Mr. Kyle on the Prairie

The Extraoridnaires

 

The Extraordinaires is a problem solving game for ages 8 and up that focuses on teaching children how to develop ideas. Specifically, it explains how the development stage of inventing and engineering works in a fun and engaging way. However, with a little creative thinking we decided it could be so much more. We turned this simple game into a project that spanned several weeks, utilized five different classes (Science, creative writing, media center, art, and music) and has been an overwhelming success with the kids in both participation and retention of knowledge.  

 

What was the project/Game? The kids were separated into groups 6 groups of four. They were challenged with developing a specific item for a certain person/demographic. From there they had to develop a multimedia presentation to sell their idea.  The presentation had to include a product, a demographic, a print ad, a power point, and a commercial. Almost every stage of the game was guided by the teacher but focused on peer review and peer interaction. The kids were given a goal and means but also creative freedom and a degree of self/team regulation.

 

How does this fit into the curriculum? The project was a multi purposed program hidden inside of a game. The first goal was to introduce the kids into our maker-space program before it was even up and running. Making them familiar with not just the concept but to be engaged in the philosophy behind it. Second we were taking existing curriculums or classroom philosophies and incorporating them into our game. In science the kids came up with products. They designed them and refined the concepts both individually and as a group. In media center the kids were already going to learn about advertising, film editing, powerpoint and integrating technology into daily learning. In music the kids learned that music can have practical and emotional resonance in day to day life outside of just being entertaining. In art kids learned about fonts, color schemes, layouts, and how they are used in advertising. In creative writing kids wrote scripts that they would later shot as a commercial.  

 

The classes built upon one another. The skills learned in some media center classes were revisited and utilized in art. The skills learned in art and music were then put to use in creative writing and other media center classes. And all of the classes were centered around what they had done in science.  Which brings us to our final purpose. This project served as an introduction to JA Biz-town. The skills they learned in the game; marketing, group work, presentation, and technology, will all play a part in their JA work. But in a more real world application and in a way that doesn’t feel like retreading the same ground.