Why Use Games in the Classroom?
What are the benefits of using board games in the classroom?
- Play is an important part of children's learning and development (NAEYC, 2017)
- Games are a regular part of students' lives, no matter what their grade level (Marzano, 2010)
- Using academic games in the classroom is associated with a 20 percentile point gain in student achievement (Marzano, 2010)
- Games are motivating and challenging
- Games encourage students to interact and communicate
Marzano, R. (2010). The art and science of teaching: Using games to enhance student achievement. Educational Leadership, 67(5), 71-72. Retrieved June 29, 2017, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb10/vol67/num05/Using-Games-to-Enhance-Student-Achievement.aspx
NAEYC. (2017). Play and children's learning. Retrieved June 29, 2017, from http://www.naeyc.org/play
Books in our Collection
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Computer Coding with Scratch
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Call Number: juv 005.133 WOOISBN: 9781465444820Perfect for children ages 6-9 who are new to coding, this highly visual workbook is a fun introduction to Scratch, a free computer coding programming language, that will take kids from playing games to creating them. -
The Basics of Game Design
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Call Number: juv 794.8 SCHISBN: 9781543571516Publication Date: 2019-08-01Skyrim with its in-depth world building and talented design didn't just happen overnight. It took years of planning and hard work. But every game designer started where you are now. Find out how you can get started to make successful game design. -
Rules of Play
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Call Number: QA76.76.C672 S25 2003ISBN: 9780262240451As pop culture, games are as important as film or television -- but game design has yet to develop a theoretical framework or critical vocabulary. In Rules of Play Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman present a much-needed primer for this emerging field. They offer a unified model for looking at all kinds of games, from board games and sports to computer and video games. -
Libraries Got Game
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Call Number: Z692.B63 M39ISBN: 9780838910092A much-talked-about topic gets thorough consideration from two educator-librarians, who explain exactly how designer board gameswhich are worlds apart from games produced strictly for the educational market can become curricular staples for students young and old.
Games in our Collection
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Code Master: Programming Logic Game For all 60 levels you will have to use programming logic to help your Avatar collect the Crystals and land in the PortalCall Number: curr GAME COD
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Council of Verona The citizens of Verona have grown tired of the constant quarrel between the houses of Capulet and Montague. As ruler of the region, Prince Escalus has formed a council to help mediate the conflict and bring lasting peace to Verona. In Council of Verona players take on the role of citizens of Verona and have the opportunity to steer the story of Romeo & Juliet and determine who will rule Verona once and for all!Call Number: curr GAME COU
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Evolution : the dynamic game of survival In Evolution, you’re in the midst of a dynamic ecosystem of limited resources and hungry predators. What traits will your species need to eat, multiply and thrive? The answer changes with every game. 4000 different species to create.Call Number: curr GAME EVO
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Freedom: The Underground Railroad A challenging cooperative game pitting the players against the institution of slavery during the early 1800’s through the Civil War. Players work together for the Abolitionist cause, raising funds and helping slaves as they move from the Southern States to freedom in Canada.Call Number: curr GAME FRE
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Prime Climb: The Beautiful, Colorful, Mathematical Game This is a game of strategy and luck. See the 101 circle? It’s the big red circle at the center of the spiral. The goal is to land both your pawns on 101 exactly. A turn consists of four phases: roll, move, bump, and draw.Call Number: curr GAME PRI
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Race to Madrid: Play the Game and Learn Spanish Learn Spanish as you race to Madrid in this beginner to intermediate Spanish board gameCall Number: curr GAME RAC
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Spookies The haunted house looks even scarier than usual in the light of the full Moon. But the four brave friends and their dog dare to enter the haunted house. Who dares to climb up the highest? the player who has collected the most spookies-points at the end of the game is the winner! you receive spookies chips every time you venture into the haunted house or climb up one floor. The higher you climb, the more spookies you can collect. But if you take too high of a risk, you may lose some spookies as well, so use caution!Call Number: curr GAME SPO
Web Resources
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ALA Games & Gaming Round Table (GameRT)The American Library Association’s Games and Gaming Round Table (GameRT) was created in 2011 with the simple mission of providing a place for exchanging ideas and providing education about games and gaming in libraries. This includes supporting game programming in libraries by offering support for gaming librarians and creating an awareness of the value of all sorts of gaming and play.
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BoardGameGeekBoardGameGeek is a website that was founded in January 2000 by Scott Alden and Derk Solko as a resource for the board gaming hobby. The database holds reviews, articles, and session reports for over 66,000 different games, expansions, and designers.
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Learning With Our Inner-Gamer: Using Board Games in the Social Studies ClassroomBlog post discussing the question "Is the use of games as an instructional strategy really worth it?"
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Play Play LearnProvides educational resources and consulting services to connect games and learning in libraries, schools, and homes for students of all ages.
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Technical Reading and Writing Using Board GamesReading focused lesson plan on using games in the classroom
Gaming by Bloom's Taxonomy
| Bloom’s Taxonomy | Skills | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation | Argue, assess, compare, judge, predict, support | Chicago Express, Settlers of Catan, Chang Chen |
| Synthesis | Arrange, collect, create, develop, manage, organize, plan | Once upon a Time, Pandemic, Carcassonne, 1960 The Making of a President |
| Analysis | Appraise, calculate, criticize, examine, question | Bolide, Shadows Over Camelot |
| Application | Choose, illustrate, dramatize, solve, use | Charades, Portrayal, Number League |
| Comprehension | Classify, explain, locate, recognize, select | Pictueka, Pictionary, Qwirkle, Lost Cities |
| Knowledge | Memorize, define, arrange, list | 10 Days in the USA/Europe, Ticket to Ride, This Day in History |
Mayer, Brian, and Christopher Harris. "TABLE 2.1." Libraries Got Game: Aligned Learning through Modern Board Games. Chicago: American Library Association, 2010. 17. Print.
