Topic 5: Simple ICT games - Science Standard Three (Darasa la Tatu) Notes
Simple ICT games
Simple games
Various scientific ideas can be presented through simple games.
Simple ICT games can be played well through ICT devices such as:
a) Desktop computers
b) Laptop
c) Tablets
d) Phones.
Activity
Observe the picture in Figure 1 and answer the questions that follow.
Questions
1. What are the ICT devices shown in Figure 1?
2. Where can you find such devices?
Advantages of using simple games in learning
(i) Creating happiness in learning
(ii) Creating confidence in learning
(iii) Help pupils to learn independently and in groups.
(iv) Improve creativity
(v) Improve problem solving skills.
The ICT games
Examples of simple ICT games
a. Maze game,
b. Path encoding,
c. Path decoding,
d. A simplified tower of hanoi,
e. A simple drawing game
f. Programming maze.
This games are found in a software called “GCompris”. It can be downloaded from https://tie.go.tz/pages/download-software.
Activity
Navigating a maze
Name of the game: A maze game
Goal: To help Tux escape from the maze and find its way home
Duration: 20 minutes
Requirements: Desktop computer, laptop, tablets or mobile phones installed with the game
Instructions
1. Use the arrow buttons on your screen or swipe in the direction you want Tux to move.
2. Your goal is to guide Tux out of the maze and reach the exit. See Figure 2.
Exercise
1. What happens when Tux bumps into a wall in the maze?
2. Did you ever guide Tux in the wrong direction? What happened then?
3. Did you correct Tux’s direction after realising it was wrong? How did you do it?
4. How did you direct Tux through the maze?
5. What daily activities or other games are related to the maze game?
Activity
Finding the way
Name of the game: Path encoding
Goal: To help Tux find its path to reach the flag
Duration: 20 minutes
Requirements: Desktop computer, laptop, tablets or mobile phone installed with the game
Instructions
1. Press the arrow buttons to move Tux along the path.
The aim is to reach the flag shown in Figure 3.
1. Remember, the arrows always move the Tux in the direction as
indicated:
Means up
¯ Means down
¬ Means left
® Means right
Exercise
1. What happens when Tux steps into the wrong part?
2. What takes place when Tux walks into areas with things like
trees or bushes?
3. How many times did you make a wrong move?
4. How can you use the playing skills of the game at school or home?
Activity
Finding the logic
Name of the game: Path decoding
Goal: To guide Tux through the journey to reach the flag
Duration: 20 minutes
Requirements: Desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone installed with
the game
Instructions
1.
Tap the squares on the grid to move Tux, following the arrows that show the
right path.
2.
Keep in mind that the arrows always guide you in the direction:
means up
¯ means down,
¬ means left
® means right
Exercise
1. What happens when Tux steps on squares of the grid with
obstacles like rocks or lakes?
2. How many wrong moves did you make?
3. What did you do to reduce the number of wrong moves in your
next levels?
4. Explain the tricks you used to complete the game without
making any error.
5. What skills did you learn from the game?
Using logic
Name of the game: Simplified Tower of Hanoi
Goal: To construct a tower at the empty area
Duration: 20 minutes
Requirements: Desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone installed with the game
Instructions
1.
Look at the tower on the right side and observe the signs on each piece as
shown in Figure bellow. Your goal is to build an identical tower in an empty
area by moving one piece at a time.
2.
Drag and drop only the top piece of any tower to move it to another tower or
the empty area. See figure below.
Exercise
1. What happens when you successfully build the entire
tower in the empty area?
2. Can you move a piece from the bottom of the tower
before moving the pieces on top? Why?
3. What rules did you learn about the order in
which the pieces are arranged?
4. What lesson did you learn from this game?
Name of the game: The Tower of Hanoi
Goal: To move all the pieces to the empty peg on the right side
Duration: 20 minutes
Requirements: Desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone installed with the game
Rules
1.
You can only move one piece at a time.
2. A bigger piece cannot be placed on top of a smaller one.
Instructions
1.
Drag the top piece from one peg to the other.
2. Rebuild the tower on the empty peg on the right side
(b) End of Tower of Hanoi game
Exercise
1. Did you find this tower of Hanoi game easier or harder than
the simplified tower of Hanoi game? Why?
2. What happens when you place a larger piece on top of a
smaller one?
3. What daily activities are related to this game?
Creating
your own painting
Name of the Game: A simple drawing game
Goal: To make colourful and attractive artwork
Duration: 20 minutes
Requirements: Desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone installed with the game
Instructions
1. Pick your favourite colour from the colour palette.
2.
Use your finger or a stylus to paint within the shapes on the screen. Make them
as colourful as you wish
(a)
Beginning of the drawing game
(b)
End of the drawing game
Exercise
1. How many artworks did you create?
2. What kinds of shapes did you colour?
3. What kinds of colours did you use more to colour? Why?
4. What did you learn about painting the artworks with more
colours?
5. What was intresting about this game?
Activity
Feeding Tux
Name of the Game: Programming maze
Goal: To help a hungry Tux find a fish by guiding it through
the maze
Duration: 20 minutes
Requirements: Desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone installed with the game
Instructions
1. Look at the control panel that has different moves
Like
‘Go Forward,’
¿ ‘Turn Left,’
2.
Pick the instructions from the control panel.
3.
Arrange these instructions in the main function to guide Tux to the delicious
fish.
4. Complete all the instructions depending on the path. Then, press OK
Exercise
Revision questions
1.
How many times did you help Tux find its fish meal?
2.
What moves did you use to guide Tux to the fish?
3.
How could you predict and plan techniques to move Tux?
4.
Which game was the most interesting for you?
5.
What made that game more interesting?
6.
What important things did you learn from playing these games?
7.
How can you use the games to do other things at home or school?
8. Why is it important to use simple games in learning?
Vocabulary
Program - a set of instructions that a computer follows to
perform a particular task or function
Decoding - translating a sign or symbol into a language
Encoding - converting a language into a system of signs or
symbols
Internet - the worldwide network of
interconnected ICT devices that enables communication, and sharing of resources
such as information
Logic - a particular way of thinking that is reasonable and based on good judgment