Activity

Grade 6-8 Arcade Game Design Challenge

Grades 6-8
Subjects: Career Connected Learning, English Language Arts, French Immersion Language Arts, Science
*French resources for FI Grades 6-8 available*

Overview

In this hands-on, interdisciplinary challenge, students use cardboard building materials to design, build, and test arcade games powered by simple machines. Working in teams, they follow the design thinking process to solve mechanical problems, collect and analyze data, and communicate their solutions. The project culminates in an entrepreneurial pitch event, where students present their games to an audience of peers, teachers, and guests.

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.