unplugged FAQ
This Frequently Asked Questions section represents the operational guidelines dedicated to the whole Unplugged audience. It aims at guiding the future users in understanding how the games have been developed and how to implement them. It has been divided into several sub-sections: for teachers, for parents, for museums and outside the school organisations (care centre, summer school ...). It will enable solving the main issues that might arise when thinking of developing and implementing Unplugged games in the future!
I am a teacher
I am worrying that mixing learning and playing in the class will lead to a deterioration of behaviour in my lessons
Unplugged has been built to complement the topics overseen within the classroom without overpassing the role of the teachers in transforming each of the proposals into an activity that will be adequate for your classroom. In this way, you can use playful and game activities in a way that can actually help pupils to adopt behaviour that is positive and constructive for learning. Playful interactive teaching can help engage the children with curriculum content and bring additional skills smoothly. Using role play, game dynamics, experimentation, or DIY practices, the teacher can choose to take on a character through which they can control behaviour and orientate the class towards the acquisition of skills in a less formal setting. Many proposed games can include an element of scoring and reward. A reward or a sense of competition can help to focus students on the task at hand. In order to minimise disruptive responses to new elements in the classroom, start small. When introducing a new game or exercise, perhaps just do it for a few minutes at the end of a lesson and observe the reaction of the pupils. You can then decide to enlarge the session. Eventually, do not hesitate to transform the game's ideas to fit your own goals as teachers! All the material is free of use and can be modified without constraints!
I already have so much to fit into my lessons. How can I ensure that introducing the Unplugged games will effectively enhance what they are learning and don’t detract from the curriculum?
All the activities have been designed to re-energise groups while considering the class's curriculum as much as possible. As such, the rest of your teaching will benefit from their inclusion. You can use the game as a way to recap or revise a specific topic or get further in exemplifying a part of the lesson. This will also bring to your attention where there are gaps in knowledge and misconceptions.
Some games are concise and by their nature can fit easily into lessons. For the bigger activities, they have all been split into sub-phases, hence you do not have to implement most of them in their full set. You can use them for illustrating a concise topic, building a complete lesson, or through the years, exploring further and further one of the topics.
I am not a specialist in the field of the games (e.g. in programming), so I don’t feel confident in launching some of the Unplugged Quests in my classroom
Some of the games might seem very specific regarding one topic, especially the games linked to new technologies, mathematics, programming or algorithmics. If the field seems far from your knowledge, the partners have developed very detailed activity sheets, with figures and additional information, enabling you to understand all the aspects of the problem tackled. You can find in each of the game resources, links and resources to go through to discover more deeply a topic and get used to the activity.
In addition, the activities have been developed to be easily achievable by children from 7 to 12 years old. The guidelines have been defined according to their learning pathways.
If some of the activities are still interesting but difficult for you to grasp, we encourage you to get in contact with our project partners.
I have a limited amount of resources to implement the activities and limited access to material. Will it be possible to implement the unplugged games with these limitations?
All the activities of the Unplugged Quest have been built keeping in mind the main objective of offering low-cost and low-tech games to approach complex, citizenship and programming questions. As such, all the games can be played with the generally available material available in a classroom: paper, scissors, pencils, glue … The partners have prepared printable materials that can be used directly as they are, without the need of building complex tools or buying additional equipment. For some of the games (Cookies & Peace or Ecosystem in a Jar for instance), the full version of the activity can benefit from complementary components such as jars or food supplies. Even though, when games are requiring these types of elements, you can always implement a simplified version (examples of variations of the activities are available at the end of this FAQ), for instance, using drawing (drawing ecosystems on paper and understanding how they work) or using food toys instead of real ingredients for understanding games related to food resources management. If you have doubts about how to adapt one of the activities due to resource limitations, we encourage you to get in contact with us.
Should I have to complete all the games or may I use and play only one game?
Each game composing the Unplugged Quest has been built with a beginning and an end and can hence be done as a unique activity. We have been conceiving our resources as a one-stop-shop for teachers in order to easily find, within a complete universe, a specific topic that you would want to discuss within your classroom. In addition, the Unplugged activities can be used for specific events: for instance, using PotLuckMarch or Cookies & Peace during the French Semaine du Goût or any other events that might be implemented in your country linked to food resources and gastronomy, or using Ecosystem in a Jar & Plastic Continent for illustrating specific concept during the EU Green Week. Feel free to “shop around” freely within the full set of games available here. If on the contrary, you are interested in a more global approach, the Unplugged Quest has been built according to a logical pathway in approaching, learning and acquiring skills linked to citizenship. As such, it is interesting to undertake all the games in the order proposed within the territories, however, it is not mandatory, and each game will reach its foreseen pedagogical impact when used individually.
Should I have to perform all the games’ rounds or am I free to choose which round play for each game?
Each game has been constructed around several rounds or phases that are complementary to each other. The guidelines followed by the partners for building the phases have been to increase the complexity of the games with additional dynamics and rules across each round. As such, you can go through the resources and evaluate how each phase can be interesting for your classroom and choose the ones corresponding to the level of your students. Many games are following the same structure: brainstorming around a topic, playing the easy phase, adding complexity, and concluding. You can choose to use the activity only to launch a discussion in your class, or undertake several sub-phases for exploring the topic.
Do I need an open space to play the games?
Most of the games can be done sitting at desks or work benches. Some specific activities (namely PotLuck March, Programming a Choregraphy and Brain Twister) have been designed to integrate movement and motricity skills in the gameplay. In these very specific cases, you can consider other spaces such as the playground or getting outside, in a nearby park for instance. This will enable mixing playing and learning with informal environments which is a valuable commitment in nowadays educational approaches (http://bit.ly/3Iz084W).
Do I need an internet connection for playing the game?
The Unplugged Quest has been built to be, as stated in the name, “unplugged”. Hence, no activity requires an internet connexion to concretely implement the game. You can use the internet for searching for additional information or linked resources and for exploring our online territories, but only to complement the experience and in no way, to be able to play. Even the games linked to programming have been developed to be fully unplugged, without the need to access a computer, screens or any computing devices.
Do I have to print the games and their printable resources?
You do not have to mandatory print the guidelines of the games. You can create your own versions or materials without any issues. We encourage you though when a game is providing printable materials such as play cards or dice, to print them and provide them to your pupils for ensuring a perfect experience, without the need for them to look at the computer to play, which is not the approach we have favoured. However, as you are free to modify and use the materials provided as you want, feel free to define the game setting that you prefer.
Can I adapt the rules of the games?
The games are designed and tested based on teacher’s feedback. Still, any game is open to adaptation and change, according your specific needs and situation.
I am a museum, library, day care center, summer school
Should I have to complete all the games or may I use and play only one game?
Each game composing the Unplugged Quest has been built with a beginning and an end and can hence be done as a unique activity. We have been conceiving our resources as a one-stop-shop for everyone in order to easily find, within a complete universe, a specific topic that you would want to discuss within your activity/session/workshop. In addition, the Unplugged activities can be used for specific events: for instance, using PotLuckMarch or Cookies & Peace during the French Semaine du Goût or any other events that might be implemented in your country linked to food resources and gastronomy, or using Ecosystem in a Jar & Plastic Continent for illustrating specific concept during the EU Green Week. Feel free to “shop around” freely within the full set of games available here. If on the contrary, you are interested in a more global approach, the Unplugged Quest has been built according to a logical pathway in approaching, learning and acquiring skills linked to citizenship.
Should I have to perform all the games’ rounds or am I free to choose which round play for each game?
Each game has been constructed around several rounds or phases that are complementary to each other. The guidelines followed by the partners for building the phases have been to increase the complexity of the games with additional dynamics and rules across each round. As such, you can go through the resources and evaluate how each phase can be interesting for your specific situation, especially regarding the parts that have been better designed for classroom interaction, in order to adapt them to your context. Many games are following the same structure: brainstorming around a topic, playing the easy phase, adding complexity, and concluding. You can choose to use the activity only to launch a discussion in your class, or undertake several sub-phases for exploring the topic.
Do I need an open space to play the games?
Most of the games can be done sitting at desks or work benches. Some specific activities (namely PotLuck March, Programming a Choregraphy and Brain Twister) have been designed to integrate movement and motricity skills in the gameplay. In these very specific cases, you can consider other spaces such as a bigger room (conference room), corridors or getting outside, in a nearby park for instance. This will enable mixing playing and learning with informal environments which is a valuable commitment in nowadays educational approaches (http://bit.ly/3Iz084W).
Do I need an internet connection for playing the game?
The Unplugged Quest has been built to be, as stated in the name, “unplugged”. Hence, no activity requires an internet connexion to concretely implement the game. You can use the internet for searching for additional information or linked resources and for exploring our online territories, but only to complement the experience and in no way, to be able to play. Even the games linked to programming have been developed to be fully unplugged, without the need to access a computer, screens or any computing devices.
Do I have to print the games and their printable resources?
You do not have to mandatory print the guidelines of the games. You can create your own versions or materials without any issues. We encourage you though when a game is providing printable materials such as play cards or dice, to print them and provide them to the children for ensuring a perfect experience, without the need for them to look at the computer to play, which is not the approach we have favoured. However, as you are free to modify and use the materials provided as you want, feel free to define the game setting that you prefer.
Can I adapt the rules of the games?
The games are designed and tested based on teacher’s feedback. Still, any game is open to adaptation and change, according your specific needs and situation.
I am a parent
Can I play the games at home?
Of course! All the games have both a pedagogical commitment and a playful value!
You can explore our resources as parents to support homework moments but also to inspire new ideas for activities to be done at home. So many opportunities to spend an amazing time as a family!
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Organise a game night using our card games (for instance through Likadislike, Iterative Clues, and Brainstorming)!
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Propose artistic activities to your children to redecorate your house (for instance Fantasy out there!)!
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Organise a fun activity in the park (for instance through the Programming a Choregraphy, Brain Twister games, Ecosystem in a Jar)!
You can even use the Poverty Free Game Collection activity to stimulate the creativity of your children in creating new games to be played at home!
The game rules foreseen the division of the games in small groups of people. Can I play it alone too? Or with my siblings?
Almost all the games can be adapted for playing individually or with siblings / parents. You can go through each game and see how it is easily implemented with your child individually. The only exception concerns Potluck March (collective game), Likadislike (can be played with at least 3 players), Iterative Clues (at least 2 players) and Good Ways (collective game). Explore our set of activities to find inspiration and feel free to adapt!
Do I need an open space to play the games?
Most of the games can be done sitting at desks or work benches. Some specific activities (namely PotLuck March, Programming a Choregraphy and Brain Twister) have been designed to integrate movement and motricity skills in the gameplay. In these very specific cases, you can consider other spaces such as your own garden or getting outside, in a nearby park for instance. This will enable mixing playing and learning with informal environments which is a valuable commitment in nowadays educational approaches (http://bit.ly/3Iz084W).
Do I need an internet connection for playing the game?
The Unplugged Quest has been built to be, as stated in the name, “unplugged”. Hence, no activity requires an internet connexion to concretely implement the game. You can use the internet for searching for additional information or linked resources and for exploring our online territories, but only to complement the experience and in no way, to be able to play. Even the games linked to programming have been developed to be fully unplugged, without the need to access a computer, screens or any computing devices.
Do I have to print the games and their printable resources?
You do not have to mandatory print the guidelines of the games. You can create your own versions or materials without any issues. We encourage you though when a game is providing printable materials such as play cards or dice, to print them and provide them to your children for ensuring a perfect experience, without the need for them to look at the computer to play, which is not the approach we have favoured. However, as you are free to modify and use the materials provided as you want, feel free to define the game setting that you prefer.
unplugged Ideas for adapting some of the games
Programming a choreography
The game can be adapted from primary education to adult education considering different levels of instructor guidance. In our experience (UCA) on playing this game with different age levels shows this game is well accepted by these different ages. The debriefing is important for more youngers participants. Intergenerational teams can also be engaged in this activity.
Likadislike
Instead of using cards and coins, you can create a “voting with your foot” challenge based on Likadislike, mixing the game with proactive positioning of the children and making them move. You can create three corners in the class and let the children position themselves in the areas depending on if they like, dislike or adore. This creates a visual and dynamic way of engaging them in the game.
Peace Magic Grid
You can use the Peace Magic Grid as a basis for creating a sort of escape game. By correcting the grids, the children can discover a code (with letters or numbers) that can unlock a cryptex (easily printable with 3D printers, or 20 EUR on Amazon), or a locked box with enigmas hidden.
Cookies and peace
If you don’t have access to an oven, feel free to replace the cookies recipe by another sweet such as no-cooking candies. You can actually implement the game with any recipe you want as soon as it is simple enough to bring the focus of the children on the objective of the activity. If you cannot use food supplies or cannot buy the ingredients, you can still play the games with food toys for instance, or using cards, drawings …
Binary counting
Feel free once the activity is well understood, to use the conversion table between digit and letters to create fun activities in the form of escape games for instead, treasure hunt, coded messages … The kids can create their own version of the sentences to be discovered and can participate in the construction of the game.