Story Board Game: Nouns, Adjectives, and Narrative Design
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a fun and engaging board game based on a story, using nouns, adjectives, and the Beginning-Middle-End structure to enhance the gameplay and learning experience?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- How can we turn a story into a fun and engaging board game?
- How do nouns and adjectives make our story and game more interesting?
- How does the Beginning, Middle, and End structure help us create a good game?
- How can we use critical thinking to design a game that is both fun and educational?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will be able to design a board game based on a story.
- Students will be able to use nouns and adjectives in their story and game design.
- Students will be able to apply the Beginning-Middle-End structure to their story and game.
- Students will be able to use critical thinking skills to create a fun and educational game.
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsThe Broken Board Game
Introduce a guest speaker a local board game designer who shares their journey and design process. The speaker presents a broken board game based on a classic story and challenges students to redesign it using their knowledge of nouns, adjectives, and story structure. This provides real-world context and inspires innovative thinking.Story Carnival Challenge
Transform the classroom into a 'Story Carnival' with game booths showcasing incomplete story scenarios. Students rotate through the booths, adding nouns, adjectives, and plot twists to collaboratively build unique story beginnings, middles, and ends. This encourages teamwork and creative storytelling.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Story Detective: Uncovering Key Elements
Students brainstorm and select a story to adapt into a board game. They identify the key elements of the story: main characters (nouns), descriptive words (adjectives), and the sequence of events (Beginning, Middle, and End).Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA Story Element Chart outlining the chosen story’s nouns, adjectives, and B-M-E events.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with: Learning Goal 1 (design a board game), Learning Goal 2 (use nouns and adjectives), and Learning Goal 3 (B-M-E structure).Board Architect: Designing the Game Path
Students design the basic layout of their board game, deciding on the path, spaces, and how the B-M-E structure will be represented on the board. They also determine how nouns and adjectives can be incorporated into the gameplay (e.g., spaces with descriptive challenges).Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA Game Board Blueprint showing the layout, spaces, and how the story elements are integrated.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with: Learning Goal 1 (design a board game), Learning Goal 2 (use nouns and adjectives), Learning Goal 3 (B-M-E structure), and Learning Goal 4 (critical thinking).Card Creator: Adding Twists and Challenges
Students create game cards or challenges that incorporate nouns and adjectives from the story. These cards can add twists, challenges, or rewards to the game, making it more engaging and educational.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA set of Game Cards with instructions that use nouns and adjectives from the story.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with: Learning Goal 1 (design a board game), Learning Goal 2 (use nouns and adjectives), and Learning Goal 4 (critical thinking).Game Tester: Building and Refining the Game
Students build a prototype of their board game, including the board, game pieces, and cards. They playtest the game to identify any issues or areas for improvement. This allows them to refine their design and ensure it is fun and engaging.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA playable Board Game Prototype and a reflection on the playtesting experience.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with: Learning Goal 1 (design a board game) and Learning Goal 4 (critical thinking).Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioStory Board Game Rubric
Story Element Identification
Focuses on how well the student identifies and organizes key story elements.Identification of Nouns
The chart clearly and accurately identifies nouns (characters, objects) from the chosen story.
Beginning
1 PointsThe Story Element Chart is incomplete or inaccurate, missing many nouns from the story.
Developing
2 PointsThe Story Element Chart identifies some nouns but misses key elements or includes inaccuracies.
Proficient
3 PointsThe Story Element Chart accurately identifies most of the important nouns from the story.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe Story Element Chart comprehensively and accurately identifies all key nouns, providing examples of different types (characters, objects).
Identification of Adjectives
The chart clearly and accurately identifies adjectives used to describe elements from the chosen story.
Beginning
1 PointsThe Story Element Chart is missing or inaccurate, with few or no adjectives identified.
Developing
2 PointsThe Story Element Chart identifies a few adjectives, but misses many key descriptive words or includes inaccuracies.
Proficient
3 PointsThe Story Element Chart accurately identifies most of the significant adjectives used in the story.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe Story Element Chart comprehensively and accurately identifies a wide range of adjectives, demonstrating an understanding of descriptive language.
Organization (Beginning-Middle-End)
The chart accurately organizes the story into a Beginning, Middle, and End structure.
Beginning
1 PointsThe Story Element Chart does not attempt to organize the story into a Beginning, Middle, and End structure.
Developing
2 PointsThe Story Element Chart shows a limited attempt to organize the story, but the B-M-E structure is unclear or inaccurate.
Proficient
3 PointsThe Story Element Chart accurately organizes the story into a clear Beginning, Middle, and End.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe Story Element Chart expertly organizes the story, clearly delineating the Beginning, Middle, and End and highlighting the transitions between them.
Game Board Design
Focuses on the design and structure of the game board.Game Board Layout
The game board blueprint demonstrates a clear and functional layout for the game.
Beginning
1 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint is missing or incomprehensible, with no clear layout or path.
Developing
2 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint shows a basic layout, but it is confusing or lacks functionality.
Proficient
3 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint demonstrates a clear and functional layout for the game.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint showcases an innovative and highly functional layout that enhances the gameplay experience.
Integration of Story Structure
The blueprint clearly represents the Beginning, Middle, and End of the story on the game board.
Beginning
1 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint fails to represent the Beginning, Middle, and End of the story.
Developing
2 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint attempts to represent the B-M-E, but it is unclear or poorly integrated.
Proficient
3 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint clearly represents the Beginning, Middle, and End of the story.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint creatively and effectively integrates the Beginning, Middle, and End of the story into the game board design.
Use of Nouns and Adjectives
The blueprint shows how nouns and adjectives are incorporated into the gameplay.
Beginning
1 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint does not incorporate nouns or adjectives into the gameplay.
Developing
2 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint attempts to incorporate nouns and adjectives, but the implementation is unclear or ineffective.
Proficient
3 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint clearly shows how nouns and adjectives are incorporated into the gameplay.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe Game Board Blueprint cleverly and effectively integrates nouns and adjectives into the gameplay, enhancing the learning experience.
Game Card Creation
Focuses on the quality and design of the game cards.Clarity of Instructions
The game cards include clear and understandable instructions.
Beginning
1 PointsThe game cards are missing or have incomprehensible instructions.
Developing
2 PointsThe game cards have instructions that are difficult to understand or incomplete.
Proficient
3 PointsThe game cards include clear and understandable instructions.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe game cards feature exceptionally clear, concise, and engaging instructions.
Effective Use of Language
The game cards effectively use nouns and adjectives related to the story.
Beginning
1 PointsThe game cards do not use nouns or adjectives related to the story.
Developing
2 PointsThe game cards use few nouns and adjectives, or their use is inaccurate or irrelevant.
Proficient
3 PointsThe game cards effectively use nouns and adjectives related to the story.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe game cards creatively and effectively use a rich vocabulary of nouns and adjectives to enhance the game experience.
Visual Appeal
The game cards are visually appealing and engaging.
Beginning
1 PointsThe game cards are unattractive or poorly designed.
Developing
2 PointsThe game cards have a basic design, but lack visual appeal.
Proficient
3 PointsThe game cards are visually appealing and engaging.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe game cards are exceptionally designed, visually stunning, and highly engaging, adding to the overall game experience.
Game Prototype and Reflection
Focuses on the physical construction of the game and the student's reflection on the playtesting experience.Construction Quality
The game board prototype is constructed neatly and functionally.
Beginning
1 PointsThe game board prototype is incomplete or poorly constructed.
Developing
2 PointsThe game board prototype is functional, but lacks neatness or attention to detail.
Proficient
3 PointsThe game board prototype is constructed neatly and functionally.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe game board prototype is meticulously crafted, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and functionality.
Playability and Engagement
The game is playable and engaging.
Beginning
1 PointsThe game is unplayable or not engaging.
Developing
2 PointsThe game is playable, but lacks engagement or has significant flaws.
Proficient
3 PointsThe game is playable and engaging.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe game is highly engaging and enjoyable, providing a rich and immersive gaming experience.
Reflection and Improvement
The reflection demonstrates critical thinking about the game's strengths and weaknesses and provides suggestions for improvement.
Beginning
1 PointsThe reflection is missing or provides no meaningful insights.
Developing
2 PointsThe reflection identifies some strengths and weaknesses, but lacks depth or specific suggestions.
Proficient
3 PointsThe reflection demonstrates critical thinking about the game's strengths and weaknesses and provides suggestions for improvement.
Exemplary
4 PointsThe reflection provides insightful and detailed analysis of the game's strengths and weaknesses, offering innovative and practical suggestions for improvement.