GFH Module 1 – Rachel Eschner – Class #1 – Having fun playing health games

First game: Jimmy’s Thirsty

This game was about trying to keep Jimmy hydrated by quizzing you with True/False questions about hydration.

The more that you answered correctly the more hydrated he became. If you answered wrong most of the time Jimmy would not become hydrated.

This game was quick and short but it was fun and informative. You learned about the importance of hydration while playing a game , what could be better!

Second Game: What’s on your plate, kids?

This game I felt was more informative and a little more tricky than the first game I played. In this game you had to match the foods that were shown in the right food groups such as Vegetables/fruit, carbohydrates, proteins.

You had to drag it to the right section of the plate. If you got it correct an apple would highlight in orange on the “yum-o-meter” and if you placed the food on the wrong section of the plate the apple would not be highlighted.

If you could not see what type of food it was, you were able to click on it and check and see and it would tell you. For example I couldn’t see the picture of chicken very well and wanted to make sure what it was so I pressed it and it said chicken, and then I placed it in the protein section of the plate.

Since I thought this game was more informative than the last game I played, I am going to included a SWOT analysis for this game!

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

Strengths

• Informative
• Helps explain what types of food are either vegetables/fruits, carbohydrates, or proteins
• It includes pictures
• Its a short game so you don’t get bored of it that easily

Weaknesses

• The pictures on the game are a little small so hard to see, as well as the plate you are placing the food onto
• There isn’t any interactive music. Kids love interactive music when playing games
• Could provide more informative about the foods

Opportunities

• Could make the game more complex by asking what the different types of food do for your body
• Could make levels to the game
• Could give out rewards like coins to save up

Threats

• The food pyramid, or my plate is always changing
• There might be better games out there that explain the different food groups better
• Parents might not want their kids playing this game because it could give them information that could be false according to them

Overall, I thought playing these interactive health games were very fun! Not only were they fun but they thought me things and I believe this is a good way to teach kids. I believe kids take in more when they interact while learning new information instead of listening to a teacher ramble on all day.