*French resources for FI Grades 6-8 available*
Overview
In this hands-on challenge, learners design, build, and test arcade games using cardboard, simple machines, and optional Makedo tools. Working collaboratively, they follow the design thinking process—empathizing with users, generating ideas, prototyping, and refining based on feedback.
Framed through an entrepreneurial lens, learners experience how products are developed, tested, and improved to meet real user needs. The activity fosters creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience—skills essential for innovation in business and everyday life.
Career Connection: This activity introduces students to careers in engineering, industrial design, entrepreneurship, product development, and marketing. It fosters creativity, problem-solving, communication, and business skills relevant to careers in STEM and beyond.
NB Curricular Connections
Technology:
- Strand: Scientific Literacy – Big Idea: Investigation – Skill Descriptor: Plan, execute and present a project within given parameters and with assistance
English Language Arts:
- Strand: Interactions – Big Idea: Exchanges – Skill Descriptor: Ask and respond to questions to clarify information, explore possibilities, and identify solutions to a problem. – Skill Descriptor: Give and respond to a variety of directions and instructions.
- Strand: Representations – Big Idea: Composition – Skill Descriptor: Organize ideas and create written and media texts collaboratively and independently (extension activity)
Personal Wellness:
- Strand: Career Connected Learning – Big Idea: Thinking about potential career pathways – Skill Descriptors: Demonstrate an informed vision for the future linked to own interests, preferences, values and abilities.
What you’ll need
- Cardboard
- Tape
- Scissors
- Brass fasteners
- Makedo tools (optional)
- Recycled materials
Instructions
Please see the attached document for the activity instructions.
Reflection Activity
Please see the attached PDF for several choices on how you and your learners can reflect on today’s activity.
