All grades  Project 9 weeks

Arcade Aces: Code Your Own Adventure!

Melissa E
2-AP-10
2-AP-13
2-AP-15
2-AP-18
2-AP-19
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Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to engage Grade 7 students in the creative process of video game design using Microsoft MakeCode Arcade, focusing on problem-solving and storytelling. Through the integration of coding and art, students will explore how to effectively communicate social issues, such as recycling, within their games. This project fosters collaboration, critical thinking, and technical skills, culminating in a final presentation that showcases their understanding and application of game development principles.

Learning goals

Students will develop problem-solving skills by designing video games that address social issues, such as recycling, using Microsoft MakeCode Arcade. They will enhance their understanding of programming concepts through the creation of flowcharts and pseudocode, and improve their ability to document and debug code. Through collaboration with the art department, students will learn to integrate pixel art into their games, focusing on visual storytelling. They will also refine their communication skills by presenting their final games to elementary students and participating in a gallery walk to discuss their creative process.
Standards
  • [Computer Science Teachers Association] 2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
  • [Computer Science Teachers Association] 2-AP-13 - Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs.
  • [Computer Science Teachers Association] 2-AP-15 - Seek and incorporate feedback from team members and users to refine a solution that meets user needs.
  • [Computer Science Teachers Association] 2-AP-18 - Distribute tasks and maintain a project timeline when collaboratively developing computational artifacts.
  • [Computer Science Teachers Association] 2-AP-19 - Document programs in order to make them easier to follow, test, and debug.

Products

Students will create a fully functional video game that educates players about recycling, integrating pixel art assets developed in collaboration with the art department. Throughout the project, students will produce detailed flowcharts and pseudocode to outline game mechanics and narrative, as well as maintain comprehensive development logs documenting their coding journey. The final product will be showcased in a gallery walk, allowing students to present their games and discuss the visual storytelling techniques used to convey the recycling theme.

Launch

Kick off the learning experience with an interactive game design challenge where students brainstorm and sketch ideas for a video game that addresses a social issue, such as recycling. Introduce the concept of using pixel art by having students create a simple sprite using a pixel art editor. Facilitate a discussion on how games can influence societal behaviors and introduce the essential question to guide their projects. Conclude with a collaborative session where students share their initial game concepts and receive feedback from peers and the art department, setting the stage for the project.

Exhibition

Students will showcase their completed video games at a final presentation event, inviting elementary students to play and provide feedback. This exhibition will include a gallery walk featuring pixel art created in collaboration with the art department, where students will explain how their visual storytelling techniques highlight the theme of recycling. The event will serve as a platform for students to discuss their design process, demonstrate their coding skills, and reflect on the social impact of their games.