squiggle your way to learning

Years ago my husband and I started the tradition of gifting our kids with a new game every Christmas Eve. I have so much fun researching online and browsing game aisles in our local stores looking for the perfect game that we all will love playing together. It never fails, every year wonderful memories are made around the game table during the holiday season as we bring in a new year. This year was no exception. I spent hours searching websites and wandering game aisles looking for just the right one. When I glanced at a bright pink game tucked away on the back of a shelf with Bob Ross’s face staring right at me, I was intrigued.

Without hesitation I turned the game, Happy Little Accidents, over to read the back and I was instantly in love. The rules are simple:

1. Each player creates whimsical squiggles.
2. Transform other players’ squiggles into mini masterpieces based on shared inspirations!
3. Vote for your favorites. Earn the most votes to win!

Yep, I knew that this is a game that my family would have hours of fun playing...and they did!! After opening the game, we spent the rest of the night around the game table creating, laughing, and bonding as a family. After playing, my husband and I both commented on how it reminded us of The Popeye Show that would air between the cartoon episodes growing up as kids in Southern California. Host, Tim Hatton, would select squiggle drawings submitted by local children and be challenged to turn them into something. If he was unable to, the kid who submitted the drawing would be awarded a free bike. We both remember how mesmerized we were with this show and how it inspired us to draw our own squiggle creations. There is something magical about taking a haphazard line and turning into something unexpected. It also takes some of the pressure off. Having a starting point for creation gives us an inspiration point. It’s much easier to create from something, then from nothing. It also leaves you with an image that you are going to remember when you think of the word being drawn.

I have seen the power of a squiggle in classroom learning and have shared a few of my favs a few years ago in the blog post: Games and Sketchnoting Unite! This new family favorite gave me a whole new set of ideas that could be used in the brick and mortar or remote classroom to inspire creativity, learn content, and bring a little fun, laughter, and increased engagement into learning.

HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS EDU-STYLE
This amazing Bob Ross party game can be remixed into a fun and engaging learning game for the brick and mortar or remote classroom. Here’s how!
Objective: Learn subject-related terms, vocabulary, and concepts while promoting creativity, and team building in a fun and engaging learning atmosphere.

BRICK AND MORTAR CLASSROOM:
​Game Set-up:

1. Place students in table groups of 4-6.
2. In the middle of the play area, place:

• A stack of post-it notes (or any paper square)
• A black pen for each player
• A different colored pen for each team player
• A stack of content related concepts, vocabulary words, or terms. These words could be compiled by students, typed in a document and printed, or written on index cards. Including students in the word creation empowers your learners as well as frees up prep for the teacher!
• 30-second sand timer. (You can buy these in bulk on Amazon)
• Voting tokens (print from this template)

Game Play:

1. Have each group pick a student to draw the first card. Game play will rotate around table.
2. When you say go, have each player draw a squiggle using the black pen and place with the drawing side down in center of table. 
3. The player chosen to lead by drawing the first card, mixes up squiggles and draws a word card from the stack.
4. When the lead player says "go", each player picks up a Squiggle. The lead player draws the card, reads the word aloud to the table, and turns over the timer. 
5. When the time runs out, all students must stop drawing and turn their squiggle drawings upside down. 
6. The student to the right of the lead player, goes first by revealing their drawing and explaining how it’s connected to the word selected. They are basically selling their concept to the rest of the players. ​

Scoring option 1:

1. Once each player has explained their drawings, everyone votes on the drawing that is the best representation of the word by placing a turned over token in front of each team member. The “3” for their favorite,  “2” on their second favorite, and “1” for all others.
2. When voting is finished, each player turns over their tokens to calculate points. The lead from group, keeps tally of points.

​Scoring option 2:

1. The person who drew the card to start the round is the judge.
   
2. After all players have explained their drawing, the judge selects the drawing they feel best represents the word. The person who’s drawing was selected earns a point.

Game play continues clockwise around the table until either all players have had a chance to draw a card, or time allotted is up.

REMOTE CLASSROOM
Jamboard version
Game Set-up:
1. From your Google Drive, create a Jamboard and name it "Happy LIttle Accidents Edu-Style". If you have 20 or less students you will need only one. If you have more than 20, create two. Don’t have time….I got you! Click below for two that you can use with the squiggles already done!​​

Happy Little Accidents Edu-Style Jamboard 1

Happy Little Accidents Edu-Style Jamboard 2

 2. Create a spinner with your students names on it using a platform such as Wheel of Names. The color of the background on the spinner indicates the team that student is on. (gold, red, blue, green) as indicated below.

Game Play:

1. Gather your students together in your video conferencing platform of choice. Explain to them the rules of the game and share the link to the Jamboard in the chat.
2. Spin the Wheel of Names and whoever the spinner lands on is the judge for the round.
3. Have each student claim a slide or tell them their slide number ahead of time. When you tell them to start, call out a word and have them turn the squiggle on their slide into the word you shouted out within 30 seconds using the drawing tool. When time is up, Have them stop. 
4. Spin the Wheel of Names again and the first 4 selected share their drawings explaining how it connects with the word.
5. The selected judge selects the one that they think has the best overall connection.
6. The team the student is on as indicated by spinner color gets a point.
7. Clear boards. Have each student draw new squiggle for next round and then move to next slide (ie. student on slide 1 for 1st round moves to slide 2, student on  slide 2 moves to slide 3, and so on.) If a student had slide 20 on the first round, they move to slide 1.
8. Spin wheel to select next judge, call out next word, and play progresses in same fashion for determined amount of time.
9. This squiggle Jamboard can be cleared and reused multiple times. 

​Pear Deck (must have premium access)
Game set up:
1. Make a copy of this slideshow with pre-drawn squiggles. 
2. Click on Add-Ons and then ‘Open your Pear Deck Add-On”

3. Make each slide interactive by clicking on each slide and then “Draw” button.

4. You will see a bar appear on bottom when the slide becomes interactive.

5. Create a spinner with your student’s names on it using Wheel of Names. The color of the background on the spinner indicates the team that student is on. (gold, red, blue, green) as indicated below.

Game Play:
1. Before students enter, have your Wheel of Names open on one tab and your Pear Deck Presentation open in another. You will want to click “Present Lesson” to make Pear Deck presentation interactive.

1. Gather your students together in your video conferencing platform of choice. Explain to them the rules of the game and share the link to the Pear Deck presentation in the chat.
2. Spin Wheel of Names and whoever the spinner lands on is the judge for the round. Let them know that whatever color is the background of their name on the spinner is their team color.
3. When you are ready to start, call out a word and advance to first squiggle in Pear Deck. Set a timer for 30 seconds and have them turn the squiggle on their slide into the word you called out. When time is up, lock their screens.
4. Spin the Wheel of Names to select four players to share how their drawings connects to their concept. From the teacher dashboard, present the slides of the students presenting. You can also make comments on other slides as well to give feedback on remaining drawings. 
5. After each of the four selected students present, the selected judge chooses the drawing that they think has the best overall connection.
6. Whatever team the student’s whos drawing gets selected is on gets a point.
7. Spin the Wheel of Names to select the next judge, advance to next slide in presentation, call out next word, and play progresses in same fashion for determined amount of time.
8. This Google slide presentation can be used multiple times.

 Non-gamified Lesson Opener or Closer
To play in a non-gamified way as an opener or closer activity, use one of the squiggles as an interactive drawing slide in Pear Deck. Create spinner of quotes or phrases using wheelofnames.com or other spinner digital tool. Spin the wheel using a shared screen on your video conferencing platform. Whatever quote or phrase the spinner lands on is the quote that students use as inspiration to turn their squiggle into an illustration. Set the timer for 1 minute. Once the timer is up, call on students one at a time to explain their illustration in about 8-10 seconds. Fascinating to see how each student expresses themselves creatively and it's a great way to build relationships with your students!

Professional Development
Looking for a fun way to promote creativity, or discuss concepts as a staff? This game could work similarly in a PD or staff meeting environment whether you are meeting in person or remotely. 

Would love to hear your variations for game play! Post your ideas or gameplay pics to #MLmagical!