I wasn't exactly sure where to look for these sorts of games so I started in the most basic way I knew, typing "educational games" into Google. Ahhh, good old Google. I of course was over loaded with over 100,000,000 results but after exploring the top fix or six choices I decided that I wanted to choose a game from the Nobel Prize site I found. Not only did the "Nobel Prize" in the name of the site make me think it was a respectable site to use in a classroom, but it was also a ".edu" versus a ".com". Which, as we discussed in class is another way of weeding out unreliable sources.
There were many different games listed on this site, many of which were involved with earth sciences or anatomy. Since I am going to school to be an English teacher those games did not interest me as much. It wasn't until I came across the "Lord of the Flies Game" that I knew what I was going to do. The game is very professionally designed, presented, and organized. It is set up as an island with many different locations you can go visit. Each location has different activities that quiz the students knowledge of important quotes, character traits, symbolism, plot details, setting, and other knowledge the students should have ascertained while reading the book, The Lord of the Flies by WIlliam Golding. Not only did each section quiz the students on different aspects of the books but the games were designed in different ways as well. Some were matching, some were fill in the blank, and even true and false. They weren't your average quizzes though, they were set up like tree climbs or battles between two characters. at the end you get rates on a scale of one to five butterflies.
After reading this novel with your class over the course a few weeks this game would definitely be useful. I think this would be a great tool to use as a study tool that you could encourage the children to do in class with partners. Not only would they be "tricked" into having fun while they studied, but they also have a great way to review from home if they come across any trouble with the game when they play it in class. Below I have provide a brief video that summarizes this book so you can explore this educational game even if you haven't read the entire book!! Have fun! (you may even accidently learn something in the process )
Great find! That is a good resource for other games in science which I've explored, but hadn't seen this one. The addition of interest and motivation with content certainly enhances learning. :)
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