3D Printed Game Development Project

Students will work in teams of 4 to design, 3D print, and evaluate a simple board game for children. The duration of the project is 10 class periods. This project-based learning opportunity can be used in science class to teach engineering design and aligns with NGSS middle school engineering standards. It is also designed to be a part of Art or 3D Design classes.

Classroom 3D printer

Tablets or laptops to allow students to use TinkerCAD

Several spools of colored PLA Filament

Superglue

School glue

Game Design Challenge Notebook

Game Evaluation Rubric

Posterboard

Colored markers

Distribute student notebooks and assign students to design teams of 2 - 4 students. Have a general class discussion on what makes a good childhood board game. This will take time for them to get their stories and ideas out. Make a list of criteria for "good games" the class agrees upon. Help them to focus on the general look of the game, gameplay, and storage. Remind them that at least one piece of their game must be 3D printed. Have students write those "good game" ideas on page 4 in their notebooks.

Students will work with their teams to create 2 general ideas for games. Their description should include the goal of the game, general game rules, and how they will construct the game board and playing pieces. This should take 2 class periods and include detailed drawings of what will be 3D printed and what if any, parts will be created using poster board.

On day 3, teams will present their ideas to the class for evaluation. Each student will use the game-scoring rubric to evaluate each idea. Scored rubrics will be handed to teams after all teams have presented.

Teams will use the scored rubrics from the class to evaluate their two ideas and choose one to make.

Allow 2 full class periods for students to play each other's games. After students have played the game, they will complete an evaluation of each game they have played. Teams will have one more class period to finish up their reflection page in their notebook.

These completed games are great to show at the open house or parent's night. Students will enjoy playing them if they have a few minutes in homeroom or at the end of the day.

Here is a game I designed as an example of a "Pre-Reader" game. To set up, build the board out of the colored puzzle pieces with the sun piece as the start and the snowflake piece as the end. Youngest person goes first. On your turn, Spin the spinner and advance to the next matching color square. If there are no more of that color, you advance to the snow spot and win. Rules can be modified according to the age and interests of the players. A special white puzzle piece was added to allow for special rules that the players decide upon. All game pieces are 3D-printed and are stored in a 3D-printed game box. You will need to print 4 straight puzzle pieces and two corner pieces of each color to fill the storage box. To get the two colors on the snow and sun pieces, The printer was stopped and the filament was changed once the sun or snowflake started to print. The eyes and nose of the snowman were painted on with a paint pen to prevent a choking hazard for small children. Even though this game was designed with a pre-schooler in mind, my middle school students play it every morning in homeroom.