Build A Game

In this project, learners will explore the world of engineering, discover game design principles and learn block-based programming with Scratch. They'll form an engineering team and develop a Game with Purpose to address a topic that matters to them and create a positive change in the world.

To run Play for Impact, you will need…

  • An account on Scratch, the platform to build the game
  • A Google Drive account, to access project materials

STUDENT PROJECT FEATURE

Survive
Academy of Allied Health and Science

This game explores the illegal poaching of animals. In this game, you play as an unknown animal that forages for food and obtains water in their small habitat while avoiding hunters.

Sample Activity

Exploring Game Styles (30 mins)

(5 mins) Break your learners up into 4 groups. Assign each group one of the following games.

  • Action Games focus on fast-paced action and hand-eye coordination.
  • Adventure Games are filled with fantasy. Players usually explore an interactive adventure story and discover interesting characters and objects along the way.
  • Strategy Games take many different forms, but all require thinking about the best strategies to beat the game.
  • Role-Playing Games (RPG) are games in which the player assumes the identity of a game character acting out a story in that person’s life.

(15 min) Ask each group to play their games, and try to identify the 5 game design principles in each game: Goal, Mechanics, Space, Components, Rule.

(10 mins) Ask one learner in each group to share their findings with the rest of the class.

Project Overview

Prep Phase

4 Hours

Learners discover the world of engineering and game design through Scratch: a block-based programming language. They'll form an Engineering Team and explore how games can address issues that have an impact on people's lives. Engineering Teams will complete a few online tutorials to build confidence with Scratch and choose a topic that matters to them in preparation for building their Game with Purpose.

Sprint Phase

10+ Hours

Learners will work in teams to design, develop and test their Game with Purpose on Scratch.They will follow their list of engineering tasks (backlog) to build their game using different code blocks and characters. At the end of this phase, learners will test their game with other peers to find ways to improve their game.

Finish Phase

1 Hour

Learners will reflect on their engineering sprint experience: the product they created and the engineering process that led them there. Together, you'll submit your Game with Purpose to Meta for a chance to win the Impact Award!