12th Grade  Project 4 weeks

"Medieval Quest: Battle of the Bards"

Corey P
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.5
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.4
+ 4 more
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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage students in a creative exploration of early-middle English literature through the design and creation of board games. By transforming classic stories into interactive gameplay, students will deepen their understanding of narrative elements, language, and historical context. This hands-on experience fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills as students integrate literary analysis with innovative game design.

Learning goals

Students will explore and apply storytelling elements from early-middle English literature to create engaging and interactive board game mechanics. They will analyze and incorporate figurative language and themes from texts such as The Epic of Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales into their game designs. Through collaborative critique and revision, students will refine their understanding of narrative structure and language use, culminating in a reflective assessment of their learning journey and personal contributions to the project.
Standards
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 11—12 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.2 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.4 - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.1 - Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.11-12.2 - Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.5 - Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

Products

Students will create two board games, each centered around early-middle English literature, integrating storytelling elements and language from texts such as The Epic of Beowulf, The Pardoner's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale, and Le Morte D'Arthur. These games will feature a medieval map where players encounter challenges that require solving riddles and puzzles based on figurative language and themes from the literature. Additionally, students will produce clear and coherent game rules and objectives, ensuring adherence to standard English conventions. Finally, students will write reflective journal entries detailing their contributions and the application of literary concepts in the game design process.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Storytelling Circle' where students gather to share their favorite scenes or passages from early-middle English literature. Encourage them to discuss how these moments could be creatively transformed into interactive gameplay mechanics for their board games. This collaborative session will ignite excitement and set the stage for students to begin designing their board games, integrating language and storytelling elements from the texts.

Exhibition

Organize a 'Board Game Showcase' event in the school auditorium, inviting classmates, the broader English department, and community members. Students will demonstrate their board games, emphasizing the integration of language and themes from early-middle English literature. The event will feature interactive gameplay sessions, where attendees can engage with the games and provide feedback. Awards will be given for creativity, literary integration, and overall design, celebrating students' achievements and understanding of the texts.