Date: December 3/18 Jesse Kearl

Lesson Plan - Video Game Story

Grade/Subject: Grade 5 L.A.

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General Learning Outcome(s)
• GLO 2: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and
experiences
• GLO 5: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to respect, support and collaborate with others

Specific Learning Outcome(s)

• 2.4: Create original text
• 5.2: Work within a group

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:
• Explain the aspects of a story in a video game.
• Write a story for their own video game idea.

MATERIALS
• SNES Classic
• HDMI cord
• Google Slides
• SNES controller
• Progress Checklist
• Project Example Slides
• Laptops

PROCEDURE

Activity #1: Story Lesson (15 minutes)

Steps:
• Go to slides and go through aspects of a story. These should already be quite familiar as they have worked with it
many times.
Plot:
• Talk about the beginning middle and end of the game
• Talk about good intros as the beginning
• The middle is the game itself
• The end would be the conclusion. The final boss or the end scene to the game.
• Ask them about their own games and how the story arc would work
• Show my example for SMW
Characters:
• Talk about Protagonist and Antagonist.
• Mention the protagonist is the main character who the player is controlling
• Talk about villains
• Talk about supporting characters
• Show SMW example with a brief summary of each.
Setting:
• Talk about the setting of a video game. Talk about how different levels can have settings as well as a general setting
that encompasses the whole game.
• Ask about the settings of their own games.
• Talk about Minecraft and how important setting is.
• Talk about how some games won’t have as much of a plot, but the setting is very important.
Transition into Earthbound

Transition:
• Set up SNES before class starts

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 Date: December 3/18 Jesse Kearl
Assessment:
• Field any questions. These will determine the confidence of students.

Activity #2: Earthbound Demo (15 minutes)

Steps:
• Short preamble about game. Ask if anyone knows it and talk about why it is a good one to use.
• Switch the input to the SNES
• Boot up Earthbound
• Run through intro. I will name each of the characters to get it going.
• BIG TIME emphasis on the intro. This is very important because this is what they need to be thinking about for their
game.
• The intro stuff may be fast, so read it yourself if necessary.
• Get kids to take turns figuring out what to do in the game. Have quick switches. Do this until they get to the
meteorite in the game? (or just 15 minutes)

Differentiation:
• The risk is that some kids may not be able to operate the game in front of the class. Give as much assistance as
possible so kids and can feel like they contributed to the game.

Activity #3: Work on Game (30-45 minutes)

Steps:
• Show slide of expectations
• Get kids to decide on either slides or a poster
• Run through expectations for story components
• Now they get computers and start working

AssessmentL
• If they are doing what I asked will show if I have taught properly and if they understand. Might need to do some
clarification.
• Number of questions will show understanding.

Differentiation:
• Specifically K and J as a group are going to need some serious help getting going.
• Help give guidance. Make checklists for kids that have big ideas but aren’t good at getting things down on paper.