Gaming Curriculum
Filed Under: Homeschooling, Link Love, My Son, Parenting
We went to a science museum this week and I noticed something interesting. My son was totally enthralled with anything involving computer gaming. Now, this is not really news to me. We are a computer family. My husband has a PC, my kids have their own iMac, and my laptop is surgically attached to my lap. We have a GameBoy and PlayStation and LeapPad and a Barbie Princess Laptop. We love it all. But when we’re walking around a cool science museum with live demonstrations involving liquid nitrogen and how cholera causes sickness in the gut, my son was most interested in playing the video game that pitted bacteria against antibiotics.
It was then that I had a lightbulb moment. Has anyone ever created a homeschooling curriculum using video games? While a quick search came up with nothing curriculum-wise, there are lots of educational games on the market. Ergo, my latest mission: Develop a gaming curriculum for my son.
I am not so bold as to say that I am going develop a comprehensive, marketable curriculum. But I think I’ve hit on an awesome way to teach my son and I’ll be sharing my finds and experiences here with you.
First stop: Educational Freeware. This site has links to free downloadable and online educational software. We’ll be checking out some of the typing games first. My boy is coming of age with the computer and wanting to email and IM, so he’s pretty motivated to get better at typing and spelling. 
PHAT = Parenting, Homeschooling And Technology. That about sums up my life at the moment. 
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Charity | Sep 28, 2007 | Reply
In the past, I bought software from The Learning Company for some subjects. For history, we have Oregon Trail and a couple of Carmen Sandiego titles. We also have some math games and reading games that they sell.
They also have an overstock center they offers great prices. I am not sure if you can get to it from the main site, but you can Google it, being the net-savvy mama that you are.
Lydia | Sep 28, 2007 | Reply
Ahhhh yes!
My seven year old has moved from his addiction to Zoo Tycoon to a healthy infatuation with Roller Coaster Tycoon, which I heartily encourage. He learns so much from those games — here I broke it down for Zoo Tycoon — http://www.littleblueschool.com/2006/05/zoo-tycoon-university.html — haven’t don’t the same thing for Roller Coaster Tycoon yet, but there’s definitely more math/physics in this game. I highly recommend!
Many of our games that do not say “Educational!” on the box are actually very educational, or can be used to illustrate other ideas, or can be used to spark writing assignments — “Write a dialogue between Sonic and Knuckles and Tails using appropriate punctuation.” Hehehe. Why not?
Angela, Mother Crone | Sep 28, 2007 | Reply
Homeschool Buyer’s Co-Op recently had a group buy for something like this called Pokemon Learning league. My kids would have loved this when they were younger! http://www.pokemonlearningleague.com/
I am all about using the computer as a learning tool, and I think that company’s are starting to provide items with better graphics and more interest. Just check out Cyberplato’s online offerings for upper level science! We got a year membership for Scout for a group buy price of $20! He loves it!
Suburban Oblivion | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
I am so glad I stopped by, that Pokemon site is EXACTLY what I have been looking for- truly educational, yet she will pay attention to! We will be buying a subscription!
Chris Bartow | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
I could see Second Life being a great place for something like this. You can enter the world, be social with other home school kids, maybe even sit down in virtual classrooms.
You can then break off and do basic learning games within the game.
Summer | Oct 1, 2007 | Reply
I have a feeling that there are quite a lot of kids who would love a video game curriculum. LOL
andrea | Oct 1, 2007 | Reply
yes, yes, yes, games, especially learning company games made for an excellent transition from school to homeschool… I did wish these games were more like the Nintendo etc that the kids are really into.
Amanda | Oct 9, 2007 | Reply
We’ve been looking for stuff like this for a while now but everything we come across is not very user friendly. It would be great if was someone developed something like this for PS2, Xbox or the computer.
Lisa- Unschooling Mom | Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
Hi- I’, sorry this is bit off -topic- i was trying to figure out best place to put it.( I am normally not this pushy or brazen) I am promoting Design Contest that i am having for homeschooling kids… it is Homeschooling Awards Logo Design contest.. You can read details here: http://www.lifelearning.org/2007/10/16/homeschooling-awards-logo-design-contest-announcement/ , I was hoping you could post about it to help promote it ?
Again- sorry if coming across as pushy!
Lisa- Unschooling Mom | Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
Sorry also wanted to add- I have never seen a whole curriculum- but I did come across an interesting concept- was game called ‘Speare http://www.apollogames.ca/ . which is a space invaders meets Romeo and Juliet.. the game is based on Shakespeare’s plays. The site also has some other innovative gaming/learning stuff…