Fantasy Builders

Fantasy Builders: Creating Worlds with STEAM is an interactive role-playing program where young adventurers design their own fantasy world while exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). Participants will craft maps, construct bridges, decode ancient ciphers, and tackle exciting challenges, all while embarking on a thrilling quest filled with puzzles and problem-solving. Through hands-on activities and creative storytelling, they’ll learn about physics, geometry, and engineering in an engaging, immersive way. Using dice-based probability and strategic decision-making, players will overcome in-game obstacles that require real-world STEAM knowledge. Whether designing mythical creatures based on real biology or engineering magical machines, kids will use their imagination and critical thinking to bring their world to life. This program encourages teamwork, innovation, and curiosity while making learning an adventure. Are you ready to roll the dice and build a fantasy world powered by science and creativity?

See the Fantasy Builders Packing List here.

A suggested 10-week term plan is as follows:

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. Note that depending on the age and attention span of your students, you may want to stretch a lesson across several weeks or combine lessons into one week to keep things exciting.

Lesson 1: Welcome to the Realm – World-Building & Map Making

Objective: Introduce world-building, geography, and cartography while students create maps of their fantasy world.

Materials:

  • Large sheets of paper or blank map templates
  • Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
  • Dice (for randomized terrain generation)
  • Stickers or cutouts for landmarks

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Discuss what makes a world unique (landscapes, cities, cultures, creatures). Show examples of fantasy maps (e.g., Middle Earth, Narnia).
  2. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Roll dice to determine landscape features (e.g., 1-2 = mountains, 3-4 = river, 5-6 = forests).
    • Sketch a map including terrain, towns, and points of interest.
    • Name their world and key locations.
  3. STEAM Connection (10 min) – Discuss real-world geography and how landforms affect civilizations.
Lesson 2: Engineering Bridges & Pathways

Objective: Explore structural engineering by designing a bridge in their fantasy world.

Materials:

  • Straws, popsicle sticks, tape, glue, pipe cleaners
  • Paper for sketching designs
  • Small weights (coins, toy figures)

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Show images of different bridge types (suspension, arch, beam).
  2. Challenge Setup (5 min) – Students identify where they need a bridge on their maps.
  3. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Sketch a bridge design.
    • Build using materials provided.
    • Test strength by placing small weights on it.
  4. STEAM Connection (15 min) – Discuss concepts like balance, tension, and compression.
Lesson 3: Magical Machines – Simple Machines & Inventions

Objective: Learn about simple machines by designing a magical invention.

Materials:

  • LEGOs, cardboard, rubber bands, paper clips
  • Scissors, glue, tape
  • Small objects to lift/move

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Discuss simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel-and-axle) and their real-world uses.
  2. Fantasy Twist (10 min) – How could machines be “enchanted” to work in their world?
  3. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Design and build a machine that helps their fantasy characters (e.g., a pulley system for a castle, a catapult for defense).
    • Test how well their machines work.
  4. STEAM Connection (10 min) – Discuss how these machines relate to real engineering.
Lesson 4: Mythical Creatures & Real Biology

Objective: Design a mythical creature based on real animal adaptations.

Materials:

  • Drawing paper
  • Books or images of real-world animals
  • Colored pencils, markers

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Talk about animal adaptations (e.g., camouflage, sharp claws, wings).
  2. Fantasy Twist (10 min) – Students choose a habitat from their world and design a creature that could survive there.
  3. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Draw and describe their creature.
    • Identify how it moves, eats, and defends itself.
  4. STEAM Connection (10 min) – Compare with real animals (e.g., how bats use echolocation).
Lesson 5: Decoding Ancient Ciphers – Math & Cryptography

Objective: Learn about secret codes and mathematical ciphers.

Materials:

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Show historical ciphers (Caesar shift, pigpen cipher).
  2. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Solve pre-written coded messages.
    • Create their own cipher and write a message.
  3. Fantasy Application (15 min) – Have students create a coded message for their world (e.g., a treasure map clue).
  4. STEAM Connection (5 min) – Discuss real-world cryptography in cybersecurity.
Lesson 6: Dice & Destiny – Probability in Action

Objective: Understand probability through dice-based role-playing.

Materials:

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Explain probability (likelihood of rolling a certain number).
  2. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Roll dice and chart results.
    • Create game mechanics for a challenge (e.g., rolling above 10 = success, below = failure).
  3. Fantasy Application (15 min) – Use dice rolls in their adventure story.
Lesson 7: Designing a Fantasy Civilization – Architecture & Urban Planning

Objective: Plan a village or kingdom using engineering and geometry.

Materials:

  • Graph paper
  • Rulers, coloured pencils
  • Small building models or urban planning book (optional)

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Talk about city planning (roads, water sources, defences).
  2. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Sketch a town layout.
    • Place structures logically (castle on high ground, farms near rivers).
  3. STEAM Connection (15 min) – Compare with real ancient cities.
Lesson 8: Forces of Nature – Weather & Natural Disasters

Objective: Explore meteorology by simulating natural disasters.

Materials:

  • Baking soda, vinegar (for volcanic eruptions)
  • Water, fans (for storm simulation) : have the students create their own paper fans if needed

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Discuss real-world weather events.
  2. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Simulate a volcanic eruption.
    • Use a fan to create a storm model.
  3. Fantasy Application (15 min) – Decide how their world prepares for disasters.
Lesson 9: Puzzles & Riddles – Logical Thinking & Math Challenges

Objective: Develop problem-solving skills through puzzles.

Materials:

Lesson Steps:

  1. Introduction (10 min) – Explain different types of puzzles.
  2. Hands-on Activity (30 min) –
    • Solve riddles to unlock parts of their adventure.
    • Create a riddle for their world.
  3. Fantasy Application (15 min) – Integrate puzzles into their stories.
Lesson 10: The Grand Adventure – Quest Challenge & Showcase

Objective: Apply all learned skills in a final role-playing quest.

Materials:

Lesson Steps:

  1. Setup (10 min) – Introduce a challenge (e.g., rescue a lost artifact, escape a trap).
  2. Hands-on Activity (40 min) –
    • Students use their maps, inventions, and dice rolls to complete the quest.
  3. Reflection (10 min) – Discuss what they learned and share their worlds.
Fantasy Builders Packing List

Note that a variety of 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.

Basic Supplies (Used Across Multiple Lessons)
  • Paper (white, graph, and colored)
  • Pencils & Erasers
  • Markers & Colored Pencils
  • Scissors
  • Glue & Tape (Scotch and masking)
  • Rulers
  • Dice (6-sided, 10-sided, 20-sided)
Lesson 1: World-Building & Map Making
  • Large sheets of paper or blank map templates
  • Stickers or small cutouts for landmarks
Lesson 2: Engineering Bridges & Pathways
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Straws
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Small weights (e.g., coins or toy figures)
Lesson 3: Magical Machines – Simple Machines & Inventions
  • LEGO bricks, cardboard scraps
  • Rubber bands
  • Paper clips
  • Small toy figures or marbles (for testing machines)
Lesson 4: Mythical Creatures & Real Biology
  • Animal reference books/images
  • Extra drawing paper
Lesson 5: Decoding Ancient Ciphers – Math & Cryptography
Lesson 6: Dice & Destiny – Probability in Action
Lesson 7: Designing a Fantasy Civilization – Architecture & Urban Planning
  • Graph paper
  • Building models (optional – LEGO, blocks, clay)
  • Urban planning book(s)
Lesson 8: Forces of Nature – Weather & Natural Disasters
  • Baking soda & vinegar (for volcanic eruptions)
  • Plastic cups
  • Table cloths
  • Paper towel
  • Water spray bottles & fans (for simulating storms)
Lesson 9: Puzzles & Riddles – Logical Thinking & Math Challenges
Lesson 10: The Grand Adventure – Quest Challenge & Showcase