Video Games with Empathy

Video Game with Empathy Project

1. Introduce the program Scratch. Allow students time to explore the games that have been made by other students using the program.
2. Show students some of the coding scripts in the games that are made. Discuss how coding is an important skill for students to learn. Coding is a lot of cause and effect and problem solving.
3. Tell students that they will be creating a video game with empathy. Students will be making a video game that will help first graders practice needed skills.
4. Students will use the coding "cards" online that teach specific coding skills on each card. Students need to go through all of the cards. Have discussions with students about what kind of games can be made using the coding skills that they have been learning. For students who are having trouble, lead them to the hide and seek game. This is a basic game that they can learn how to code, and students can use a variety of content.
5. Help students compose questions that they can ask first grade students of types of activities that would help them learn. Also, have students create questions that they can also ask first grade teachers. Teach students how to talk with the first graders and to respect their ideas and opinions. Have students record their information on Google Docs and Google Sheets. Teach students how to collaborate together by sharing their response on these two formats. This way students can decide which type of games would be best to make.
6. Have students continue to practice their skills using the cards online. Have students collaborate with each other about what type of game and what skills will students be practicing. Have students begin coding their games.
7. Students continue to code their games. Have students work in groups so they can troubleshoot and augment the games they are working on. Have students present what has gone well in games and the types of problems that they are having.
8. Once students have created their games, have them go back to the first grade classes that they interviewed. Have the first graders play their games.
9. Have students create questions to put on a Google Form so first graders can review their games. Have students first practice the questions and using a form with the group they are working with. Have students help the first graders navigate the form.
10. Give time for students to make changes to their games as needed. They can then create new games or make a sequel to the game they created.