video games topic ks2

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Video Game Design (Years 5-6)

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Children can get creative with this fun activity, which encourages them to design their own video game. The worksheet provides space for them plan the theme, characters, objective, graphics, controls and score keeping of their game. A peer assessment page is also included so that children can give each other feedback on their work. This worksheet can be used as an isolated activity or as part of an ongoing project.

• Key Stage: Key Stage 2
• Subject: Computing
• Topic: Game Design
• Topic Group: Software
• Year(s): Years 5-6
• Media Type: PDF
• Resource Type: Worksheet
• Last Updated: 24/10/2023
• Resource Code: CO2WAT215

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12 Writing Prompts about Video Games

Whether it is writing a story from the perspective of a character from a video game, or being thoughtful about what games have to offer as positive experiences, there should be something for everyone here.

I know the best storylines in some of the games I’ve played over the years have stuck with me far longer than most movie storylines – because I was part of the story unfolding I suppose.

These can be great to get your students engaged and enthusiastic about writing too! You might also like to try our superhero writing prompts for some more excited students writing sessions!

Let’s get into it…

How to use:

Try a random prompt and write 500 words on it right now!

Or maybe you’d prefer to try combining two prompts into one very detailed exploration of what video games mean to you.

You can do a writing week challenge – write in depth on a new topic from the list below each day for a week.

These are all about inspiring thoughtful and enjoyable writing, so get into it however you want to!

The prompts:

• What are some good things about playing video games that people might not know?
• Do you think playing video games such as minecraft can encourage creativity like painting pictures or building things in real life? Why?
• Do you feel more or less connected to other people when you’re spending a lot of time playing games? Why?
• Do you think that video games more actively engage your brain than watching a movie or tv show? Why?
• How is playing a virtual reality game different to a game played on a screen? Explain your thinking with as much detail as possible.
• Can video games impact your emotions? How?
• Do you feel like the emotional connection you have to a character in a video game can be stronger than it would be to a character in a film? Why?
• Do you prefer playing multiplayer or singleplayer story-driven games most of the time? Why?
• What is a game story line that stuck with you for years after playing the game? What was it about that game which made it have such an impact on you?
• Do you spend more time watching Youtubers or twitch streamers play games than playing them yourself? Why?
• Would you like to be a full-time professional gamer, knowing how hard they have to train to get that good? Why?
• Write a story set in the world of your favorite video game. Use as many details of the characters and environment as possible.

Here’s some more for you…

Did you know that we have thousands of free writing prompts, story starters, and all sorts of other free tools and resources here on the site for you?

Take a look around, and don’t forget to bookmark now!

Yours, Matt & Hayley

(P.S. – If you have found this useful, it would be amazing if you could share this with others you think would find it helpful)

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Pros and cons of video games: Should kids play them?

Source: Image by Kendra

We debate the pros and cons of video games and to what extent kids should play them. We discuss the effects of  violent video games and gaming as an education tool

Should kids play video games?

Electronic games or video games involve human interaction with a computer monitor or a TV screen. The popularity of video games has reached unprecedented levels. In 2015, the video game industry generated $74 billion in revenues worldwide. In the UK, 8 to 15 year-old gamers spend in average 20 hours a week  playing video games either on PC, consoles, tablets or smartphones. Video games have evolved enormously since the first video games such as Atari's Pong and Taito's Space Invaders. Video games today are much more complex and require greater attention and intellectual engagement from the player.

Since they have become a central element of children's and adults' lives we need to understand better the pros and cons of video games and their potential positive and negative effects on our children. On one hand they help develop not only psychomotor skills but also other intellectual abilities. Many educators are starting to use games to teaching and learning tools. However, many parents are sceptical and fear the effects of video games on kids' development. They are not sure if they should or not let their kids play video games or for how long. Here we outline the main benefits and dangers liked to gaming and open the debate so you can share your thoughts and experiences with us on the discussion forum below.

Pros and cons of video games

Pros of video games

Playing video games has many benefits for the player.

• Learning: video games can help children learn math, spelling, manage resources, understand problems of the world, learn about animals and countries, etc. There are many educational games meant to contribute to our kids development. Through video games educators and parents can get the attention of the children and help them to supplement what they learn in class. Some studies also show that games are a good way to mitigate the effects of dyslexia .
• Problem-solving: there is a growing body of academic literature on the benefits of game-based learning . The potential of games as a teaching and learning tool is an evident opportunity. Video games do not have to be "educational" to help children and adults to develop some problem-solving skills. A variety of studies have shown that playing video games help exercising some mental abilities. They often face also puzzles and problems which become gradually tougher during games, helping the player to understand the logic behind these problems and learn how to solve them.
• Decision-making : video game players face often difficult decisions.  Role-play games and graphic adventure games in particular force players to make tough choices, often involving a cost benefit analysis and ethics. Would you save that person if that means a potential danger for the entire realm? 
• Memory :   Players need to memorize the movements of their characters and their opponents, where things appear on screen, how to avoid dangers, etc. All that stimulates their memory. For instance, researchers form the University of California, Irvine (UCI) found out that students who played Super Mario 3D World improved their scores on memory test designed to engage the brain's hippocampus.
• Spatial intelligence: Video games enhance children's spatial reasoning. 3D shoot-em-up and sandbox games contribute to developing a sense of orientation, and the ability to visualize three dimensional objects. Games such as Tetris, Portal and Minecraft can be particularly good to practice spatial reasoning and creativity. Spatial intelligence is strongly correlated with mathematical abilities and is extremely valuable in engineering and science occupations.
• History and culture: many video games inspire kids' interesests in history and culture. Video games and movies are often one of the first points of contacts with past cultures and civilizations for many children. Video games such as Age of Empires, Civilization, Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty can push children to become interested and read more about different epochs in history.
• Social interaction: although many people think that video games hinder social life and social skills some studies show the contrary. For instance researchers of North Carolina State University observed more than twenty public gaming events and found out  that video gamers spend much time engaged in social behavior online and offline. Gaming did not eliminate social interaction but supplemented it. Moreover, m any children make new friends playing video games online or in arcades.

​Cons of video games

These are the most commons criticisms or risks associated to video games:

• Violence: do video games cause violence? What are the effects of violent video games? Video games have been accused of glorifying violence. In most games players fight and kill enemies. Children are exposed the extreme levels of fictional violence in video games, such as Grand Theft Auto, Dead Island, and  Mortal Kombat . The video game industry has adopted the movie industry parental guidance rating system. However, in practice it is very difficult to prevent children from accessing violent content. Some children may want to imitate the, usually violent, protagonists of games. Not everyone manages to disentangle very clearly what is fiction from what is real life. 
• Real-life risks: video games may generate addiction . According to the University of New Mexico, 6 to 15% of all gamers display signs which can be characterized as addiction. Some children develop an excessive and compulsive pattern of use of video games which may interefere with their normal life and negatively affect their psychological development and personality . Moreover, according to a study published in the Psychological Bulletin based on more than 80,000 people, short-term and long-term risks of substance abuse, reckless driving, gambling and risky sexual behavior were more severe the longer they were exposed to video games and other media glorifying these practices.
• Cognitive functions:  playing video games may affect the way children use their brain. A  study from the University of Montreal shows that playing video games may increase in the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease . According to this study on which people have to move in a virtual maze, gamers use navigation strategies which rely on the caudate nucleus to a much greater degree than non gamers. Past research has shown that people who rely on caudate nucleus based strategies have lower functional brain activity in the hypoccampus and increased risk for nurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.
• Obesity: a study found out that young gamers burned in average 21 extra calories and hour than non players. However, gamers also consume nearly 80 extra calories and usually spend less time doing other physical activities. The World Health Organization blames video games as one of the main causes of childhood obesity.
• Less time to study: children who spend much time playing video games may not have time to do their homework and chores .
• Social consequences: the lack of social interaction is one of the most commonly argued cons of video games. Playing video games a few hours a week would not have a negative effect in kids behavior. However, obsessive gaming can have long-term social consequences. Isolationsim linked to gaming addictions is usually correlated with social awkwardness, which in term incentivizes futher insulation of the gamer.

What do you think, are video games overall good or bad for children? Do video games cause more violence than other modes of entertainment? Are the new generations smarter or more competent than previous ones, and if so, do video games play an important role on this? 

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• Teaching secondary
• Lesson plans
• Secondary lesson plans - Intermediate B1

Computer Gaming

Use this game with secondary or adult learners above CEFR B1 Level. Learners will discuss attitudes towards computer gaming. 

Introduction

This lesson is about computer games. It gives learners a chance to express their opinions about gaming. There are opportunities to personalise the lesson for your learners by giving them the chance to design their own quiz and do a class survey to find out about the gaming habits of the class.

A reading text will stretch higher level students and can be used as a basis for discussion on the possible dangers of playing violent games. Quotes from people within the gaming world can also be used to provoke debate and to get students to express their own opinions on the influence of computer games. Younger students with good imaginations have the chance in the final task to design their own game.

Learning outcomes:

• Use vocabulary related to computer gaming
• Practise forming questions (optional)
• Summarise the main points of a text about violence in computer gaming
• Participate in a discussion about computer gaming and give opinions

Age and level:

13-17, Adults (B1, B2)

65-85 minutes (including optional tasks) + optional project

The materials can be downloaded below.

• Lesson plan
• Student worksheet 
• Presentation

A great plan

Great, varied and very well updated

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Lesson 4 Designing a game

Curriculum > KS2 > Unit > Lesson

Learners work at the ‘design’ level of abstraction, where they create their artwork and algorithms. Learners first design the sprites and backgrounds for their project, then they design their algorithms to create their program flow.

Learning objectives

To design a project that builds on a given example

• I can choose the artwork for my project
• I can create algorithms for my project
• I can explain my design choices

Package contents

• Lesson plans
• Learning graphs
• Unit overviews

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Digital Media and ICT: Video game Design Unit of Work

Subject: Computing

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Unit of work

Last updated

25 March 2024

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A project based scheme of work and lessons which has pupils investigating and researching types of videogames before designing and creating their own game concept which they can pitch to groups. The tasks include Challenge prompts and can be easily scaled up or down in terms of complexity for different year groups.

Suitable for a fun and engaging KS3 or year 9 scheme of work for ICT or computing and digital media. This is excellent preparation for digital media based courses such as the OCR Creative iMedia and units such as R091 : Designing a Game Concept

Pupils will need access to PowerPoint or Google Slides to complete the activities

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A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Digital Media Lesson Bundle

A bundle of lessons used to teach digital media and ICT to KS3 and also to assist in teaching KS4 digital media courses such as Creative iMedia, Digital Graphics, Creative Media and Digital Media.

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UConn's Geno Auriemma on facing Caitlin Clark: 'I don’t need her dropping 50 on us'

PORTLAND, Oregon — Geno Auriemma knows Caitlin Clark is coming for the UConn Huskies . 

And with that in mind, he wants to get one thing out of the way before Clark and Iowa match up with UConn in the second national semifinal on Friday in Cleveland: He has nothing against her. Nothing at all.

“Yeah, I hope Caitlin Clark had a personal agenda against LSU,” Auriemma said after Clark dropped 41 and Iowa exacted some revenge on the defending champion Tigers in a 94-87 win in their regional final, booking a trip to their second consecutive Final Four. 

“I know there's nothing personal between me and her. I don't need to be seeing her drop 50 on us next weekend,” Auriemma deadpanned before laughing along with reporters. “I love her. I think she's the best player. Forget I ever said Paige (Bueckers) is the best player in the country. I think (Caitlin's) the best player of all time. I don't know whoever said Paige is the best player.” 

Monday night against USC — which has its own standout in first-team All-American JuJu Watkins, a freshman — Bueckers scored 28 points, hauled in 10 rebounds, handed out six assists and grabbed three steals in the Huskies' 80-73 win .

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

RARE DOUBLE: UConn, NC State joins schools to send men's and women's teams to same Final Four

MORE: What's next for Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers after season?

Auriemma knows the truth about great players: Don’t poke the bear. So his comment about Bueckers being the top player in the country — a statement he defended earlier this week when he joked, “I’ve coached the best player in the country more than anyone else in this tournament,” so he would know — was all in good fun, he said Monday night.