BARNEGAT – A third grader’s imagination is a powerful thing – and when you mix that with a few digital tools, a love of learning, and a bit of peanut butter, you get something pretty magical.
At Joseph T. Donahue School, students in the Gifted and Talented program recently unveiled their own board games – conceptualized, designed, and built from scratch. This wasn’t just any classroom activity. It was part tech lesson, part creative journey, and totally fun.
“They have learned how to not only use the computer in a way that they’ve never done before, but they learned how to design their own board games using various programs that they were allowed to choose,” said teacher Deanna Buccella. “In particular, Canva, which is an amazing tool that high schools and businesses use. And now we have these third graders designing their own board games.”
The project began with a crash course in the history of board games – dating all the way back to ancient times. But it quickly moved into modern territory, as students brainstormed everything from game titles and logos to rules and player movement. Buccella guided them through the process that included one skill every game needs: clear directions.
To show just how important that step is, Buccella staged a memorable demo in class. She asked students to tell her how to make a peanut butter sandwich. When the third graders instructed her to “put the peanut butter on the bread,” she responded quite literally – placing an unopened jar right on top of the loaf.
“I told them, your directions have to be written so that if you’re not there, someone knows exactly how to play your game,” Buccella said. “How many times have you picked up a game and the directions are confusing, so you just make up your own rules? We don’t want that here.”
Not Just Fun And Games
The game originators had the chance to test their creations on the rest of their third-grade classmates. Family members were invited to observe how their children’s innovations were received.
Beyond the fun, students in the Gifted and Talented class developed real-world skills. They learned how to lead groups, communicate instructions clearly, and adapt when things didn’t go as planned. Some had to rethink how their games worked if too many – or too few – players showed up at their station.
“They really learned adaptability,” Buccella said. “And leadership – making sure their group was on task, explaining the rules, and adjusting if something changed.”
Some of the games even encouraged physical movement. One had players doing silly movements to score points, sneaking exercise into the fun.
Every student brought their own flair to the assignment. Nine-year-old Kelsey Zimerla created a game called Famous Character Lane, inspired by her love of popular characters. Players advanced through the board using familiar characters as playing pieces – though Kelsey made it clear her favorite show was still Home Alone, even if Kevin McAllister didn’t make it into the final lineup.
Bradley Zinger, also 9, took a cue from a classic with his game Speeders of War, a futuristic take on Battleship. Players aim to rack up 25 points by strategically targeting – and moving – ships on the board. The added twist? Each successful hit earned a point, but if participants completely destroyed a ship, they scored five.
Bradley also made sure to include a heartfelt thank you to veterans on his game’s cover, inspired by his father, a U.S. Marine who served in Iraq. Bradley’s parents watched as their son led fellow classmates through the game and beamed with pride.
Tessa Beltran, 9, drew on real-life inspiration for Alpacas on the Loose, a whimsical game reminiscent of Candy Land. Tessa’s love for alpacas started at a birthday party held at an alpaca farm – a memory she brought to life with a Canva-designed board and adorable eraser game pieces purchased online. Her mom, Jessica Beltran, a preschool teacher at Dunfee School, said the project lit a creative spark in her daughter: “This has been an awesome experience for her.”
Meanwhile, Football Rivals by Brodie Bucior, 9, brought a sports theme into the mix – with the Bengals, of course, as the home team. Brodie’s dad jumped into the action, enthusiastically guiding young players through scoring points. He wasn’t alone – many family members came out to cheer on their budding game designers.
A recurring theme popped up in many of the games – outer space. It was so prominent that Vice Principal Samantha Burke couldn’t help but joke, “Game Day was out of this world.”
The culmination of the project showed just how much kids can accomplish with the right blend of technology, creativity, and encouragement. From Canva design work to teamwork on game day, every step of the process required critical thinking and adaptability.
And while it’s too early to say which of these third graders will go on to design the next Monopoly or Scrabble, one thing’s for sure: They’ve already proven they know how to play – and win – the game of innovation.
