Activity 21: Gaming Safety & Game Design

Learn online gaming safety while creating your own safety-themed video game.

Grade: Kindergarten
Grade: 1
Grade: 2
Grade: 3
Grade: 4
Grade: 5
Grade: 6
Time: 45-60 Minutes

Description

In this activity, students will learn about safe online gaming practices and then apply their knowledge by creating their own safety-themed video game using MakeCode Arcade. Students will watch an educational video, complete a Kahoot quiz, and design a game that teaches others about gaming safety.

Time Required

  • Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes

Materials Required

Steps to Conduct the Activity

Introduction

  • Discuss with students: “Who plays games online? What games do you play?”
  • Show the Online Gaming Safety Tip Card
  • Explain key safety rules:
    • Never share personal information (real name, address, school)
    • Be kind to other players (no bullying or mean comments)
    • Tell a trusted adult if someone makes you uncomfortable
    • Use appropriate usernames (no personal information)
    • Understand that not everyone online is who they say they are
  • Watch the Online Gaming Safety Video
  • Ask students: “What surprised you? What safety tips do you already follow?”
  • Complete the Online Gaming Kahoot
  • Review any questions students got wrong to reinforce learning

Difficulty Breakdown

Beginner (Grades K-2)

Safety Hero Game

  • Create a hero character that collects “safe choice” items (green shields, thumbs up)
  • Avoid “unsafe choice” items (red X’s, personal information symbols)
  • Add score tracking: +10 for safe choices, -5 for unsafe choices
  • Include a message that appears when you collect items

MakeCode Arcade Setup:

  • Navigate to arcade.makecode.com
  • Use guided templates and pre-made sprites
  • Focus on simple movement and collision detection
  • 🔍 Focus Skills: internet safety basics, pattern recognition, cause-and-effect

Intermediate (Grades 3-4)

Cyber Guardian Game

  • Design a character that must protect themselves from online dangers
  • Create different levels representing different gaming scenarios
  • Add enemies that represent online threats (strangers asking for info, cyberbullies)
  • Include power-ups that represent safety strategies (parent supervision, privacy settings)

Game Requirements:

  • Multiple sprites with different behaviors
  • Movement controls (arrow keys)
  • Score tracking and lives system
  • Basic conditionals for game logic
  • 🔍 Focus Skills: internet safety, game design, conditional logic, problem-solving

Advanced (Grades 5-6)

Think Before You Click Game

  • Build a game where players face gaming safety scenarios
  • Players must choose the safe option (multiple choice format)
  • Track correct answers and provide feedback
  • Add a timer to make it more challenging
  • Include multiple levels with increasing difficulty

Game Requirements:

  • Complex sprite interactions
  • Variables for tracking progress
  • Loops and conditionals
  • Custom game mechanics
  • Polished user interface with instructions
  • 🔍 Focus Skills: advanced coding, game design, strategic thinking, internet safety application

Discussion & Reflection

After the activity has been completed, gather the class for a quick debrief. We can ask:

  • What did you learn about safe online gaming practices?
  • What safety message does your game teach?
  • How did creating a game help you understand gaming safety better?
  • What was the most challenging part of creating your game?
  • What was the most fun part?
  • What might you do differently when gaming online after this activity?

Wrap-Up

This activity combines digital citizenship education with hands-on coding and game design. By creating their own safety-themed games, students not only learn important online gaming safety practices but also develop computational thinking skills and creative expression. Students become creators, not just consumers, of games while reinforcing the importance of online safety.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • Identify safe and unsafe practices when gaming online
  • Explain why personal information should be kept private
  • Recognize appropriate behavior in online gaming communities
  • Create a simple video game using block-based coding
  • Apply gaming safety concepts through creative game design
  • Evaluate gaming scenarios and make safe choices
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