Lesson Plan - Changing the Game

Watch the Video
Watch the video “Video Games: Then and Now” and discuss: Based on the video, what are some of the key ways video games have changed over time?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• engineer
• revolutionized

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about how Gerald Lawson affected the video game industry.

1. Based on the article, what experience prompted Gerald Lawson to begin designing video games?
Gerald Lawson began designing video games after playing the first-ever arcade video game, Computer Space, in 1971. The article states, “After playing it, Lawson built his own arcade games in his garage.”
^{(RI.4.2 Main Idea and Key Details)}

2. What does the author mean when she writes that a cartridge-based game console made by Atari “took the world by storm”?
When the author writes that a cartridge-based game console made by Atari “took the world by storm,” she means that the product became hugely popular. She notes that about 30 million of the Atari consoles were sold.
^{(RI.4.4 Determine Meaning)}

3. According to James Lewis of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), what is Lawson’s legacy, or way he will be remembered?
James Lewis of the International Game Developers Association says that Lawson’s legacy is bringing joy to people through gaming.
^{(RI.4.1 Text Evidence)}

FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Chart
Use the skill builder “Amazing Inventors” to introduce students to some Black inventors who have had a big impact. Invite students to research one of these inventors or one of their own choosing and prepare a brief oral report.
^{(RI.4.7 Text Features)}