304 – Computational Thinking – The Family Gamers Podcast

Andrew & Anitra are programmers by training. Can we tease apart some of the skills that build a programming mindset, and hone them through games?
» Read moreAndrew & Anitra are programmers by training. Can we tease apart some of the skills that build a programming mindset, and hone them through games?
» Read moreEcologic Puzzle: Respect the Earth comes with 12 two-piece puzzles showing two versions of the same action. The left-side puzzle piece shows an action that is harmful to the earth. The right-side, green-edged puzzle piece shows a more earth-friendly approach.
» Read morePlay Canopy to learn more about rainforests while enjoying lush tropical art from Vincent Dutrait. Technically a 2 player game, but we enjoy it better at 3 players!
» Read moreThe following is a guest post written by Sara Tedrick Parikh. Matching memory games are a rite of passage for pre-schoolers, and Adventerra Games has hands-down the cutest one I’ve seen on the market. Seriously, I considered just linking directly to their website shop with a “d’awwww!” caption and calling it a day, but I decided to push through with
» Read moreDo you like getting your kids involved in sorting the recycling? Perhaps most importantly, do you like games that clean themselves up?
» Read moreHave you heard of gameschooling? We revisit what worked for us this year, incorporating games into our homeschooling.
» Read moreScience isn’t the only place that games can help! Our social studies curriculum this year was US history and geography, with a concentration on local Massachusetts history, culture, and geography. Could we use games to reinforce these lessons too?
» Read moreLast week, I explained why we are using games to supplement our first year of homeschooling. We had the most success adding games to our studies in science.
» Read moreA lot of parents are re-evaluating school choices now, like I did. What does it look like to jump into homeschooling with an older child? Games can help.. but could we strike a balance that allowed for a lot of fun but didn’t get in the way of learning?
» Read moreIn Orbital Velocity, two teams compete to get their satellites into orbit. For the purposes of the game, each orbit can only hold a single satellite, so the first team to each orbit wins the round.
» Read moreSave the tigers and the sea otters in Endangered, a cooperative game for up to 5 players. Slow habitat destruction, encourage wild animal breeding, and sway ambassadors to vote for your cause.
» Read moreWe are talking to Marc Specter from Grand Gamers Guild this week, primarily about the expansion to their game Endangered. We learn about a major league pitcher with 207 wins – but he’s famous (or infamous?) for something very different. Look up Carl Mays and find out the gruesome details. Thanks again to First Move Financial for sponsoring this episode!
» Read moreWhat do you turn to when you want a quick game to help your brain take a break? Whether it’s with your spouse, or with your kids, you want something with limited setup and a quick play time.
» Read moreWe’re going to talk about Evolution: Education Edition with Scott Rencher. Why bring this award-winning boardgame to digital? And what makes it educational?
» Read moreAt first glance, Monza from HABA looks like any other racing game – six cars and a multi-colored track. But there’s more going on there than meets the eye.
» Read moreBuilding an amusement park immediately captures kids’ interest. Tiny Park from HABA teaches decoding, critical thinking, and encourages emotional intelligence and experimentation.
» Read moreIn a game like Brandon the Brave, kids also get the chance to practice strategy, to stretch their brain muscles as they decide which quest they want to complete first.
» Read moreBeing suddenly thrust into homeschooling is scary, and it’s not made any easier by trying to juggle kids’ needs with working from home. But there is hope! We’re going to talk this week about things we can do to support our kids learning at home (mostly through games, of course!)
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