The Awesome Game Race

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In this engineering activity, learners design their own board games. Learners brainstorm the various components of board games, conduct research using well-known games, and then design and prototype a game. The learners' games must meet a "client's" requirements -- the games must be designed for first and second graders, must work with two to four children, and must take less than 15 minutes to play.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Learning Time:
2 to 4 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Simulation
Language:
English, Spanish

Materials List (per group of students)

  • paper and pencil
  • sticky notes
  • markers
  • string
  • tape
  • scissors
  • 3 in. x 5 in. index cards
  • assorted game tokens for players
  • paper, various sizes
  • 2 different games with rules

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
  • The Nature of Science
    • Science as a Career
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Research and Development
      • Invention and Innovation
      • Problem Solving
      • Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

  • Games
  • Toys

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Culture, ethnicity, and gender

  • Girls

    • Explicity developed for this group
    • Acknowledges this group's contributions to STEM
    • Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
    • Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
    • Uses inclusive images of people from this group

Other

Foreign language versions of this resource:

Components that are part of this resource:

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2013

Funding Sources:

  • National Science Foundation, DRL-1114739
  • L'Oreal USA For Girls in Science
  • Northrop Grumman Foundation
  • PPG Industries Foundation