enhancements, cross-curricular independent and group work, and engaging and interactive challenges, this 56-page project-based unit comes complete with:
- For the Teacher: A complete Game Design Lesson Plan with step-by-step instructions for all activities, teaching tips, assessment guidance, and inquiry questions.
- For Students: A full-color Student Pack complete with all of the printables, slides, photos, and instructions students need for the research, experiments and activities - just print (or share) and teach!
A complete, ready-to-teach Teacher Pack that includes:
- Teacher versions of all the student printables with step-by-step annotations and notes for teaching game design;
- Formative and summative assessments, answer keys, and a full project rubric;
- Instructions and guidance for the extension activities and project enhancements;
- Materials and resources lists, links to articles, videos, and research, plus additional resources for lecture and presentation.
What's Included
Lesson Plan - Step-by-Step Project Guide
- Milestone 1: Thinking Styles and Learning Preferences
- Milestone 2: Learning the Rules for "Words with Friends"
- Milestone 3: Researching Vocabulary Words
- Milestone 4: Making Games
- Milestone 5: Playing the Games
Teacher and Student Resources
- Materials List for the Projects in this Unit
- Books About Vocabulary and Game Design (optional)
- Learning Styles Activity
- "What If No One Got Along?" Conflict Resolution Activity
- Thinking Styles and Learning Preferences Inventory Activity and Scoring Guide
- Reflection Questions on Thinking Styles
- Milestone #1 Inquiry Question Writing Prompt
- Making Words Activity
- Game Design Project Guidelines and Instructions Handout
- "Words with Friends" Rules Review Activity and Planning Sheet
- Vocabulary Word Bank Creation Group Activity
- Milestone #2 Inquiry Question Writing Prompt
- Vocabulary Word Bank Story Writing Prompt Activity
- My Vocabulary Words Word Bank Individual Activity
- Final Word Bank Game Creation Activity
- Milestone #3 Inquiry Question Writing Prompt
- Playing and Understanding Word Games Activity
- Group Work Thinking Styles and Learning Preferences Reflection Activity
- Word Game Design Rules Planning Sheet
- Milestone #4 Inquiry Question Writing Prompt
- "Name the State" Word Game Instructions and Game Cards
- How to Use a Dictionary Mini-Lesson Handout
- How to Use a Thesaurus Mini-Lesson Handout
- Game Design Quick Quiz and Answer Key
- Milestone #5 Inquiry Question Writing Prompt
- Game Design Summative Assessment and Answer Key
- Game Design Project Rubric
OVERVIEW:
This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a social studies lesson or unit on Native Americans. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
STUDENT/GROUP OUTPUT:
In the course of this project-based learning unit, students will:
- Build background knowledge about learning, thinking, and collaboration styles using a learning and thinking styles inventory;
- Explore how games are designed by playing the "50 States" game and researching the rules for "Words with Friends";
- Work collaboratively in groups to build a robust word bank of vocabulary words to be used in building a game;
- Use the learning and thinking styles information and design thinking to create an interactive word game from start to finish;
- "Show what they know" by playing the games they created with friends and classmates to build vocabulary skills.
SUGGESTED SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:
Students will acquire necessary background knowledge of designing games as part of this project, and instructional materials for providing that background are included in the Teacher Pack.
SEQUENCE AND PACING
This project-based unit is divided into 5 milestones. The minimum suggested duration for completing this project-based unit is 5 class periods. However, the unit is completely flexible can be lengthened or shortened as necessary or desired, based on available class time and interest level.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES (suggested):
- Internet access
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
These activities support the following CCSS curriculum standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.5
