Description
Participants will customize their own game board, game pieces and rules.
Number of Participants
For two or more participants
Space Considerations
An indoor space where participants can be seated to do a craft
Competencies
- Creative and imaginative thinking
- Development of fine motor skills
- Following directions
- Logic and sequencing
- Spatial relationships
- Strategic thinking
- Understanding cause and effect
- Written communication skills
Materials
Board Game
- Game Board Template #1
- Game Board Template #2
- Game Board Template #3
- Galaxy Board Game Parts template
- Extra scrap paper for game design rough work
- Liquid glue, glue sticks or tape
- Foam or puffy stickers (optional)
- Dice (optional)
Game Pieces Options
- Foam stickers (paper backing still attached)
- Playdough, plasticine or clay
- Small objects (plastic figures, toys, etc.)
- Coloured googly eyes
- Plastic or wooden beads
- Wood cut shapes
Preparation
- Prepare the room for a program that uses glue.
- Print whichever game board templates you want to use (three options provided).
Implementation
- Distribute templates and scrap paper for participants to plan their game.
- Distribute craft materials to create game pieces.
Design game
- Design the look for your game. Use the template to design your game or create your own game board.
- Create rules for the game .
- How many players can play?
- What is the goal of the game?
- How does a player achieve the goal?
- How is the order of play decided?
- Are there special rules?
Dice and alternatives
- Decide on standard dice or dice alternative.
- If needed, create your own dice alternative.
Testing
- Test your game and modify accordingly.
Accessibility Considerations
- Use provided templates.
- Provide tactile elements for the game.
- Create example rules for the game (e.g., if you land on the tail of a star, slide up to the star. If you land on a star, slide down the tail).
- Dice options
- Oversized dice
- Larger format dice make it easier for participants to roll the dice and see the numbers.
- Oversized dice
- Alternatives to dice
- Numbered paper or tactile options
- Numbered pieces of paper in a paper bag/box/bin
- Plastic eggs or plastic capsules in a paper bag/box/bin
- Staff can assist with opening eggs or capsules if needed.
- Playing cards
- Playing cards (standard or oversized) corresponding to numbers 1–6 (ace card would represent 1) laid out facedown.
- Participants can point to or select from the facedown cards.
- Numbered spoons/spoons labelled with prompts
- Assign numbers or labels to spoons.
- Select spoons from a cup.
- Spinners
- Activity spinner template, a brad and a paper clip or arrow
- A paper plate with lines dividing into six sections, a paper clip and a pen/pencil
- Numbered paper or tactile options
Book Suggestions
Maker Comics: Design a Game! by Bree Wolf and Jesse Fuchs
Teen Astronauts #3: Mission to Mars by Eric Walters
The Misewa Saga #4: The Portal Keeper by David A. Robertson
Packing for Mars for Kids by Mary Roach
Download Links
Galaxy Board Game Parts template
Images
Game Board #1

Game Board #2

Game Board 3

Galaxy Board Game Parts
