Odyssey Board Game

Materials: poster board, markers, construction paper, scissors, glue, index cards, dice or spinner, small game pieces

Make the game board.

Decide the path. Will it be a start and finish kind of path like Candyland? Draw the path using multi-colored squares. You can draw the squares and color them in or use construction paper cut into squares.

Add Details from the book. Where does your story take place? Where do the characters go? Draw these various settings on the board. Or use magazine pictures to illustrate the settings. If you want your game players to go to a setting, make sure that square is labeled on the path. For example, the characters go to the school, the abandoned warehouse, and Christy’s house. These three places would be drawn on the board and a square near the illustration would be labeled with the location.

How to Play

· Rules generally the rules tell 1) who goes first, 2) how you move from square to square, 3) the goal of the game, 4) how do you win.

· Game Cards (25)—Somehow you need to include the main events from the book. If your game can only be played by people who read the book, you might want to set it up like Trivia, where the players have to correctly answer questions about the main events to go forward. If you want anyone to be able to play, you might want to create CHANCE cards. These cards TELL AN EVENT from the story and give a reward or punishment. For example, if in your book Joe robs the candy store, the player who draws that card should lose a turn or go back x spaces. But if in your book, Joe stopped a bully from teasing someone, the player should get an extra turn, or move forward.

Finishing Touches

· Pieces representing the characters. Choose something that represents the character. (you can use mortals and gods)

· Be sure to give the game a title referring to the book and give credit to the author

You can make a spinner by cutting an arrow from construction paper (usually 2-3 ply works best) tape a penny to the pointer end, and stick a brad through the flat end. Spinners can be made from any circle.


Board game

This project involves a lot of creativity. You will need to draw the setting on the board, create a path, and choose game pieces. Your game will also include “chance cards” based on the events in the book. It includes a brief written explanation as well.

Game Board (settings and path) / Very colorful and well drawn. A lot of detail is included. Several settings are drawn. Places are labeled. Very little if any white space.
Clear path in colored squares or paper. A variety of squares are provided. Settings are given squares. Something happens when you land on most squares. / Very colorful and well drawn. Several settings are drawn. Places are labeled. Very little if any white space.
Path is clear, but not very neat. Most of the squares look the same. Nothing happens when you land on many of the squares. / Poorly drawn pictures. Lots of white space. Some places are not labeled.
Path is sloppy or short. All the squares are virtually the same.
Game Pieces / At least four made for this game. They are uniquely different from one another. Each is appropriately sized for the game.
Each is explained thoroughly on a separate sheet. / At least 4 pieces. Most are the appropriate size, but may be very similar.
Explanation of pieces is brief. / Fewer than 4 pieces. May be similar or borrowed from another game.
Explanations are vague.
Rules / Includes how to start, who goes first, how to win, and explanation of the how to move from square to square. / Rules are present, but may be confusing. / Some rules are missing.
Chance cards* Individually graded / More than the required 7-9 cards. Include clear information about the book and plot. Each card is unique and factually accurate. Creator’s name is clear. Cards are neatly written or typed and attached to an index card. The cards look “professional” / 7-9 cards that are clear. Cards are factually accurate. / Fewer than required number of cards. Or, cards are vague, sloppy, illegible, or inaccurate

Individual Grade

Your portion of the game cards (4 people make 7 cards each, 3 people make 9 each)

Cards can be TYPED and glued to the index cards to create a uniform final product

Work Ethic

Group Grade

The board (setting, path)

The rules

The game pieces and WRITTEN EXPLANATION describing each piece