Game Based Lesson Plan - Understanding the Games People Play

Understanding The Games People Play

Grade level: 9^th Grade

Common core standards:

Text Types and Purposes: Standard 2

Production and Distribution of Writing:  Standards 4,5 and 6

Learning Outcomes: 

Recognize the need for rules and regulations in games as well as in life.

Explore the concept of contracts and identify their importance in promoting the common good.

Identify characteristics that lend themselves to social contracts.

Identify ways to promote the common good by entering into social contracts. 

Identify attributes and benefits of the game of Scategories

Brainstorm projects that promote the common good by entering into social contracts that revolve around the playing of the game of Scategories

Deal games pieces according to game-playing etiquette.

Use mental arithmetic to count points for a round.

Practice interpersonal communication and collaboration following game rules.

Reflect on new learning from the game Scategories.

Instructional activities

Students will explore how game rules and strategies apply to life and what it means to play the game and contribute to the common good. Students will learn about concepts of contracts and make an analogy between civil society and the "game of life" which includes rules and relationships.   Small groups will create their own board game using Photoshop and Illustrator to create and design the game elements such as cards, game pieces, and the board itself.  They will also have to establish rules and a system of rewards and punishments. The overall goal is to create their version of an idealized society.

Assessment:  In small groups students will play each other’s newly developed game.  They will evaluate the games based on a provided rubric as well written feedback about the overall experience. 

Debriefing

How do games rules and strategies apply to life?  Learners explore the role games play in enhancing the common good, and can identify those characteristics.  Students need to be able to define the concepts of contract and social contract and make an analogy between civil society and games people play (includes rules, trust, and relationships). Through learning and playing the game Scrabble, students learn and practice life/social skills (problem solving, good character, interpersonal communication, collaboration, and discipline). They also learn valuable study skills of concentration and critical thinking. 

What cognitive skills and new literacies do this game help to cultivate?

New literacies addressed in this lesson are proficiency in use of technology tools, as well as critical thinking, problem solving and evaluation skills.  Throughout this lesson students are using higher order thinking in order to create a new game considering identification of a goal or problem, establishing rules in a clear and informative way to help inform the players how to navigate their game, evaluate their game’s effectiveness, and communicate their ideas in a written format.