Week 5 - Assignment #3 - Game Scenario

Game Name: ROAD TRIP

Let’s go on a ROAD TRIP and visit the USA. Imagine going on a road trip and visiting some of the most well known places in the USA. To begin, start at a location (any state) of your choice. Choose whether you want to go on a short ROAD TRIP or long ROAD TRIP. Then, collect clues along the way to take you to your final destination.  If you choose a short ROAD TRIP, you will only need to collect two clues to reach your final destination. If you choose a long ROAD TRIP, you will need to collect four clues to reach your destination. Clues will be provided at rest areas in the form of a map. Directions of travel will be given along the road on road signs.

The main goal of this ROAD TRIP game is to follow directions to reach an unknown destination. Throughout the trip, you will gather clues from specific rest areas. The clues will be provided in terms of historical events or fun facts about the state to which you are going. The clues will also state in which direction to proceed. After gathering all the clues, interpret them to reveal the identity of the unknown destination.

This ROAD TRIP game has many learning outcomes. It helps students practice their geography and map skills. It focuses on the cardinal directions such as north, south, east, west, and the intermediate directions such as northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. It reinforces basic math skills to help students calculate distance traveled in miles and kilometers. It examines students’ ability to recognize state symbols such as the state bird, flower, or main attractions. Finally, it tests students’ knowledge about the fifty states by asking them to recall important historical facts.

Sample Game Scenario

1.     Choose a location. (Student choses Maryland as their starting point)

2.     Go north for 150 miles. (Student will use a map scale to help calculate how far up he/she has to travel to reach 150 miles.)

3.     Pick up clue. (The first clue is, “Henry Hudson discovered a river in this state.”)

4.     Go east for 35 miles. (After collecting the clue, student will go east 35 miles once again using the map scale.)

5.     Pick up clue. (The second clue is, “This state is also known as the empire state.”)

6.     Which state are you in? Pennsylvania, New York, Maine (The student will have thirty second to guess the name of their unknown destination.

7.     (If the student chooses the right answer, he/she wins the game and moves on to the next level, which is a longer ROAD TRIP. If the student chooses the wrong answer, he/she loses the game and starts the ROAD TRIP all over again.