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OVERVIEW In this lesson, students delve into common perceptions of video games and then explore how such games might have more substantive uses and impact beyond the traditional uses of gaming for enjoyment and competition. The video clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing, a thought-provoking portrait of one family's determination to respond to an impending tragedy through artistic expression. When Ryan Green, a video game programmer, learns that his young son Joel has cancer, he and his wife, Amy, begin documenting their emotional and faith-based journey with a poetic video game. Thank You for Playing follows Ryan and his family over two years creating "That Dragon, Cancer," which evolves from a cathartic exercise into a critically acclaimed work of art that sets the gaming industry abuzz. A co-production of American Documentary | POV and ITVS. Official Selection of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. The film challenges the stereotypical view of video games as superficial or violent, revealing a new movement within the gaming world to create projects that document profound human experiences. POV offers a lending library of DVDs that you can borrow anytime during the school year—FOR FREE! Get started by joining our Community Network. OBJECTIVES By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: GRADE LEVELS: 7-12 SUBJECT AREAS Language Arts, Technology MATERIALS ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED One 50-minute class period, plus homework FILM CLIPS Film clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing. Clip 1: "To Live Like He's Living" (5:35 min.) The clip starts at 6:13 with a CT scan and a title card that reads: "At age one, Joel was given four months to live." It ends at 11:48 with Ryan saying, "It wasn't until the last four years that I had anything real to say." Clip 2: "I Was Having Fun" (2:27 min.) The clip starts at 14:58 with Amy saying, "What we have is the father begins to tell the story of the brave knight Joel." It ends at 17:25 with Ryan saying, "I think so." Clip 3: "Death and Gaming: Do They Go Together?" (5:19 min.) The clip starts at 31:28 with the game designer saying: "My role, a lot of times, is to build the game." It ends at 36:47, after Amy says, "People are harsh." Clip 4: "Playing the Game" (6:12 min.) The clip starts at 42:16 at a gaming convention with a game presenter saying, "As far as these instances go…" The clip ends at 48:28 with Ryan saying, "It reminds me just how heavy it is." ACTIVITY 1. Engage students in a "popcorn" brainstorming session (students speak out to share their answers as they come to them), asking for responses to these questions: What comes to mind when you think about video games? What are some of the video games you play? What are they about? Record students' thoughts on chart paper, Smart Board or other medium. 2. Ask students to reflect on the different responses in order to come to conclusions about perceptions of video games. You might focus students on specific categories that emerge from the collection (topics such as types of games played, how they make people feel, how these games affect their players, why people play them and so on). Generate a list of the five most common conclusions. 3. Ask each student to pair up with a classmate. Probe with the class whether video games can be used for something more than enjoyment or competition. Discussion prompts might include whether games can explore a current event or teach a skill. Pairs then spend a few minutes listing possible uses for video games. 4. Invite one pair to share three ideas; repeat this with the remaining pairs, asking them to share ideas that have not yet been offered. Have the class briefly discuss the various choices to decide which seem the most probable in a video gaming context. 5. Invite students to consider whether a game centered on something that is not typically the basis for a game is playable. Who would want to play a game of that nature? 6. Tell students they are about to watch segments of a documentary about a video game of this very nature. Don't share the title yet. Let students know that the documentary follows parents Ryan and Amy Green, whose young son Joel was diagnosed with cancer. Instruct students to jot down some of their initial thoughts about the clips as they watch them. Show Clips 1–4. (It might be helpful to show and briefly discuss each clip one at a time.) 7. Gauge students' emotional responses to the clips, allowing them to share how the segments made them feel. (Some students might be sad, or highly moved. Make sure they feel safe expressing these emotions.) Share the name of the film. Discuss with students aspects of the clips, posing some or all of the following questions as discussion prompts: Homework: Have students come up with design concepts for video games or other media that invite users to experience/interact with complex situations and present their ideas as pitches that would excite potential gamers about playing the video game. If time allows, students can pitch their concepts to their classmates and/or create their games using free and simple video game creation tools such as Scratch (see Resources below) and present them to the class. EXTENSIONS/ADAPTATIONS 1. Coping with the Hard Stuff People negotiate and cope with complex circumstances in different ways. Students can work in small groups to identify, briefly research and present on what influences an individual's coping mechanisms (i.e., religion, spirituality, family, creativity). Create a large spider web and have groups record their findings on it. Then have the class discuss how various coping strategies can be used to negotiate life's challenges. 2. Documenting Life Thank You for Playing presents two powerful storytelling tools: the documentary itself and the video game (an innovative approach). Everyone has a story to tell. Ask students to reflect on and write about moments in their lives that they would be comfortable sharing. Invite them to tell their stories through the mediums of their choice. Challenge students to think outside the box and try mediums they wouldn't normally use or associate with their topics (i.e., a game, a script, a flip book). If time allows, use this as an opportunity to discuss how stories and mediums of expression are related. When and why might a certain medium be appropriate or inappropriate for a story? Have students share their stories in a gallery-type presentation, with student projects placed around the room for peers to review and experience. The class discusses how these various projects expand the definition of storytelling and how they give stories more depth, meaning, feeling and so on. 3. The Evolution of Gaming Students can research how video games have evolved over time, taking a close look at those games that focus more on socio-emotional development, teaching and learning, soft-skills development. They might consider creating a digital interactive timeline or a print timeline and using it to predict what games will be like in the future. Specifically, will they be designed to be more practical and integral to human development and behavior? RESOURCES POV Resources POV: Thank You for Playing http://www.pbs.org/pov/thankyouforplaying - The POV site has additional features, including an interview with the filmmakers and a general discussion guide with additional information, resources and activity ideas. POV: Media Literacy Questions for Analyzing POV Films http://www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php - This list of questions provides a useful starting point for leading rich discussions that challenge students to think critically about documentaries. About "That Dragon, Cancer" "That Dragon, Cancer" Website http://www.thatdragoncancer.com - In addition to information about the game and its creative team, the website includes Ryan's blog and information about Joel's cancer and treatment. Articles and Reviews Gaming (socio-emotional, educational and health elements of video games) Games for Change http://www.gamesforchange.org/ - Founded in 2004, Games for Change facilitates the creation and distribution of social impact games that serve as critical tools in humanitarian and educational efforts. "That Dragon, Cancer" won the group's award for most innovative game in 2016. Scratch https://scratch.mit.edu/educators/ – Created by the MIT Media Lab, this is a free-to-use platform that enables students to program their own interactive stories, games and animations. Articles About Gaming STANDARDS Common Core State English Language Arts Standards (http://www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards/) SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text or issue under study. SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation. SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source. SL.11-12.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards (https://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf) 1. Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge and develop innovative products and processes using technology. 4. Critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. National Core Arts Standards for Media Arts (http://www.mediaartseducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Media-Arts-Standards-6-4-14.pdf) Anchor Standard: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Anchor Standard: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Anchor Standard: Perceive and analyze artistic work. Anchor Standard: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michele Israel owns Educational Writing & Consulting (www.micheleisrael.com), where she works with large and small educational, nonprofit and media organizations to bolster products and programs. Her rich career spans more than 25 years of successful experience developing educational materials and resources, designing and facilitating training, generating communication materials and grant proposals and assisting in organizational and program development. Her long list of clients includes Tiffany & Co., Frost Valley YMCA, Teaching Tolerance, the Public Broadcasting Service, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, WETA Public Television, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Harm Reduction Coalition and IEEE." ["post_title"]=> string(57) "Thank You For Playing: Lesson Plan: More Than Just a Game" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(214) "In this lesson, students delve into common perceptions of video games and then explore how such games might have more substantive uses and impact beyond the traditional uses of gaming for enjoyment and competition." 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OVERVIEW In this lesson, students delve into common perceptions of video games and then explore how such games might have more substantive uses and impact beyond the traditional uses of gaming for enjoyment and competition. The video clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing, a thought-provoking portrait of one family's determination to respond to an impending tragedy through artistic expression. When Ryan Green, a video game programmer, learns that his young son Joel has cancer, he and his wife, Amy, begin documenting their emotional and faith-based journey with a poetic video game. Thank You for Playing follows Ryan and his family over two years creating "That Dragon, Cancer," which evolves from a cathartic exercise into a critically acclaimed work of art that sets the gaming industry abuzz. A co-production of American Documentary | POV and ITVS. Official Selection of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. The film challenges the stereotypical view of video games as superficial or violent, revealing a new movement within the gaming world to create projects that document profound human experiences. POV offers a lending library of DVDs that you can borrow anytime during the school year—FOR FREE! Get started by joining our Community Network. OBJECTIVES By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: GRADE LEVELS: 7-12 SUBJECT AREAS Language Arts, Technology MATERIALS ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED One 50-minute class period, plus homework FILM CLIPS Film clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing. Clip 1: "To Live Like He's Living" (5:35 min.) The clip starts at 6:13 with a CT scan and a title card that reads: "At age one, Joel was given four months to live." It ends at 11:48 with Ryan saying, "It wasn't until the last four years that I had anything real to say." Clip 2: "I Was Having Fun" (2:27 min.) The clip starts at 14:58 with Amy saying, "What we have is the father begins to tell the story of the brave knight Joel." It ends at 17:25 with Ryan saying, "I think so." Clip 3: "Death and Gaming: Do They Go Together?" (5:19 min.) The clip starts at 31:28 with the game designer saying: "My role, a lot of times, is to build the game." It ends at 36:47, after Amy says, "People are harsh." Clip 4: "Playing the Game" (6:12 min.) The clip starts at 42:16 at a gaming convention with a game presenter saying, "As far as these instances go…" The clip ends at 48:28 with Ryan saying, "It reminds me just how heavy it is." ACTIVITY 1. Engage students in a "popcorn" brainstorming session (students speak out to share their answers as they come to them), asking for responses to these questions: What comes to mind when you think about video games? What are some of the video games you play? What are they about? Record students' thoughts on chart paper, Smart Board or other medium. 2. Ask students to reflect on the different responses in order to come to conclusions about perceptions of video games. You might focus students on specific categories that emerge from the collection (topics such as types of games played, how they make people feel, how these games affect their players, why people play them and so on). Generate a list of the five most common conclusions. 3. Ask each student to pair up with a classmate. Probe with the class whether video games can be used for something more than enjoyment or competition. Discussion prompts might include whether games can explore a current event or teach a skill. Pairs then spend a few minutes listing possible uses for video games. 4. Invite one pair to share three ideas; repeat this with the remaining pairs, asking them to share ideas that have not yet been offered. Have the class briefly discuss the various choices to decide which seem the most probable in a video gaming context. 5. Invite students to consider whether a game centered on something that is not typically the basis for a game is playable. Who would want to play a game of that nature? 6. Tell students they are about to watch segments of a documentary about a video game of this very nature. Don't share the title yet. Let students know that the documentary follows parents Ryan and Amy Green, whose young son Joel was diagnosed with cancer. Instruct students to jot down some of their initial thoughts about the clips as they watch them. Show Clips 1–4. (It might be helpful to show and briefly discuss each clip one at a time.) 7. Gauge students' emotional responses to the clips, allowing them to share how the segments made them feel. (Some students might be sad, or highly moved. Make sure they feel safe expressing these emotions.) Share the name of the film. Discuss with students aspects of the clips, posing some or all of the following questions as discussion prompts: Homework: Have students come up with design concepts for video games or other media that invite users to experience/interact with complex situations and present their ideas as pitches that would excite potential gamers about playing the video game. If time allows, students can pitch their concepts to their classmates and/or create their games using free and simple video game creation tools such as Scratch (see Resources below) and present them to the class. EXTENSIONS/ADAPTATIONS 1. Coping with the Hard Stuff People negotiate and cope with complex circumstances in different ways. Students can work in small groups to identify, briefly research and present on what influences an individual's coping mechanisms (i.e., religion, spirituality, family, creativity). Create a large spider web and have groups record their findings on it. Then have the class discuss how various coping strategies can be used to negotiate life's challenges. 2. Documenting Life Thank You for Playing presents two powerful storytelling tools: the documentary itself and the video game (an innovative approach). Everyone has a story to tell. Ask students to reflect on and write about moments in their lives that they would be comfortable sharing. Invite them to tell their stories through the mediums of their choice. Challenge students to think outside the box and try mediums they wouldn't normally use or associate with their topics (i.e., a game, a script, a flip book). If time allows, use this as an opportunity to discuss how stories and mediums of expression are related. When and why might a certain medium be appropriate or inappropriate for a story? Have students share their stories in a gallery-type presentation, with student projects placed around the room for peers to review and experience. The class discusses how these various projects expand the definition of storytelling and how they give stories more depth, meaning, feeling and so on. 3. The Evolution of Gaming Students can research how video games have evolved over time, taking a close look at those games that focus more on socio-emotional development, teaching and learning, soft-skills development. They might consider creating a digital interactive timeline or a print timeline and using it to predict what games will be like in the future. Specifically, will they be designed to be more practical and integral to human development and behavior? RESOURCES POV Resources POV: Thank You for Playing http://www.pbs.org/pov/thankyouforplaying - The POV site has additional features, including an interview with the filmmakers and a general discussion guide with additional information, resources and activity ideas. POV: Media Literacy Questions for Analyzing POV Films http://www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php - This list of questions provides a useful starting point for leading rich discussions that challenge students to think critically about documentaries. About "That Dragon, Cancer" "That Dragon, Cancer" Website http://www.thatdragoncancer.com - In addition to information about the game and its creative team, the website includes Ryan's blog and information about Joel's cancer and treatment. Articles and Reviews Gaming (socio-emotional, educational and health elements of video games) Games for Change http://www.gamesforchange.org/ - Founded in 2004, Games for Change facilitates the creation and distribution of social impact games that serve as critical tools in humanitarian and educational efforts. "That Dragon, Cancer" won the group's award for most innovative game in 2016. Scratch https://scratch.mit.edu/educators/ – Created by the MIT Media Lab, this is a free-to-use platform that enables students to program their own interactive stories, games and animations. Articles About Gaming STANDARDS Common Core State English Language Arts Standards (http://www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards/) SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text or issue under study. SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation. SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source. SL.11-12.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards (https://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf) 1. Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge and develop innovative products and processes using technology. 4. Critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. National Core Arts Standards for Media Arts (http://www.mediaartseducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Media-Arts-Standards-6-4-14.pdf) Anchor Standard: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Anchor Standard: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Anchor Standard: Perceive and analyze artistic work. Anchor Standard: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michele Israel owns Educational Writing & Consulting (www.micheleisrael.com), where she works with large and small educational, nonprofit and media organizations to bolster products and programs. Her rich career spans more than 25 years of successful experience developing educational materials and resources, designing and facilitating training, generating communication materials and grant proposals and assisting in organizational and program development. 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Download the Lesson Plan

Jump to:
OVERVIEW In this lesson, students delve into common perceptions of video games and then explore how such games might have more substantive uses and impact beyond the traditional uses of gaming for enjoyment and competition. The video clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing, a thought-provoking portrait of one family's determination to respond to an impending tragedy through artistic expression. When Ryan Green, a video game programmer, learns that his young son Joel has cancer, he and his wife, Amy, begin documenting their emotional and faith-based journey with a poetic video game. Thank You for Playing follows Ryan and his family over two years creating "That Dragon, Cancer," which evolves from a cathartic exercise into a critically acclaimed work of art that sets the gaming industry abuzz. A co-production of American Documentary | POV and ITVS. Official Selection of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. The film challenges the stereotypical view of video games as superficial or violent, revealing a new movement within the gaming world to create projects that document profound human experiences. POV offers a lending library of DVDs that you can borrow anytime during the school year—FOR FREE! Get started by joining our Community Network. OBJECTIVES By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: GRADE LEVELS: 7-12 SUBJECT AREAS Language Arts, Technology MATERIALS ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED One 50-minute class period, plus homework FILM CLIPS Film clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing. Clip 1: "To Live Like He's Living" (5:35 min.) The clip starts at 6:13 with a CT scan and a title card that reads: "At age one, Joel was given four months to live." It ends at 11:48 with Ryan saying, "It wasn't until the last four years that I had anything real to say." Clip 2: "I Was Having Fun" (2:27 min.) The clip starts at 14:58 with Amy saying, "What we have is the father begins to tell the story of the brave knight Joel." It ends at 17:25 with Ryan saying, "I think so." Clip 3: "Death and Gaming: Do They Go Together?" (5:19 min.) The clip starts at 31:28 with the game designer saying: "My role, a lot of times, is to build the game." It ends at 36:47, after Amy says, "People are harsh." Clip 4: "Playing the Game" (6:12 min.) The clip starts at 42:16 at a gaming convention with a game presenter saying, "As far as these instances go…" The clip ends at 48:28 with Ryan saying, "It reminds me just how heavy it is." ACTIVITY 1. Engage students in a "popcorn" brainstorming session (students speak out to share their answers as they come to them), asking for responses to these questions: What comes to mind when you think about video games? What are some of the video games you play? What are they about? Record students' thoughts on chart paper, Smart Board or other medium. 2. Ask students to reflect on the different responses in order to come to conclusions about perceptions of video games. You might focus students on specific categories that emerge from the collection (topics such as types of games played, how they make people feel, how these games affect their players, why people play them and so on). Generate a list of the five most common conclusions. 3. Ask each student to pair up with a classmate. Probe with the class whether video games can be used for something more than enjoyment or competition. Discussion prompts might include whether games can explore a current event or teach a skill. Pairs then spend a few minutes listing possible uses for video games. 4. Invite one pair to share three ideas; repeat this with the remaining pairs, asking them to share ideas that have not yet been offered. Have the class briefly discuss the various choices to decide which seem the most probable in a video gaming context. 5. Invite students to consider whether a game centered on something that is not typically the basis for a game is playable. Who would want to play a game of that nature? 6. Tell students they are about to watch segments of a documentary about a video game of this very nature. Don't share the title yet. Let students know that the documentary follows parents Ryan and Amy Green, whose young son Joel was diagnosed with cancer. Instruct students to jot down some of their initial thoughts about the clips as they watch them. Show Clips 1–4. (It might be helpful to show and briefly discuss each clip one at a time.) 7. Gauge students' emotional responses to the clips, allowing them to share how the segments made them feel. (Some students might be sad, or highly moved. Make sure they feel safe expressing these emotions.) Share the name of the film. Discuss with students aspects of the clips, posing some or all of the following questions as discussion prompts: Homework: Have students come up with design concepts for video games or other media that invite users to experience/interact with complex situations and present their ideas as pitches that would excite potential gamers about playing the video game. If time allows, students can pitch their concepts to their classmates and/or create their games using free and simple video game creation tools such as Scratch (see Resources below) and present them to the class. EXTENSIONS/ADAPTATIONS 1. Coping with the Hard Stuff People negotiate and cope with complex circumstances in different ways. Students can work in small groups to identify, briefly research and present on what influences an individual's coping mechanisms (i.e., religion, spirituality, family, creativity). Create a large spider web and have groups record their findings on it. Then have the class discuss how various coping strategies can be used to negotiate life's challenges. 2. Documenting Life Thank You for Playing presents two powerful storytelling tools: the documentary itself and the video game (an innovative approach). Everyone has a story to tell. Ask students to reflect on and write about moments in their lives that they would be comfortable sharing. Invite them to tell their stories through the mediums of their choice. Challenge students to think outside the box and try mediums they wouldn't normally use or associate with their topics (i.e., a game, a script, a flip book). If time allows, use this as an opportunity to discuss how stories and mediums of expression are related. When and why might a certain medium be appropriate or inappropriate for a story? Have students share their stories in a gallery-type presentation, with student projects placed around the room for peers to review and experience. The class discusses how these various projects expand the definition of storytelling and how they give stories more depth, meaning, feeling and so on. 3. The Evolution of Gaming Students can research how video games have evolved over time, taking a close look at those games that focus more on socio-emotional development, teaching and learning, soft-skills development. They might consider creating a digital interactive timeline or a print timeline and using it to predict what games will be like in the future. Specifically, will they be designed to be more practical and integral to human development and behavior? RESOURCES POV Resources POV: Thank You for Playing http://www.pbs.org/pov/thankyouforplaying - The POV site has additional features, including an interview with the filmmakers and a general discussion guide with additional information, resources and activity ideas. POV: Media Literacy Questions for Analyzing POV Films http://www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php - This list of questions provides a useful starting point for leading rich discussions that challenge students to think critically about documentaries. About "That Dragon, Cancer" "That Dragon, Cancer" Website http://www.thatdragoncancer.com - In addition to information about the game and its creative team, the website includes Ryan's blog and information about Joel's cancer and treatment. Articles and Reviews Gaming (socio-emotional, educational and health elements of video games) Games for Change http://www.gamesforchange.org/ - Founded in 2004, Games for Change facilitates the creation and distribution of social impact games that serve as critical tools in humanitarian and educational efforts. "That Dragon, Cancer" won the group's award for most innovative game in 2016. Scratch https://scratch.mit.edu/educators/ – Created by the MIT Media Lab, this is a free-to-use platform that enables students to program their own interactive stories, games and animations. Articles About Gaming STANDARDS Common Core State English Language Arts Standards (http://www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards/) SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text or issue under study. SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation. SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source. SL.11-12.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards (https://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf) 1. Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge and develop innovative products and processes using technology. 4. Critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. National Core Arts Standards for Media Arts (http://www.mediaartseducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Media-Arts-Standards-6-4-14.pdf) Anchor Standard: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Anchor Standard: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Anchor Standard: Perceive and analyze artistic work. Anchor Standard: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michele Israel owns Educational Writing & Consulting (www.micheleisrael.com), where she works with large and small educational, nonprofit and media organizations to bolster products and programs. Her rich career spans more than 25 years of successful experience developing educational materials and resources, designing and facilitating training, generating communication materials and grant proposals and assisting in organizational and program development. Her long list of clients includes Tiffany & Co., Frost Valley YMCA, Teaching Tolerance, the Public Broadcasting Service, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, WETA Public Television, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Harm Reduction Coalition and IEEE." ["post_title"]=> string(57) "Thank You For Playing: Lesson Plan: More Than Just a Game" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(214) "In this lesson, students delve into common perceptions of video games and then explore how such games might have more substantive uses and impact beyond the traditional uses of gaming for enjoyment and competition." 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Thank You For Playing: Lesson Plan: More Than Just a Game

POV

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OVERVIEW

In this lesson, students delve into common perceptions of video games and then explore how such games might have more substantive uses and impact beyond the traditional uses of gaming for enjoyment and competition.

The video clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing, a thought-provoking portrait of one family's determination to respond to an impending tragedy through artistic expression. When Ryan Green, a video game programmer, learns that his young son Joel has cancer, he and his wife, Amy, begin documenting their emotional and faith-based journey with a poetic video game. Thank You for Playing follows Ryan and his family over two years creating "That Dragon, Cancer," which evolves from a cathartic exercise into a critically acclaimed work of art that sets the gaming industry abuzz. A co-production of American Documentary | POV and ITVS. Official Selection of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.

The film challenges the stereotypical view of video games as superficial or violent, revealing a new movement within the gaming world to create projects that document profound human experiences.

POV offers a lending library of DVDs that you can borrow anytime during the school year--FOR FREE! Get started by joining our Community Network.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

GRADE LEVELS: 7-12

SUBJECT AREAS
Language Arts, Technology

MATERIALS

ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED
One 50-minute class period, plus homework

FILM CLIPS
Film clips provided in this lesson are from Thank You for Playing.

Clip 1: "To Live Like He's Living" (5:35 min.)
The clip starts at 6:13 with a CT scan and a title card that reads: "At age one, Joel was given four months to live." It ends at 11:48 with Ryan saying, "It wasn't until the last four years that I had anything real to say."

Clip 2: "I Was Having Fun" (2:27 min.)
The clip starts at 14:58 with Amy saying, "What we have is the father begins to tell the story of the brave knight Joel." It ends at 17:25 with Ryan saying, "I think so."

Clip 3: "Death and Gaming: Do They Go Together?" (5:19 min.)
The clip starts at 31:28 with the game designer saying: "My role, a lot of times, is to build the game." It ends at 36:47, after Amy says, "People are harsh."

Clip 4: "Playing the Game" (6:12 min.)
The clip starts at 42:16 at a gaming convention with a game presenter saying, "As far as these instances go..." The clip ends at 48:28 with Ryan saying, "It reminds me just how heavy it is."

ACTIVITY

1. Engage students in a "popcorn" brainstorming session (students speak out to share their answers as they come to them), asking for responses to these questions: What comes to mind when you think about video games? What are some of the video games you play? What are they about? Record students' thoughts on chart paper, Smart Board or other medium.

2. Ask students to reflect on the different responses in order to come to conclusions about perceptions of video games. You might focus students on specific categories that emerge from the collection (topics such as types of games played, how they make people feel, how these games affect their players, why people play them and so on). Generate a list of the five most common conclusions.

3. Ask each student to pair up with a classmate. Probe with the class whether video games can be used for something more than enjoyment or competition. Discussion prompts might include whether games can explore a current event or teach a skill. Pairs then spend a few minutes listing possible uses for video games.

4. Invite one pair to share three ideas; repeat this with the remaining pairs, asking them to share ideas that have not yet been offered. Have the class briefly discuss the various choices to decide which seem the most probable in a video gaming context.

5. Invite students to consider whether a game centered on something that is not typically the basis for a game is playable. Who would want to play a game of that nature?

6. Tell students they are about to watch segments of a documentary about a video game of this very nature. Don't share the title yet. Let students know that the documentary follows parents Ryan and Amy Green, whose young son Joel was diagnosed with cancer.

Instruct students to jot down some of their initial thoughts about the clips as they watch them. Show Clips 1-4. (It might be helpful to show and briefly discuss each clip one at a time.)

7. Gauge students' emotional responses to the clips, allowing them to share how the segments made them feel. (Some students might be sad, or highly moved. Make sure they feel safe expressing these emotions.) Share the name of the film. Discuss with students aspects of the clips, posing some or all of the following questions as discussion prompts:

Homework: Have students come up with design concepts for video games or other media that invite users to experience/interact with complex situations and present their ideas as pitches that would excite potential gamers about playing the video game. If time allows, students can pitch their concepts to their classmates and/or create their games using free and simple video game creation tools such as Scratch (see Resources below) and present them to the class.

EXTENSIONS/ADAPTATIONS

1. Coping with the Hard Stuff
People negotiate and cope with complex circumstances in different ways. Students can work in small groups to identify, briefly research and present on what influences an individual's coping mechanisms (i.e., religion, spirituality, family, creativity). Create a large spider web and have groups record their findings on it. Then have the class discuss how various coping strategies can be used to negotiate life's challenges.

2. Documenting Life
Thank You for Playing presents two powerful storytelling tools: the documentary itself and the video game (an innovative approach). Everyone has a story to tell. Ask students to reflect on and write about moments in their lives that they would be comfortable sharing. Invite them to tell their stories through the mediums of their choice. Challenge students to think outside the box and try mediums they wouldn't normally use or associate with their topics (i.e., a game, a script, a flip book). If time allows, use this as an opportunity to discuss how stories and mediums of expression are related. When and why might a certain medium be appropriate or inappropriate for a story?

Have students share their stories in a gallery-type presentation, with student projects placed around the room for peers to review and experience. The class discusses how these various projects expand the definition of storytelling and how they give stories more depth, meaning, feeling and so on.

3. The Evolution of Gaming
Students can research how video games have evolved over time, taking a close look at those games that focus more on socio-emotional development, teaching and learning, soft-skills development. They might consider creating a digital interactive timeline or a print timeline and using it to predict what games will be like in the future. Specifically, will they be designed to be more practical and integral to human development and behavior?

RESOURCES

POV Resources

POV: Thank You for Playing
http://www.pbs.org/pov/thankyouforplaying - The POV site has additional features, including an interview with the filmmakers and a general discussion guide with additional information, resources and activity ideas.

POV: Media Literacy Questions for Analyzing POV Films http://www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php - This list of questions provides a useful starting point for leading rich discussions that challenge students to think critically about documentaries.

About "That Dragon, Cancer"

"That Dragon, Cancer" Website
http://www.thatdragoncancer.com - In addition to information about the game and its creative team, the website includes Ryan's blog and information about Joel's cancer and treatment.

Articles and Reviews

Gaming
(socio-emotional, educational and health elements of video games)

Games for Change
http://www.gamesforchange.org/ - Founded in 2004, Games for Change facilitates the creation and distribution of social impact games that serve as critical tools in humanitarian and educational efforts. "That Dragon, Cancer" won the group's award for most innovative game in 2016.

Scratch
https://scratch.mit.edu/educators/ - Created by the MIT Media Lab, this is a free-to-use platform that enables students to program their own interactive stories, games and animations.

Articles About Gaming

STANDARDS

Common Core State English Language Arts Standards
(http://www.corestandards.org/read-the-standards/)

SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text or issue under study.

SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.

SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

SL.11-12.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.

ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards
(https://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf)

1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

4. Critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

National Core Arts Standards for Media Arts
(http://www.mediaartseducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Media-Arts-Standards-6-4-14.pdf)

Anchor Standard: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

Anchor Standard: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

Anchor Standard: Perceive and analyze artistic work.

Anchor Standard: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michele Israel owns Educational Writing & Consulting (www.micheleisrael.com), where she works with large and small educational, nonprofit and media organizations to bolster products and programs. Her rich career spans more than 25 years of successful experience developing educational materials and resources, designing and facilitating training, generating communication materials and grant proposals and assisting in organizational and program development. Her long list of clients includes Tiffany & Co., Frost Valley YMCA, Teaching Tolerance, the Public Broadcasting Service, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, WETA Public Television, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Harm Reduction Coalition and IEEE.