This unit aims to teach middle/high school students the fundamental principals of game design and the basics of the popular game design software, Scratch. A variety of resources are available for download, free of charge, from: http://education.instanttechinfo.com/tutorials/gamedesignbasics.html

1. the basics of game design and scratch - lesson plan
education.instanttechinfo.com
Week 1
Lesson 1 (50mins)
Learning Intention & Success Criteria
This lesson has been designed to introduce students to the topic of game design. After completing this lesson, students will be familiar with the fundamental principles of
game design, including; controls, mechanics, gameplay satisfaction, learning through gameplay, immersion, storyline, graphics and sound.
Lesson Outline
Suggested
Timing
(may vary)
Activity Resources
10 mins
Classroom discussion to engage students
Begin the lesson by asking the student’s knowledge on game design. This will
help you gauge the depth of understanding the class has on game design. For
further engagement, write the students responses on the whiteboard, or allow
them to.
Suggested starter questions to ask the students
- What do you believe makes a good game (what qualities
should they possess)?
- What do you believe game design involves? (eg. If you worked
for a game design company, what roles might there be?)
- What are some of your favourite games (and briefly, why)?
Consider other questions based on the class’ response.
25/30 mins
Introduce the principles of game design
Now that the students have identified what they believe makes a good game,
and what game design may involve, you can begin teaching the fundamental
principles. Ask different students to read sections of the booklet out aloud, whilst
- ‘The principles of game design’ booklet
- PowerPoint visual aid to accompany booklet
Available at
education.instanttechinfo.com/tutorials/gamedesignbasics.html
10/15 mins
Wrap-up classroom discussion
The students should now have a comprehensive understanding of the principles
of game design. This discussion should challenge the students’ original opinions
on game design from the start of the lesson.
Have their ideas changed or remained similar? What differences were there?
Suggested questions to begin discussion
- Did these principles differ from your original ideas as to what
makes a good game?
- Did anything surprise you when you were reading through the
booklet? Why?
Homework
At the beginning of the lesson, students mentioned some of their favourite games. Ask them for homework to evaluate their chosen games against the game design
principles just learnt. Make sure they consider what principles are and aren’t handled effectively by the game. What impact does this have on the game? Do they still
consider it a good game?

2. the basics of game design and scratch - lesson plan
education.instanttechinfo.com
Lesson 2 (50mins)
Learning Intention & Success Criteria
This lesson has been designed to teach students the basic skills of Scratch. Upon completion of this lesson, they will be familiar with the game design software - in
preparation for week two, where they will begin to create a game.
Lesson Outline
Suggested
Timing
(may vary)
Activity Resources
10 mins
Classroom discussion regarding homework given out
Continuing on from the previous lesson, ask students about their findings after
evaluating their favourite games against the game design principles taught.
- Students were required to complete the homework activity
10 mins
Test students’ knowledge with a quiz
Before launching into teaching Scratch, it is important to test the student’s
knowledge. Share the quiz link with the class, and ask them to complete it.
- Online quiz
Available at
education.instanttechinfo.com/tutorials/gamedesignbasics.html
10 mins
An introduction to Scratch
The remainder of the lesson has been structured to teach students the basics of
Scratch. A YouTube video has been created to guide students through the
Scratch user interface. A ‘cheat sheet’ booklet is available for download if the
students find the software difficult to navigate.
- ‘The basics of Scratch’ booklet
- YouTube video
Available at
education.instanttechinfo.com/tutorials/gamedesignbasics.html
20 mins
Familiarise with Scratch
Once the booklets have been distributed, and they have watched the YouTube
video, allow them some ‘free time’ to sign up and then experiment with the
software.
- https://scratch.mit.edu/ - press ‘Join Scratch’
- Or download the software at
https://scratch.mit.edu/scratch2download/
Example tasks to complete
- Create a new sprite (from library) and experiment with
changing costumes
- Choose a backdrop (from library)
- Have the sprite move across the screen 15 steps when the
start button (green flag) is pressed

3. the basics of game design and scratch - lesson plan
education.instanttechinfo.com
Week 2
Lesson 3 (50mins)
Learning Intention
This lesson allows students to begin using Scratch to develop a fully functioning game. The resources provided provides them with the necessary skills to develop a simple
game. Additional challenges (with solutions) allow the students to develop their Scratch problem solving skills.
Lesson Outline
Suggested
Timing
(may vary)
Activity Resources
50 mins
Begin using Scratch to create a game
A tutorial has been created for the students to follow. The entire lesson has
been allocated to this tutorial, allowing them to advance at their own pace. A
variety of challenges (with solutions) have been provided to help develop their
problem solving skills.
- Pong tutorial booklet
- ‘The basics of Scratch’ booklet (may be needed to help
students find the correct blocks)
All available at
education.instanttechinfo.com/tutorials/gamedesignbasics.html
This lesson may be continued in Lesson 4 if more time is needed. If 50 minutes is too much time allocated, then Lesson 4 may begin during Lesson 3.

4. the basics of game design and scratch - lesson plan
education.instanttechinfo.com
Lesson 4 (50mins)
Learning Intention
Students have had a lesson to develop a game by following a set of instructions. This lesson is designed to give students creative freedom and the opportunity to remix
other game on Scratch’s online community that may not fully adhere to the principles of game design.
Lesson Outline
The table below has a few games that don’t fully adhere to the basic game design principles. A student version of this table is available from
education.instanttechinfo.com/tutorials/gamedesignbasics.html and needs to be distributed to the class. They are required to follow the instructions on the sheet, which
are:
The table below has a few games that don’t fully adhere to the basic game design principles. When you identify the issues, record them in the middle column
with possible solutions.
‘The principles of game design’ booklet is available at education.instanttechinfo.com/tutorials/gamedesignbasics.html if the students need help identifying the principles.
Game Title and Creator Link to Game Suggested Improvements for Students
add ur own cars!-and drive em!
by redstoner4
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/86123612
The car movements are very jerky and awkward:
- try adding a repeat around the movement
- change the controls for ease of use (instead of spacebar, maybe the up arrow)
The parking spaces serve no purpose:
- they are crooked, try making straight lines (hold down the shift key when
drawing lines)
- add a ‘if touching colour’ block – you decide what happens when the car goes
over the line
The game has no goal:
- add levels where the user has to park the cars in specified spots (‘if touching
sprite’ blocks)
- add lives, and if the player crashes too many times, the game ends
- add a scoring system for the levels
- (optional) add a time limit for each level, if the time runs out the level restarts

5. the basics of game design and scratch - lesson plan
education.instanttechinfo.com
Game Title and Creator Link to Game Suggested Improvements for Students
Square
by pj42
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/85787006
The square can be improved:
- it turns very slowly! try speeding it up
- the red line doesn’t accurately indicate the direction of the squares fired –
redesign it (eg. an arrow inside the square)
- (optional) add a button that, when pressed, changes the direction of the
spinning
The game has no goal:
- add a scoring system
- add levels – levels may increase in speed, and have multiple squares to shoot
The design is bland:
- redesign the start menu
- change the background
- make the squares more interesting
- the lives look like fortune cookies – not hearts
BonziBuddy Simulator
by CuriousGamer
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/86144228
The game isn’t complete, try:
- adding a scoring system
- nothing happens if the character touches the logos – you decide what happens
o eg. they may add or take away from the score
- add levels – levels may increase in speed