In this cutting-edge camp for middle schoolers, students explore the intersection of coding and artificial intelligence. They’ll learn how AI can help design characters, generate story ideas, or assist with code debugging. Campers build simple games while reflecting on how AI tools can support creativity, problem-solving, and ethical technology use. Led by Dr. Wes Fryer, IDEAS Department.
Before we start coding our own games, with or without AI, we need to PLAY a variety of games.
We need to discuss and understand what makes simple games fun and challenging.
In this class we will primarily be coding games using HTML and JAVASCRIPT, which can run in a modern web browser like Google Chrome.
Some good sites with browser-based games include:
What others would you add to this list?
Link to our Scratch Profiles from:
Spring 2026 - Fall 2025 - Spring 2025 - Fall 2024 - Spring 2024 - Fall 2023 - Spring 2023 - Fall 2022
Here are a variety of AI vibe coded games Dr. Fryer has created we will explore and discuss today.
Typing Bee (download HTML file and run locally)
These are AI vibe coded EDUCATIOANAL games about COPYRIGHT and FAIR USE created by middle school students.
Some of the best ones to play are:
The "Engineering Design Process" is key when programming / coding and developing a solution to a challenge or problem. ITERATION is a key element!
User interface (UI)
How the game looks and is laid out visually
User experience (UX)
How easy and enjoyable the game is to use
Feedback loop
Does the game tell you if you're right or wrong — and why?
Scaffolding
Does the game teach concepts before it tests you on them?
Interactivity
Does the user make meaningful choices, or just click next?
Learning objective
What copyright concept is the game actually trying to teach?
Aesthetic
The visual style, colors, and overall "feel" of the design
Navigation
How easy it is to move through the game or find what to do next
Engagement
Does the game keep you interested and wanting to keep playing?
Create your own HTML / JavaScript web game using AI:
Create a new Google Doc using this template and DESCRIBE the game you want to make in detail. (Use "Voice Typing" if desired!)
Use an AI ChatBot you have legal access to like Gemini, Claude, or ChatGPT and use a prompt like this with your game description:
I'm a middle school student learning to code. Using the game description below, write a single HTML file with embedded JavaScript that creates a simple, working first version of this game. Add comments explaining what each part of the code does. Do not use any external libraries or dependencies, so it runs in a browser by itself. [PASTE YOUR GAME DESCRIPTION]
As you create your game / program, it's important you SAVE each version so you can go back to that older code if needed.
This is part of what GitHub does.
Example: Dr. Fryer's PodCommons Project
I have created FOLDERS for teach of you in this Google Drive folder.
Please save each VERSION of your project. You can name them things like:
1.0
1.1
1.2
etc.
Start: ALL PLAY "Trail Typers" (Code)
Show and Share from Yesterday
Our first AI coded games
Developing detailed / elaborate AI prompts
Thinking about ENHANCEMENTS to our Tuesday creations
Wednesday Challenge
"Choose Your Own Adventure" is a "children's gamebook series" that was very popular when I (Dr Fryer) was in elementary and middle school in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In 2017 I taught a summer workshop for teachers when we created a CYOA video series using YouTube "end cards."
This blog post article gives more background and includes more related links.
Try developing more DETAILED, SPECIFIC, AND ELABORATE prompts using an AI ChatBot.
Try using the SAME PROMPT in different AI Platforms to compare results.
Try to keep DOCUMENTATION of the different prompts you have used in Google Docs, so you can refer back to old prompts as well as results.
Get FEEDBACK from other people on bugs / glitches to fix, and new features to add.
Today you're building a second browser game, but in a different genre than yesterday's, and this time you'll document your actual prompts and save your AI conversation, not just the finished code.
1. Pick a new genre. Look back at the games we played on Day 1:
Simple, one mechanic games (Pong, Snake, a maze)
Maze and chase games (Pac-Man, Frogger)
Shooting and wave pattern games (Space Invaders, Galaga)
Physics and precision games (Lunar Lander)
Narrative and choice driven games (Oregon Trail, and Trail Typers, which we just played!)
What genre was your Day 2 game? Pick a different one from this list, or another genre entirely, for today.
2. Plan it. Use this template again and describe:
What genre you're building and why you picked something different this time
Goal, controls, what happens when you win or lose, and the look and feel
Which Design Concept from Day 2's list (feedback loop, scaffolding, engagement, whichever fits) you want this game to do well
3. Build it with AI, and keep a Prompt Log. Instead of one big prompt, break your build into smaller steps this time, ask for the basic game first, then come back and ask for one addition or fix at a time. In your Doc, keep a running log:
Prompt 1: [what you asked]
Prompt 2: [what you asked next]
Prompt 3: [what you asked to fix or add]
4. Archive your chat. Save a copy of the actual conversation, not just the final code, so you can look back at how your game came together.
Gemini: look for a "Share & export" option to generate a link or export to Docs
Claude: look for a "Share" option to generate a link to the conversation
ChatGPT: look for a "Share" button to generate a public link
Can't find a share option? Just select all the text in the chat and paste it into your Doc as a backup.
5. Save your version. Start a new version sequence in your Drive folder for this second game (2.0, 2.1, 2.2), same as yesterday.
Start: ALL PLAY both:
Pet Sitter 4.0 (Emi)
Sea Witch's Curse (Fable 2.0 - Astrid)
Review AI Prompting Tips (yesterday)
Minecraft Education Coding Intro
Free Coding Time
Challenge 1: Build a Moat (world link - lesson details)
Dr Fryer will SAVE YOUR WORLD to our Google Drive folder!
ViDEO: Learn to teleport in Minecraft Education (90 seconds)
Use Minecraft MakeCode + AI to create a fun MINI-GAME in the Hogwarts World!
