“Let the Games Begin” N.E.W.T.O.N. Academy

““Let the Games Begin”Let the Games Begin”N.E.W.T.O.N. AcademyN.E.W.T.O.N. Academy

Bureau of USDA Nutrition Bureau of USDA Nutrition Programs ConferencePrograms Conference

March 12, 2008March 12, 2008

Objectives Objectives

Develop one game to use for your Develop one game to use for your audience audience

Devise three rules to help structure Devise three rules to help structure your gameyour game

Name two other games that you Name two other games that you could use in your presentationscould use in your presentations

IcebreakerIcebreaker

Please introduce yourself and briefly Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your favorite childhood describe your favorite childhood gamegame

What is an educational moment?What is an educational moment?

It is any moment that we are awareIt is any moment that we are awareThe only time that we do not learn is The only time that we do not learn is when we shut our awareness offwhen we shut our awareness offCan you think of a time when you Can you think of a time when you weren’t aware?weren’t aware?When education is repeatedly When education is repeatedly focused on learning with very little focused on learning with very little interaction of our senses, then we interaction of our senses, then we stop thinking and we stop learningstop thinking and we stop learning

Playing Games Can Increase our Playing Games Can Increase our Awareness!Awareness!

Games that offer more choices, are Games that offer more choices, are more educational:more educational:

For example, For example,

**Placing foods in the correct Placing foods in the correct spots spots on mypyramidon mypyramid

*Comparing prices of fruits and *Comparing prices of fruits and vegetables versus processed vegetables versus processed

snack foodssnack foods

Why Use Games to Teach?Why Use Games to Teach?

• They are fun!!!They are fun!!!

• They can lower anxiety which can help with They can lower anxiety which can help with inputinput

• They are highly motivating!They are highly motivating!

• The use of games involves learning The use of games involves learning opportunities at several levelsopportunities at several levels

Why Use Games to Teach?Why Use Games to Teach?

Rheta DeVries states that group Rheta DeVries states that group games provide a good context for games provide a good context for social and moral development, social and moral development, especially for the construction of especially for the construction of reciprocal and reversible reciprocal and reversible relationships. relationships.

Varieties of GamesVarieties of Games

An already established game, but fit An already established game, but fit the game to your needsthe game to your needs

For example:For example:

**BingoBingo

*Pictionary*Pictionary

*Jeopardy*Jeopardy

Varieties of GamesVarieties of Games

Matching GamesMatching Games

Helpful for rememberingHelpful for remembering

*Definitions*Definitions

*Sequences*Sequences

*Phrases*Phrases

Varieties of GamesVarieties of GamesWord Search GamesWord Search Games

Crossword PuzzlesCrossword Puzzles

Role playing or theatricalRole playing or theatrical

Simulation Games-ordering from a Simulation Games-ordering from a menumenu

How To Use Games in Your How To Use Games in Your PresentationsPresentations

Break the iceBreak the ice

Add diversion to regular classroom Add diversion to regular classroom activitiesactivities

To introduce new ideasTo introduce new ideas

Use after lunch Use after lunch

Use on Friday afternoons or before Use on Friday afternoons or before holidaysholidays


Use games to enhance learning and Use games to enhance learning and motivate studentsmotivate students

Use at any stage of the lesson when Use at any stage of the lesson when appropriateappropriate

Keeps students entertained while you Keeps students entertained while you are setting up for a food are setting up for a food demonstrationdemonstration

Children Benefit from Games That:Children Benefit from Games That:

• Require moving aroundRequire moving around

• Imitate a modelImitate a model

• Have structureHave structure

Concerns About Group GamesConcerns About Group GamesCompetitiveness may have negative Competitiveness may have negative effects on some childreneffects on some children

Alfie Kohn argues that competition Alfie Kohn argues that competition damages self esteem, relationships, and damages self esteem, relationships, and mutual trustmutual trust

Group games that encourage competition Group games that encourage competition can be done in a healthy manner can be done in a healthy manner

Positive Game PlayingPositive Game Playing

Divide players into teams Divide players into teams

Encourage cooperation among the Encourage cooperation among the playersplayers

Encourage discussion of answers for Encourage discussion of answers for consensus before giving final answerconsensus before giving final answer

Positive Game PlayingPositive Game Playing

Set rules to keep structureSet rules to keep structure

Children must agree to the rulesChildren must agree to the rules

Children must abide by the rulesChildren must abide by the rules

Children must accept the consequences of Children must accept the consequences of the rulesthe rules


Know who your audience will be

Go to website for Arizona Education Standards to help develop or adapt your game for school age children

Be clear and concise with rules for your game


Don’t hand out materials until the rules Don’t hand out materials until the rules have been presentedhave been presented

Try to keep everyone involvedTry to keep everyone involved

Keep scoreKeep score

Pace the game and use a timerPace the game and use a timer

Keep the atmosphere lightKeep the atmosphere light

How to Use Games in Your How to Use Games in Your PresentationsPresentations

Aim for a combination of chance and skillAim for a combination of chance and skill

Encourage problem solvingEncourage problem solving

Be fair and don’t waiver from the rules Be fair and don’t waiver from the rules that were setthat were set

Stay Creative-but stick to the messages Stay Creative-but stick to the messages from the Arizona Nutrition Network.from the Arizona Nutrition Network.

How To Use Games In Your How To Use Games In Your PresentationsPresentations

• Make sure that you have something Make sure that you have something to help the players keep their to help the players keep their attention on the game attention on the game

*whistles, bells, fruit or veggie *whistles, bells, fruit or veggie rattlesrattles

Look for popsicle sticks, etc…..to Look for popsicle sticks, etc…..to help pick students for teamshelp pick students for teams

Develop Your Own GamesDevelop Your Own Games

Break into groupsBreak into groups

State who your audience will beState who your audience will be

Develop an objectiveDevelop an objective

Keep the Network messages in mind Keep the Network messages in mind when you develop your objectivewhen you develop your objective

Choose your gameChoose your game

What will be your rules for the game?What will be your rules for the game?

Rules for Developing Your Own Rules for Developing Your Own GamesGames

What kind of supplies will you need?What kind of supplies will you need?

How long will your game be played?How long will your game be played?

How are you going to play the game?How are you going to play the game?

Present Your GamePresent Your Game

A list of games that were developed A list of games that were developed in this class as well as other game in this class as well as other game ideas that are emailed to us will be ideas that are emailed to us will be organized and presented to you at a organized and presented to you at a later datelater date

Email:Email:

[email protected]@wesdschools.org

Or Or [email protected]@co.mohave.az.us

BibliographyBibliographyBerlinger, Y. (2007). Berlinger, Y. (2007). Using Games to Educate and Enrich, A Using Games to Educate and Enrich, A How To Guide. How To Guide. www.highcontentgames.com/www.highcontentgames.com/DeVries, R. What Is Constructivist about Constructivist DeVries, R. What Is Constructivist about Constructivist Education? Education? www.uni.edu/coe/regentsctrwww.uni.edu/coe/regentsctrThiagi, Thiagi, Chapter 18, Using Games for Learning. Chapter 18, Using Games for Learning. www.telelogic.net/AIS/chapter18.pdfwww.telelogic.net/AIS/chapter18.pdfGames For Adolescent Reproductive Health. Games For Adolescent Reproductive Health. www.path.orgZan, B., Hildebrandt, C. (2005). Cooperative and Cooperative and Competitive Games in Constructivist Classrooms. Competitive Games in Constructivist Classrooms. www.odu.edu/educ/act/journal/vol16no1/zan.pdfChapter 16, Some Thoughts About Competition. www.calstatela.edu/faculty/jshindl.cm/competition.htm

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“Let the Games Begin” N.E.W.T.O.N. Academy