Lesson 1

Introductory Mini-Lesson:

Teacher should demonstrate how to play at least one of the games using the vocabulary above and answering the questions:

What is the game mostly about? How do you play the game?

Put out a variety of games in the room. Choose games that are appropriate to your students grade level and abilities. Divide the class into groups of 3 or 4 and have students play a game. Provide the game rules for students to familiarize themselves with the run of game play. For students that might have trouble reading the game rules, use the internet to find some videos they can watch about game play.

Rotate groupings around the room until all of the students have had an opportunity to play each of the games. Assist groups as needed with guidance in playing the games. If needed create roles for each of the game players in a group.. for example, materials tracker (packs up the game at end of play), narrator (reviews game rules when needed), game leader (sets up the game for play and guides the group) .

You could also assign game players and game observers for each game. The observers can take notes on game play, how to win the game, strategies used by the players etc...

Students use their game journals to respond to each of the questions above for each game played. Students will share their responses with the class.

Then students choose one of the games they have played to write a story about the game. You might use the following sentence prompts if needed:

In the beginning.....

The journey continues when....

Sometimes.....

The story ends with ...

Have students share their stories with the class.