The Reel Script

Explore

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
When playing The Reel Script, players look at the game board to see what script lines are available each turn, and compare that to the Script Line Tickets they already have.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. Also, they can score more points if they collect all cards of same color, or at least one of each color. Thus, remind them to look at the colors of the Tickets before making their bids.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. Also, they can score more points if they collect all cards of same color, or at least one of each color. Thus, remind them to look at the colors of the Tickets before making their bids.

Determine

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
There are numerous times in The Reel Script where players need to make a determination. They decide which lines are needed to make a good script and which color Tickets to bid on. They need to decide how much to bid each turn. At the end of each round, they sort their cards to make their best script; vote on the best script and total up their score.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. Also, they can score more points if they collect all cards of same color, or at least one of each color. Thus, remind them to look at the colors of the Tickets before making their bids. After the round, discuss everyone's favorite movies. What did they like about the movie?

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Educators can use The Reel Script to teach literacy concepts like plot, theme and character. Point out the different components of a script in a movie. What are the students favorite movies? Why? Discuss what aspects of a movie the students like best. Encourage them to think about these aspects as they play the game. Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. Also, they can score more points if they collect all cards of same color, or at least one of each color. Thus, remind them to look at the colors of the Tickets before making their bids.

Compare

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players have to compare script parts and determine which make the most interesting or creative relationships; which parts they need to complete a script (ex: a character or action); and which Ticket colors may help them score the most points.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
After a script is voted to be the best, discuss why people voted for it. Compare peoples' ideas about what they liked. Encourage players to think about what combinations they need to make their story interesting or fun.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Educators can use The Reel Script to teach literacy concepts like plot, theme and character. Point out the different components of a script in a movie. What are the students favorite movies? Why? Discuss what aspects of a movie the students like best. Encourage them to think about these aspects as they play the game. To help children make the best strategic scoring choice, remind them to look at the different color of the Tickets before making their bids. This way, they can try to win Tickets that have both the content they want, and the color that can give them the most points at the end of the round.

Predict

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
If children are able, encourage them to remember or write down how the other players have bid and won. This can help them make predictions for how the opponents may bid in future, which helps the player be more effective in winning Tickets they need.
At the end of each round, players need predict which combination of their Script Line Tickets may be voted "best" by the other players.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Parents can ask children to reflect on what everyone said about their favorite movies, stories, etc. Discuss the implications of peoples' favorites for how a player may create a script that will be voted best by most of the other players.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
The type of prediction involved in The Reel Script involve social-emotional skills like empathy and memory skills. Children need to shift perspective, an important element of strategic thinking, by imagining what other players will think of the different possible scripts they can make. Remembering what other players like in movies, stories and other media can help them make the best prediction. Educators can ask children to reflect on what everyone said about their favorite movies, stories, etc. Discuss the implications of peoples' favorites for how a player may create a script that will be voted best by most of the other players.

Plan

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
The Reel Script involves a lot of planning as each turn allows players to bid on, and sometimes, win Script Lines. As they win Script Lines, players plan what else need to make an interesting or creative story line. Also, they are trying to win Tickets with the right color combination to give them a higher score.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage players to think about what combinations they need to make their story interesting or fun. Also keep in mind the scoring relating to cards of different colors. To help children make the best strategic scoring choice, remind them to look at the different color of the Tickets before making their bids. This way, they can try to win Tickets that have both the content they want, and the color that can give them the most points at the end of the round. Also, reminding children to take their time to evaluate options helps them develop patience and impulse control.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Encourage players to think about what combinations they need to make their story interesting or fun. Then they need to look for these in their cards and on the board. Tell them to bid high for the most important aspects for their story. Teachers can also have children develop a story for a movie that is not part of the game, but a separate activity to get them to think about components of a story.

Experiment

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players experiment with different combinations of script parts to make the most interesting or creative story.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Parents can encourage children to try different combinations of script parts, and not just take the first combination they find.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Changing perspective is a powerful experimentation technique that supports innovative thinking and creative problem-solving. Encourage children to think about how other players' will respond to different scripts they can create. This can help them think of the script most likely to be voted best. In addition, this can also help them vote on the best script by making a more analytical, versus emotional, choice. Teachers can encourage experimentation with script parts, but also remind children to think about the value of their cards in scoring. Teachers can have children develop a story for a movie that is not part of the game.

Practice

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
After playing numerous times players will discover what type of scripts are most popular to other players. They will then adapt their story lines.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
The more children play, the better they will be able to consider both the story and the point values when playing a round. Both are important to the game. To provide additional practice outside of the game while helping children develop a wide range of literacy skills, have children develop a story for a movie by picking any 7 cars they like. If the children enjoy that, encourage them to act out a scene from the movie.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
The more children play, the better they will be able to consider both the story and the point values when playing a round. Both are important to the game. To provide additional practice of literary concepts like plot, theme and character, teachers can also have children develop a story for a movie that is not part of the game, but a separate activity to get them to think about components of a story. If the children enjoy that, encourage them to act out a scene from the movie.

Solve

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Each round involves creating or solving the problem of what makes a good movie script that will appeal to the most people. Players also have to consider the point value of their different cards in making up their story.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage players to try different story combinations with cards of the same color or one of each color in addition to making a story they like. Remind them that the most points come from having the "best" or most voted for script.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Building a script involves a range of literary skills and knowledge such as plot, character, narrative structure and theme. Additionally, it strengthens imagination and creative skills as players create scripts to solve the goal of the game. Encourage players to try different story combinations with cards of the same color or one of each color in addition to making a story they like. Remind them that the most points come from having the "best" or most voted for script.

Review

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
It is not required, but players can discuss why they voted for specific scripts.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
After a script is voted best, all of the players can state why they chose the story. This will help all players understand others' preferences.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
After a script is voted best, all of the players can state why they chose the story. This will help all players understand others' preferences.

Demonstrate

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players show their bids on each turn. At the end of the game, players share their final script for a vote.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
To help children develop their strategic thinking and risk/reward analysis, discuss the results at the end of each bidding is revealed. Ask the "winning" script to explain their thinking about why the components made a good script.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
To help children develop their strategic thinking and risk/reward analysis, discuss the results at the end of each bidding is revealed. Ask the "winning" script to explain their thinking about why the components made a good script.

Imagine

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
The Reel Script encourages players to imagine how different script components can be combined in interesting or creative ways.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. At the end of a round have all players discuss what else could happen in the script that was not on the cards. What would make it even better or more creative? For additional imaginative and creative play, let students sort through the cards in the game and select a script to write up into a short story or act out as a play.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
The Reel Script is a good game for building imagination and creativity skills as children try to create the best script they can, which may be funny, adventurous, etc. Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. At the end of a round have all players discuss what else could happen in the script that was not on the cards. What would make it even better or more creative? For additional imaginative play, let students sort through the cards in the game and select a script to write up into a short story or act out as a play.

Create

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
The Reel Script encourages players to imagine how different script components can be combined in interesting or creative ways.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. At the end of a round have all players discuss what else could happen in the script that was not on the cards. What would make it even better or more creative? For additional imaginative and creative play, let students sort through the cards in the game and select a script to write up into a short story or act out as a play. Encourage creativity by discussing the parts that were most unique and why they were appealing.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
The Reel Script is a good game for building imagination and creativity skills as children try to create the best script they can, which may be funny, adventurous, etc. Encourage players to move their cards around to see relationships and think about interesting combinations. At the end of a round have all players discuss what else could happen in the script that was not on the cards. What would make it even better or more creative? For additional imaginative play, let students sort through the cards in the game and select a script to write up into a short story or act out as a play. Encourage creativity by discussing the parts that were most unique and why they were appealing.

Cognitive

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
This game may be too challenging for children with cognitive delays. Players need to be able to construct a meaningful narrative with the necessary components of a script.

Communication

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children who have difficulty spontaneously generating language can play the game by reading the sections of their script without adding extra words between the script sections. Other players can also read the script sequence for them, if needed.
Children who cannot read will not be able to play independently, but may be able to play with a partner.

Sensorimotor

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Game play involves using small chips for betting and placing script cards. If children have difficulty stacking chips, let them write down the amount they want to place on the board. If this is too difficult, let them announce their bids first. Card placement can be directed for another player to do if needed.

Social Emotional/Behavioral

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children who are impulsive may not think about what other players may do. Encourage them to think about what others might want in their scripts and what they may bid.
Encourage children to listen carefully to each player's script to decide which one they like best. Inability to vote for your own script helps children focus on the thoughts of others.

Vision

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children with vision problems may be able to read the script options with a magnifying glass.
Playing with a partner is another option for children who cannot read the Script Line Tickets.

Hearing

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children who are hard of hearing may be able to read others scripts or have them signed to them.
The child who is hard of hearing can have a partner, if needed, to help interpret the other scripts and make bid determinations.

Autism Special Considerations

Appears to ignore other's communication and/or has difficulty giving eye contact to a communication partner

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The Reel Script relies on listening to other players' communication and understanding their message. Children who have difficulty with producing language or understanding others' communication will not be able to play this game.

Has difficulty understanding complex verbal directions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The directions for this game are complicated for children with autism. Players need to go through several steps in each round of play. Players also need to understand how to bid for a good idea. In addition, scoring is based on several different elements. Thus, we do not recommend this game for children who have difficulty with complex directions.

Uses vocabulary inaccurately or demonstrates echolalia (repeating another's speech)

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Children with echolalia may be able to play as long as they comprehend what is said. However, if the echolalia is merely repetitive without comprehension, the game is not recommended. Players need to attend to each other's comments and scripts.

Gets stuck repeating a verbal topic or physical actions and/or has difficulty attending to others' actions or topic.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Children with autism may be able to play as long as they comprehend what is said. However, The Reel Script requires that players attend to each others' scripts and understand those scripts in order to vote for the best one. If the child is unable to do this, the game is not recommended.

Has difficulty producing speech/communication

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
If the child understands the directions, understands what they read on the Script Line Tickets, and comprehends short scripts created by others, the child can play with another player reading the script for him.

Has difficulty sequencing multi-step actions and/or doing complex abstract tasks

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
There are numerous steps the players need to follow in each round. In addition, players need to comprehend time, setting, characters, and plot. This may be too challenging for some children with autism.

Demonstrates difficulty initiating and maintaining social interactions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
This game uses social interactions throughout. Players also need to bid on scripts, based on what they think other players will bid. They vote on other players' scripts based on preference. Although the game can be played with minimal talking, discussion makes the game more fun.

Acts out or demonstrates avoidance behaviors when frustrated, overwhelmed, or needs more sensory input.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The game should not be frustrating if the child comprehends the rules. Give the child breaks when needed. For example, if the child wins a bid or is voted the best script, he may get very excited. Provide an opportunity for the child to express excitement during a pause in the game.

Has short attention span for non-preferred activities

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Unless movies and reading are preferred activities, The Reel Script may not be a good game for the child with autism.

Needs sameness or consistent routines and/or has difficulty with transitions from one activity to another

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The game is played in the same way with each round, but children need to understand the play sequence. If movies are of interest to the child, transition the child to the game by talking about their favorite movies. Talk about the characters, setting, plot, etc. Tell the child they get to create their own movie idea.

Has difficulty understanding others' feelings, intentions, and the reasons for others' actions.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The Reel Script requires children to understand what other people might like and how they might, therefore, bid on different aspects of a script. Children can play without this comprehension of others' feelings, but they are not likely to win rounds if they do not have this ability. On the other hand, players can help the child learn by talking about their choices and providing suggestions.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Write "Wild Card" on several cards of each color. When a player draws one of these Wild Cards, the player can either use what is written on the card or make up his own script, of the same category, for that card. This allows the player to make up something that fits well with their existing cards.

Materials Needed
Marker.

Developmental Benefits
This modification allows children to use creative thinking and come up with imaginative ideas that may appeal to the votes of the other players. They also need to think logically about what would make sense, be funny or exciting.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
At the beginning of each game, the first player defines a quality what the "Best Script" such as funniest, weirdest, spookiest, or most exciting.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed

Developmental Benefits
This modification allows players to use and build their imagination and creativity even further. It also adds an element of variety that may increase motivation to play the game over and over.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Add a card trading round prior to Voting. To do this, one player at a time can offer one Script Line Ticket to trade. The player reads the Ticket ("Trading Player") and the player on the left may offer one of their Tickets. If no card is offered in trade or the Trading Player passes on the Ticket, the next player on the left may offer a Ticket. This continues until the Trading Player accepts a Ticket in trade, or all players have offered or passed. Repeat so that each player gets a chance to be the Trading Player.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed

Developmental Benefits
This modification adds an element of social engagement, and allows for players to learn additional strategies to create better scripts and create better scoring options.