Worm-eating Fernbird Word Families

Prompt

Code a game in html, css, and javascript for a complete, embeddable, and self-contained file. This game is for students in primary grades in elementary school who are learning about word families like -am, -amp, -at, -it and others. Use the included word families list and ensure that no profane, obscene, or off color words appear during the game. In the game, a worm-eating fernbird should be animated to move on screen searching for worms that pop out of the ground holding a sign with the word from a specific word family. For example, a worm might pop up with the word "bad" on its sign. If the player is looking for -ad words, the player will use the A or D key to move across the game field to capture the worm by clicking the space bar. Also make the game play with a touch screen. Provide 30 attempts. Randomize the word family every 5 rounds. Create a scoreboard. Speak the word family in a clear, understandable and pleasant voice while also providing the written word family at the top. Make the bird look similar to the attached image. Provide distractor words that do not belong to the word family in play. Allow for multiple worms to appear at or near the same time. Randomize the game for endless, non-repetitive play. Use a navy blue, white, gray, and black theme surrounding the grassy game area.

Iteration

Change the voice to a more pleasant clear and expressive voice.  Make the worms longer to be more wormlike. Include more words from the word family in play and fewer distractors. Allow the worms to remain visible for a slightly longer time. Add trees in the background of the playing area for more visual interest.

Iteration 2

Change the game slightly to allow the game to show 10 words from each family to appear in addition to the distractors. The player wins when they achieve a score of 30, not when 30 words appear. Add a second level that moves slightly more quickly when the player achieves a score of 30 in the first round. Make the second level also have a win at 30 points.

Resource Files

Game Idea Source

This game is a tribute to John Belushi's March Weather segment on Saturday Night Live from 1976. Thanks for the idea, John!

Watch the whole video here: https://youtu.be/znFY7PYomEA?si=PWsebsszSD3u4zFv