Creating a Board Game Meeting
(The Engineering Design Process)
Topic
In groups of 3-4, students will work together to create a board game. Steps relating to The Engineering
Process can be discussed throughout the process of creating the games.
Materials Needed
♦♦ 2 pieces of white paper (per group) that can be cut and taped to create a 10-inch by 10-inch square
♦♦ Rulers, tape, markers, crayons
Meeting Plan
During this meeting, each group of students will work together to create a board
game. (Most likely, students will need—and want—to work on this project for more
than one club meeting.) Then the best board game will be transferred to the blank
game board supplied in the 2012-2013 Club in a Box Resource Kit. Or, if additional
game boards are purchased, each group can transfer its game idea to a real game
board. The game board, dice, pawns and cards provided in the Club in a Box
Resource Kit were purchased from www.barebooks.com.
The Engineering Design Process
Identify the Problem
Identify Criteria and Constraints
Brainstorm Possible Solutions
Generate Ideas
Explore Possibilities
Select an Approach
Build a Model or Prototype
Refine the Design
The amount of mathematics incorporated into each game is at
the discretion of you or the math club. However, even creating
a game with no direct tie to mathematics will require students
to follow The Engineering Design Process. Though there may
be some variation, the Engineering Design Process as stated
on a NASA Engineering Design Challenge web page (www.
nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/plantgrowth/reference/Eng_
Design_5-12.html) is shown at the left. Additional information
on this web page may help clarify differences between some of
the steps.
Planning and Teamwork
This project can be as open-ended or directed as you wish. Below are things to consider before each group
begins the process of creating its game. You can decide for the groups the direction in which they should
go for each item, or your can let them choose for themselves.
• What are or were some of your favorite board games? What made those games your favorites?
• Who will be the audience for the game? Will you create a game to donate to a local elementary
school? Will you create a game for fellow middle school students?
• Will you create a game that can be adapted for multiple audiences
or topics?
• Will the game be one of chance or skill or both?
• Will the game involve math? If so, how will that be accomplished?
• What will be the theme of your game—math? spelling? cartoon
characters?
• How many players will play the game? Will players play individually
or in teams?
• What materials will be used during the game—pawns? dice?
cards? other materials?
2012–2013 MATHCOUNTS Club Resource Guide
21
Creativity
This is a great opportunity for kids’
creativity to come out in a math setting!
• What are some of the
creative ideas that will make
the game interesting?
• What artwork will be
included on the game
board?
• How will the artwork be
done—by hand? on a
computer?
Design
The best game will be transferred to the real game board provided in the Club in a Box Resource Kit. Ask
students to create their model game board on a 10-inch by 10-inch piece of paper. Then a dilation of the
model game board will be done to transfer it to the real game board.
Math Component
If you decide the game should have a math component, the following questions should be considered:
• What math topics will be appropriate for the audience?
• How will the math be incorporated into the game—in the strategy of the game? by answering
math questions to advance in the game?
Writing Component
Students must write the complete rules for their game. It may be helpful to look at the rules for other board
games to get a sense of what needs to be included. Once the rules have been written, each group should
give its rules and game board (and any other materials necessary to play the game) to another group to
see if the other group can understand the written rules and play the game successfully. Based on feedback
from the other group, adjustments should be made to the game or rules.
22 2012–2013 MATHCOUNTS Club Resource Guide