Eighth graders design games for sixth graders

As a project-based learning activity, Julie Stoyka had her eighth-grade English students design their own game that sixth graders would play. The eighth graders surveyed the sixth graders to see what types of games they enjoyed. With the survey results in hand, the eighth graders worked in groups to come up with their game idea. Each group received a bucket that featured gadgets with which to play the game, such as plastic cups, balloons, badminton rackets, and duct tape – lots and lots of duct tape. The eighth graders tested out their games within their teams and with other teams and worked out any bugs. During the last full week of school, the eighth graders met sixth graders in the high school gym. Sixth graders were divided into groups and they rotated between the newly-designed games. The eighth graders gave instructions before each game was played. The sixth graders then voted on what game they liked the best. The results were all over the board – each game was liked by at least some sixth graders. A few, though, received the most votes:

Great job, eighth graders! They found that designing a new game wasn’t as simple as it sounds!