Jennie Maydew

Jennie teaches elementary and middle school Visual Arts.

Updated:

Unit Design Highlights:

  • Differentiated options; everyone contributes something unique and personally meaningful
  • Collaborative process encourages unknown possibilities and exponential growth
  • Game design presents opportunities for problem solving and problem generating
  • Culminating celebration shares projects with a broader audience, making meaning beyond the assignment
  • Unit plan is adaptable to a range of coding abilities

Play is powerful - it limits overthinking, builds connections, decreases risk and invites new outcomes. Games are fun because they allow us to use our creativity to solve problems. Designing games adds a new layer of complexity; now, the artist is a problem solver and problem generator. In this unit plan we engage with games, interactivity and play to create an immersive experience and share it with others. We use collaboration to build upon each other’s ideas and provide a balance to the competition of games.

References & Artworks

Objectives

Beginner artists will…

  • Customize the visual features of a premade carnival game, using code to modify:
    • Color
    • Shape
    • Font
    • Background
    • Images
    • Sound
  • Create unique carnival “prizes” using coding drawing features
  • Invent creative titles for their carnival game and code them using embedded fonts

Advanced artists will…

  • Design the functional and aesthetic features of their own carnival games (problem solving and problem generating)
  • Create a unique array of prizes using coding drawing features; determine parameters for winning and agree upon assigned value to points/prizes
  • Decide how the physical space will be set up; what kind of flow will the visitors have throughout the space and how will that impact their carnival experience?
  • Design with the visitor experience in mind (Who are the visitors? Younger students from the district? Family and friends? Teachers and peers?)

Differentiation

The Coding Carnival encourages a differentiated output for each student in order to:

  • Increase student ownership and excitement
    • Students should be able to speak passionately about their project and in their own words
  • Decrease teacher control and invite unknown possibilities (following the improv tenet of ‘yes and’)
  • Promote challenge and complexity
  • Encourage unique, meaningful and personally relevant work

Differentiated Option #1: Interactive carnival game

Maze: Code by Jennie Maydew

Students design their own maze; upload image into the background of the code. Add other elements on the route; modify the visual qualities of the drawing tool.

Ring Toss: Code by Jennie Maydew

How to play: Press and hold mouse, letting go when the red circle is exactly between the black circles.

Snowflake Catch: Code by Cardenb

Customize the theme of the game by replacing characters and background.

Ball Toss: Code by p5.js contributors and Jennie Maydew

Ice Cream Catch: Code by Katie Dollard, Jennie Maydew and Kyle Wong

Breakout Game: Code by aabhay.kashyap

Differentiated Option #2: Prize or gift for carnival visitors

Plushie / Toy / Merch / Sticker / Tickets / Tokens / Memorabilia / Poster / Wearable

Methods for turning digital designs into physical products:

  • Print images on sheets of sticker paper; students cut around border of each image to create individual stickers
  • Make textiles using printable heat transfer paper
    • Clothing: Iron onto wearables like shirts, bags, hats, etc
    • Plushies: Iron onto fabric; cut, sew, flip inside out, stuff, sew shut

Skull Mask: Code by Laura Ramirez

Rose Garden: Code by Laurie Hunt

Mutant Penguin 101: Code by anselh2029

Archival Luna Monde Poster: Merch by Luna Luna Carnival

Minion: Code by jameso2029

Flowers: Code by Mariana Sandoval

Garden: Code by Jennie Canning

Creeper: Code by danield2029

Sumptuous Guardian: Code by navehr2029

Differentiated Option #3: Another element of the carnival that enhances the visitor experience

Food/Drink Stall: Code by Jennie Maydew

Option to create a physical stand with menus and actual items for “purchase”

Rides and Attractions: Code by Krissie Olson

For visitor entertainment and immersive experience, project a looping slideshow of rides and attractions in the space

Visitor Map: Code by Adrienne Gifford

Options to create printed maps, interactive maps on iPads or tablets and/or QR code to pull up a map on visitors’ phones

Animated Welcome Message: Code by Chelly Jin

Design a sound reactive mask; screen record a message for visitors that introduces the carnival

Clock/Timer: Code by Mariana Sandoval

Clock can be both a decorative and functional element. Option to use it as a timer for games, e.g. toss as many rings as you can before the sun goes away

Decoration or Ambience: Code by Laura Ramirez

Animation for decoration and ambience

Timeline

Depending on the age group and class frequency, this unit plan could span weeks to months.

1. Research

  • What are the elements of an engaging game?
  • History of games in coding
  • What are our favorite carnival games?
  • Play sample p5.js games, reflecting on the design decisions and player experience

2. Planning

  • Students select the experience they want to create
  • Students decide if they want to collaborate or work alone
  • Who are the visitors and how do we design with them in mind?

3. Building

  • Students work independently and with others to create carnival experiences
  • Build off each others’ ideas (‘yes and’) so the carnival grows exponentially
  • Test games as they’re built; debug as issues arise
  • What is the agreed system for awarding points/prizes?

4. Testing

  • Rehearsal with class and/or smaller audience
  • Who can welcome visitors, introduce the event, explain the creative process and answer questions?

5. Celebration

  • Invite school/district community, family, friends, etc
  • Assign someone to document the experience

6. Reflection

  • What are the takeaways? Highlights? Challenges?
  • What would you do differently next time?
  • Option to create an archive/artifact with event documentation