Do you have an idea for the ultimate game that only you and your friends will understand? Or one you can share with the world?! Join us in this hands on, STEAM program and, before long, you’ll be impressing everyone on your next game night! Creating your own board game can be a really fun project from start to finish – all you need are some great ideas, simple supplies, and your own inventiveness!
In this program, it will be up to the Instructor(s) to gauge the interests of the group and decide how best to structure the overall term. A suggested 10-week term plan is as follows:
- Group introductions. Look at/play a few well known board games such as battleship, headbands, clue etc. to get the creativity flowing. Discuss what the group likes or would like to see done differently in these games – ideas they can carry into their own game making over the term. Develop ideas for possible games as a group and start to see who might work well together with similar ideas/interests.
- Get the participants into groups and have them develop a concept and draft some concept sketches – if there’s time, do a show-and-share with other groups to start to work out some blocks or issues.
- Have the groups solidify their plan and list/draw all their parts and pieces. If there’s time, start to work on a rough draft of the game.
- Finish the rough draft of the game.
- Play the game with the rough draft to work out issues. Revise. If there’s time, swap teams to help groups to better see strengths and weaknesses in their games.
- Have groups set the final rules of the game and complete revisions as needed.
- Begin final build.
- Continue finał build and good copy writing of the rules.
- Finish final build and play their own game.
- Trade games and ask them to play gently with the pieces. Enjoy the last day together. Groups should decide ahead of this last day who will take their game home – if this is a stressful topic suggest setting up a game-sharing schedule for the group or ask your Senior Instructor if the school might like to keep it on site for other students to play with.
Check out this great site with lots of ideas and resources for developing your own board games!
Board Game Creators Packing List
Note that a wide variety of crafting materials will be packed for this program. Depending on the interests of the participants, additional items may be requested by emailing Liz at any time. Please give at least 1 week notice when requesting supplies.
| QUANTITY | ITEM | |
| PRE FAB GAMES | Several | Boxed games such as Clue, Battleship, Headbandz, Monopoly, Apples to Apples etc. |
| PAPER | 1 folder | white paper |
| 1 folder | cardstock (colourful) | |
| 1 folder | white cardstock | |
| 1 folder | black cardstock | |
| 1 folder | construction paper | |
| 1 folder | large white cardstock | |
| 1 folder | large white paper | |
| 20 | cardboard squares | |
| PENCILS & PENS | 1 bag | pencils |
| 1 bag | pencil crayons | |
| 1 bag | markers | |
| 1 bag | coloured sharpies | |
| 1 bag | black fine tip sharpies | |
| ATTACHMENTS | 4 rolls | scotch tape |
| 2 rolls | painters tape | |
| 2 rolls | masking tape | |
| 4 rolls | duct tape | |
| 1 bag | washii tape | |
| 3 bottles | white glue | |
| 8 | glue sticks | |
| 1 set | glue guns | |
| 1 container | metal brads | |
| ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES | 1 bag | scissors |
| 1 set | hole punches | |
| 15 | rulers | |
| 2 containers | elastic bands | |
| 25 pcs | craft felt – various colours | |
| 1 bag | craft pom poms | |
| 1 bag | pipe cleaners | |
| 1 container | marbles | |
| 1 bag | wood cube blocks | |
| 30 – 50 | wood dowels | |
| 50 | dixie cups | |
| 1 bag | plastic/wood spoons | |
| 12 | table cloths | |
| 1 bag | large popsicle sticks | |
| 1 bag | small popsicle sticks | |
| 2 skeins | kitchen twine | |
| 1 bag | gift ribbon | |
| TOYS | 20 | pull back cars |
| 1 bag | dino/animal toys | |
| 1 bag | insect toys | |
| 1 bag | toy mice | |
| 1 container | gems | |
| 1 container | gold coins | |
| 12 | dice |