Wingspan: The Classroom Adaptation

Items needed:

• From the game box:
  • Bird cards 
  • Food tokens
  • Egg miniatures
  • 5 custom wooden dice
  • 5 player mats (400 x 280mm)
  • 1 birdfeeder dice tower
  • action cubes (8 per team)

• Extra items
  • The Classroom Adaptation player handout (optional but useful for each player group to have during play)
  • Environmental Factors cards 
    • Sheet 1 of 2 (pdf)
    • Sheet 2 of 2 (pdf)
  •  Videos: 
    • Unpacking to set up for Classroom play
    • Teaching Game Play (to show students as a quick start)

Set up:

• Gather all of the items listed from the game box
• Print off both sheet 1 and sheet 2 for the Environmental Factors cards
• Place the egg miniatures, food tokens, and the Environmental Factors cards in the center of the table.
• In the middle of the table place the birdfeeder dice tower with the 5 dice in the tray. and the bird cards in 3 stacks in the holder.  
• Place a player mat for each team around the table. Beside each matt place the groups 8 action cubes. 

Starting the game:

1. Divide students (players) into 5 groups. 
2. Give each group a player board and 7 bird cards.
3. Each group gets to pick up to 4 of their 7 cards to place on their mat before the start of the game.
4. The other 3 cards are in their hand.
5. Each team gets 4 eggs to distribute on their board
6. Each team gets 1 of each of the 5 food types.
7. Each team should have 8 action cubes
8. Determine which team goes first. 
9. Each team will take 1 of 4 actions on their turn and place an action cube in the appropriate location.
   • Play a bird from their hand (this is located at the top left of the game mat and does not activate any card powers). 
   • Gain food and activate forest powers
   • Lay eggs and activate grassland powers
   • Draw bird cards and activate wetland powers
10. After everyone has gone in a round, draw an Environmental Factor card and carry out the action on the card if applicable. 
    1. If an environmental card takes away or adds a bird, it must be on the far right and if the bird has eggs in the nest they are lost too.
    2. If an environmental card lets you gain a bird, you may only gain it if there is room on your board. 
    3. If an environmental card removes a bird from your board, it is discarded.
    4. If a card you are lying down has when played effect do that when playing the card.
11. After 8 total turns, the game is over and the team with the most points wins.
    1. Add up all the Bird card points (the number beside the feather icon on each card)
    2. Add up the number of eggs on you board. (1 pt ea) 
    3. Add up the number of food tokens on the board. (1 pt ea) 
    4. Add up the number of cards tucked behind Bird cards. (1 pt ea)

Notes:

• We are ignoring the “Goal Board” and the “Bonus Cards” that are in the regular gameplay.

Assessment:

• Use one of these Writing Prompts to spark discussion and connections to understanding ecosystems. 
  • Select one of the Event Cards and explain how it impacted your ecosystem and how that might reflect real-world environments. 
  • A major hurricane has just hit a coastal town. Describe how it affects the land, animals, and water supply. What long-term changes might happen to the environment?
  • Imagine a wildfire spreads through a forest near a small town. How does it impact the air, soil, and local wildlife? What could be done to help the environment recover?
  • Farmers in your area have started using more chemical fertilizers and pesticides. How might this affect nearby rivers, lakes, and animals? What are some better alternatives?
  • Your town experiences an extreme heat wave, causing droughts and wildfires. How does this event impact the environment, and what can communities do to prepare for future heat waves?
  • A new solar power farm is being built near your town. What are the benefits and challenges of using solar energy instead of fossil fuels?

• Go to main Gaming page
   
• Go to main Wingspan page