Board Game Book Report
As you are reading, create at least 25 questions (cannot be yes or no answers) to be used with your board game
and that relate to your book. Using a manila folder, markers, and colored pencils, create a game board. Put the
name of your game on the tab of the folder and decorate the inside so that it is a game board. The questions
should be neatly created and contained within your folder. Write directions for your game that would make it
perfectly clear how to play the game. Type the directions and glue them to the back cover of the file folder. On
March 1, your classmates will play your game to test your instructions and questions.
Game Proposals Due: February 22, 2013
CATEGORY
Presentation of
Game
Accuracy of
Content
Attractiveness
Rules
Creativity
4 – 20 pts.
Student could
easily and correctly
state several facts
about the topic
used for the game
without looking at
the game.
All information
cards made for the
game are correct.
3 – 15 pts.
Student could
easily and correctly
state 1-2 facts
about the topic
used for the game
without looking at
the game.
All but one of the
information cards
made for the game
is correct.
2 – 10 pts.
Students could
easily and correctly
state 1-2 facts
about the topic
used for the game
without looking at
the game.
All but two of the
information cards
made for the game
are correct.
1 – 5 to 0 pts.
Student could
NOT correctly
state facts about
the topic used for
the game without
looking at the
game.
Several
information cards
made for the game
are not accurate.
The game is
exceptionally
attractive in terms
of design, layout,
and neatness.
Contrasting colors
were used and
visuals.
Rules were written
clearly enough that
all could easily
participate.
The game is
attractive in terms
of design, layout
and neatness.
The game board is
acceptably
attractive though it
may be a bit messy.
The game board is
distractingly messy
or very poorly
designed. It is not
attractive.
Rules were written,
but one part of the
game needed
slightly more
explanation.
Rules were written,
but people had
some difficulty
figuring out the
game.
The rules were not
written.
A lot of thought
was put into
making the game
interesting and fun
to play as shown by
creative questions,
game pieces and
game board.
Some thought was
put into making the
game interesting
and fun to play by
using textures,
fancy writing, and
interesting
characters.
The person tried to
make the game
interesting and fun,
but some of the
things made it
harder to
understand or
enjoy the game.
Little thought was
put into making the
game interesting or
fun.
What to Consider
How well is your game
organized? Can you
explain how to play
without looking at the
rules?
Questions are not yes/no.
Are questions of varying
levels? Is the question
worded so that the player
does not wonder what is
being asked?
Did you use visuals to
guide the player? Are your
visuals original or simply
taken from the Internet?
Did you use color? Does it
look like I put this together
the night before?
Did you include a
brochure on how to play
the game/rules? Is the
brochure easy to follow? Is
the brochure similar to
what you would find in a
store bought board game?
How did others respond
when playing the game?
Was the game over very
quickly because it was too
easy to play?
Going 3-D - Making a Board Game Book Report with Your Computer's Help (Grade 8)
A great way to share a book with other people is to make up a game about it. That way they can get an idea of
what the book is about, why it is exciting or interesting, and you don't have to give away the ending!
Choose a Book
Tip: If you have lots of favorite books, make a list of them or get them altogether and look at them. Think about
which book would make a good game. This is a good time to also talk to your teacher, the school librarian, or a
family member who knows about some of these books for their opinion.
A Beginning and an Ending
Like all good books, your game needs a beginning and an ending.
To figure out what part of your book to use ask yourself these questions:
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What part of the book is your favorite?
Why did you like that part?
Make a List
Make a list of the events that take place in your favorite part of the book, then list these events in the order in
which they happened.
After you have made your list, see if you can imagine them as squares or spaces on a board game.
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Could the first action on your list be the beginning of the game?
Are there problems that need to be solved that could be squares or branches of your game?
Do you like the way that part of the book ends? Can it be the goal or ending for your game?
The Object of the Game
The object of the game is how you win it. Think about other board games you have played. Some games are
won by getting to the last square of the board first. Other games are won because someone has the most money,
points, or objects.
Tip: If you haven't got much time to work on this project, the easiest way to win a game is just by being the first
one to the end. Think about other board games you have played for ideas, but don't be afraid to be creative. This
is your game - add your own ideas.
The Shape of the Game Board
What is your favorite board game shaped like? Would that be a good shape for your game? Is there another
shape that might work better?
Filling in the Details
Now you need to think about naming the squares and spaces on your game board.
Game Pieces
Who is going to move around on your game board? Maybe it should be the main characters. Remember that
your game pieces do not just have to be people or animals; they can also be objects like a bucket or pair of
shoes.
Making the Game Pieces
Now it's time to make the game pieces and this is where the computer can be very helpful. Here are some ideas:
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Clay figures: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/clayrecipes/)
Game pieces off an old game you have a home
Plastic people or animals
LEGO creations
Coins (US or foreign coins - give every player a different one)
Origami figures: http://www.tammyyee.com/origami.html
Clip art
Moving Around the Board
Think about board games you have played. How do the players know how far to move? Most often you've
probably used dice or a spinner. You might also draw cards. You can make all of those things using your
computer.
Cards
You can also make cards on the computer that direct your moves. These cards, which can be drawn at the
beginning of each turn, can say how many spaces you can move or whether you get an extra turn or lose a turn.
Make the cards on the computer in Word so they are easy to read. Add clip art and pictures to make the cards
look more interesting. To make the cards more sturdy print them out on card stock.
Money and Objects
If money is part of your game you will need to create the money. As well as money, you might want your
players to gather objects long the way. You can make these objects using clay and other materials from around
the house or you can make them on the computer using clip art and pictures. Go back and look at your list of
actions in your book to see if picking up objects goes along with your story. You will have to add extra rules for
this, but it can make the game lots of fun.
Obstacles
To be challenging a game has to have some obstacles that the players have to overcome. That's what makes a
game exciting! Look again at your list of actions from your book. What obstacles do they suggest?
The first way to make obstacles in your game is to make them into squares or spaces on the game board. These
spaces may be simple things like:
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Jump forward two spaces.
Go back three.
Go back to the start.
Go to the Ferris wheel (or any other location on the board)
What obstacles are there in your book that will make good game squares? Go back to your action list and make
up some squares to go with each one.
The Game Board
Now it is time to make the game board. If you have been following these instructions you have already picked
out what you are going to use for the game board itself.
First go back to your list of actions, people, animals, places, and obstacles and think about what you want to
type on the squares and spaces. Once you think you have enough (you can always make more), print them out
and cut them into individual pieces. Arrange them on your game board to see how many you will need. If you
do not have enough, you can always make more. If you have too many, decide which ones will work best. There
does not need to be something to do on every square/space! Be sure to also print out some blanks.
While you are doing this make sure you put them in a logical order. For example you wouldn't want a game
square that says, "Move back 2 spaces" to land you on one that says, "Move forward two". You could never
finish your turn (or the game) moving forward and back two!
As soon as your game board is covered with a path of sample game squares and spaces in a logical sequence
that you think will work, start gluing them down.
After your game path is set, think about how you can decorate the rest of your game board. What is the setting
of your book or the favorite part of the book? Is it in a house, in a forest, on a farm, at a fair, in a space ship or a
castle? Where else? Make your game board come alive by adding appropriate details to your board. What have
you got around the house that you can use? What about some rocks or branches from outside? What about using
LEGOS? Or stickers? What can you draw in or draw on the computer? Try to think 3-D. What could you make
from clay or out of paper?
Rules
You know all about how your game should be played, but now you need to tell other people how to play it. That
is what writing the rules down all is about.
To help you get started in writing your rules, here's a checklist of all the kinds of things that need to be
included.
This list will help you take it step-by-step.
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Make a list of all the items in your game - the game pieces, any money, the spinner, dice or game cards
and any extras.
On the same list, go back and add what each item is, when it is used and what each item is good for.
What is the object of the game?
How many people can play the game? (Four is a good number to use.)
Who goes first?
What do players start with? Money? Objects? How much?
How do you get started? (roll dice, spin spinner, chose a game card)
How do players move around the board?
When is the game over?
How do you know when someone wins?
Make sure you explain any extra things and what they do or how they are used.
The best rules are simple, clear, and go in the order of how the game is played. Print off a copy of your rules to
for your game and glue to the back cover of your file folder.
Name Your Game
If you have not done so already, make sure you have a name for your game. Have some fun with it!
Trial Run
Before you take your game to school you should take a few trial runs so that you know it works. Do the game
squares and spaces work? If you are playing with money you have designed, do you have enough? Was
anything unclear when you played? Do you need to add any rules?
Have Fun!
Happy games playing!