Teach photosynthesis through gaming!

In this game, your class will play as Photosynthians, plant people who use sugar to grow structures or store food and who trade goods (O2 bubble helmets) to the nearby city.  The sugar and O2 that they create is made using their natural abilities to convert them from water, light, and CO2.  Currently, there is a dire weather phenomena approaching, and they must store up supplies and fortify the town before disaster hits!

Made for classrooms and TTRPG first-timers

This game’s goal is to teach 4th grade students basic photosynthesis concepts and associated terminology within the span of a standard 50 minute class period and is intended for use with a classroom.

This document includes: 

• The game
• Read-aloud game explanations
• Lesson plan
• Class summary
• Student reflection questions
• Post-game survey
• Safety tools discussion
• School board proposal letter

Presentations slides that you can use with students are also provided as a separate downloadable file.

This whole game is organized so you can generally go from one page to the next in the order that you would need to present it to your class with supplemental documents and student print outs at the very end.  No prior experience with tabletop RPGs is required on the part of the teacher or the students.

Created using The Classroom Ready TTRPG Toolkit

This game was created using the TTRPGkids Classroom Ready TTRPG Toolkit which you can find here and use to outfit your own games for easy use by educators!

Participating in the TTRPGs Teach game jam

As part of the TTRPG’s TEACH game jam, check here for some more details!

AGE RANGE that this game targets

• Ages 8-10 yo (4th grade)

SUBJECT & SKILLS the game will help players learn

• NSTA 4 Life Science Standards (4-LS1-1)
• CCS for 4th grade literacy and math:
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.7
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.10
  • CCSS 4.OA.A.3

NUMBER of students/players 

• Groups of 3-5 students
• Classrooms between 3-36 students

PLAYTIME required for a full game 

• 50 minutes 

RULES are designed for easy, intuitive play 

• A facilitator is required to read material to the class and help manage splitting into teams
• No prior game or TTRPG experience is required from the teacher or students
• Pre-requisite educational knowledge:
  • Know that plants live and grow
  • Know that living things require an energy (food) source 
  • Know what oxygen is
  •  CCS aligned 4th grade reading/math

TOOLS that are needed 

• Printed handouts
• One [1] six-sided die or a dice roller app per group
• Writing utensils for each student