Who's Got Game?

Game-based learning is growing, yet not all teachers take advantage of educational games (Murphy, 2016). A recent example of a non-digital educational game is Breakout.EDU which has students problem-solving, collaborating, communicating, and using creativity, the 4Cs or 21st Century Skills.

There are many digital games that can be used to support student learning. Listed below is a lesson plan, identifying several game-based learning options for Grade 6 English Language Arts students.

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​Game-Based Learning
​Lesson Plan for Grade 6 ELA

Lesson Title: Playing to Learn in ELA

Introduction: Students will use games to practice Grammar, Punctuation, and Writing, to improve their skills. As a culminating activity, students will build out a scene from the novel, Esperenza Rising, using the educational creative game, Minecraft.edu.

Content Area and Grade Level of Students: English/Language Arts Grade 6

Picture by Judy Blakeney

Objectives: 
Students Will Be Able to:

• Improve their skill using grammar correctly (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.2)
• Write narratives by practicing using a writing prompt generator (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3)
• Practice use of plurals (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.1)
• Demonstrate theme, plot, and character development through creation of a model in Minecraft (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3)

Learning Activities and Materials:

Grammar Gorillas

Learning Activities:
​• Students play a FunBrain.com game to learn the Parts of Speech
• Students identify a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, interjection, preposition, conjunction and/or pronoun in a sentence, earning points when they select
correctly.
Materials:
• Students work independently using a Web 2.o game, accessible with WiFi and Chromebook
• Link

Writers Block

Learning Activities:
• Students write short narratives using a weekly writing prompt using the Writer's Block FunBrain.com tool
• Students write short and long pieces, collecting them and reflecting about them over time.
• Students develop a writing portfolio that is aggregated over time using this writing game.
Materials:
• Students work independently using a Web 2.o game, accessible with WiFi and Chromebook
• link

The Plural Girls

Learning Activities:
• Students practice writing the plurals of words and earn points for correct answers
• Students practice their knowledge of plural words, building the ability to spell correctly
• Students build both their reading and writing skills, supporting growth as writers.
​Materials:
• Students work independently using a Web 2.o game, accessible with WiFi and Chromebook
​• link

Minecraft.edu

Learning Activities:
• Student groups develop a deeper understanding of plot, theme, setting, and figurative language by creating a Minecraft world based on their assigned chapter in Esperanza Rising
• Students use this culminating activity to demonstrate their understanding of the chapter of the book they present to their peers.
​Materials:
• Student pairs/groups use Dell Computers with Minecraft.edu loaded on them to create the world representing the chapter they are presenting to the class.
• link

References

Murphy, M. E. (2016, February 29). Groups Seek to Help Teachers Connect Tech to the Classroom. Retrieved March 10, 2016, from http://www.gamesandlearning.org/2016/02/29/groups-seek-to-help-teachers-connect-tech-to-the-classroom/