Challenge Overview
Students return to Pixel Palace Arcade. The owner has sent a follow-up RFP: Storm-the-Castle, the catapult-based game on the Loser list, is hemorrhaging money. Pat wants the team to redesign the landing zone so the game wins back customers without giving away too many big prizes.
Working in groups of three, students explore odds of winning by playing simple games of skill, learn how a torsion catapult works, establish a careful experimental procedure, collect launch data, design a landing zone that meets Pat’s win-percentage requirements, validate the design through more testing, calculate profit for the redesigned game, and share their work in a gallery walk.
The unit sets up the Design Challenge that follows, in which students will design a brand new arcade game.
For Teachers
Teacher Facilitation Guide: The teacher facilitation guide of “Arcade Entrepreneur” systems challenge that lists the standards, learning goals, and nine activities.
Planning Guide: Planning guide that lists the overview of each activity along with pacing and materials needed.
Handouts and Materials:
- Student Handout 1 – Follow-up Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Student Handout 2 – Odds of Winning Data Worksheet
- Student Handout 3 – Catapult Diagram
- Student Handout 4 – Launch Data Worksheet
- Student Handout 5 – Landing Zone Design Worksheet
- Student Handout 6 – Validation Launch Data Worksheet
- Student Handout 7 – Validation Equations Worksheet
- Student Handout 8 – Prize Menu and Profit Calculation Worksheet
- Student Handout 9 – One Page Poster Template
- Student Handout 10 – Gallery Walk Feedback Slips
