Class Information
Grades: 8–12 (students must be 13 or older to participate in this class)
Lesson timeframe: 7–10 class periods, depending on student familiarity with Fortnite Creative
Featured tool: Fortnite Creative
Class / learning environment: A Fortnite-capable device with a one-to-one device-to-student ratio, and with internet connectivity. A computer lab or mobile laptop cart should provide the ideal environment.
Lesson Overview
We've witnessed the positive impact that play can have in classrooms and communities, but can it really help all of humanity thrive?
The United Nations has 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) consisting of must-reach targets for the year 2030. These SDGs were specifically crafted to ensure peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
Making sure our own communities are accessible for citizens with disabilities and our growing senior citizen population is essential.
This Fortnite Creative challenge relates to Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduce Inequality within and Among Countries. Target 10.7 within this goal focuses on facilitating orderly, safe, regular, and responsible mobility of people.
In this lesson, students will add a variety of structures on a starter island using the Fortnite Creative toolset, and evaluate the accessibility of these structures. They will use design thinking to improve the accessibility of the structures for all people.
After students have built their inclusive and accessible residential and commercial properties, they will record a video walkthrough, or capture screenshots that demonstrate their solutions.
“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” – Mahatma Gandhi
This lesson asks students to consider the following:
How does design thinking support creative problem solving?
How does designing and building inclusive, accessible structures improve the lives of all people?
What engineering and industry innovations are needed to ensure orderly, safe, responsible mobility?
As an instructor, you can learn more about inclusive design and engineering by watching the video below.
Learning Goals and Outcomes
Students will create an inclusive island using the Fortnite Creative toolset. As part of the process, they will:
Learn about Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Demonstrate an understanding of the need for responsible and effective mobility for all people.
Apply a design thinking model to create simple solutions to a complex problem.
Plan and develop solutions that improve accessibility and inclusion in residential and commercial structures.
Use Fortnite Creative to present these solutions to local or global audiences.
Activities
1. Introduce Students to SDG #10
Show the following videos at different points throughout the project to create excitement about the possibilities of potential solutions.
We The People for the Global Goals featuring global celebrities
SDG 10 Student Video (see below)
Also share these accessibility videos during the planning phase:
Disability-Friendly Home Design (take a virtual tour of a real home)
BSI Documentary – Building Accessibility (begin with the end in mind when designing)
2. Brainstorming and Planning a Solution
The next step is to begin brainstorming and planning an inclusive island.
Review Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Have students state in their own words the exact problem that needs to be solved.
Brainstorm possible engineering solutions for improving mobility (such as natural or man-made adaptations, structural designs and material changes, or temporary housing).
Rank the list from most important to least important for improving mobility and access.
Discuss the iterative design process.
Have students make a rough sketch of their island layout.
Have students watch the following video for more on.
3. Exploration and Knowledge Application with Fortnite Creative
Now that students have done some brainstorming and planning, it's time to put that plan into action!
Students who are unfamiliar with Fortnite Creative can review Getting Started, Playing Games, and Building Your First Island on the Fortnite Creative Documentation site. Also use the Fortnite Creative Glossary for definitions of terms.
Have the students rewatch the pause-and-play SDG 10 Student Video again if needed.
Students should begin building their experiences in Fortnite Creative using any starter island.
They can use any and all of the building tools — prefabs, galleries, devices, and more, found in the Creative inventory.
Every few class periods, ask students to reflect on their work and compare it to their initial brainstorming and planning ideas. Introduce the idea of iterative design to help think about the new ideas and changes they are making to their islands.
4. Show Off Your Work!
It's time for students to share their work with the class, and online, if they choose.
Building inclusive spaces requires genuine empathy. Have students discuss the difficulties they faced when redesigning their chosen structures, and how their solutions can be applied in the real world.
Have students create a video walkthrough or a slide deck to show their inclusive island. What careers and career skills are important for this specific SDG?
Publish the video, image captures, or demonstration on social media or another school-approved platform such as Microsoft Flipgrid.
Consider using the following hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to help promote and share your island: #EpicGames #FortniteCreative #EpicSDGs #TeachSDGs
Downloadable Teaching Materials
Download the following printable PDF documents for lesson support:
A PDF version of this lesson plan.
An inclusive island student handout for students.
A rubric for grading student projects.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Fortnite offers adjustable settings to meet various accessibility needs:
Color-Blindness Support: There are extensive color-blindness settings that can be toggled on or off at any time. To find these settings, navigate to Game Menu > Settings > Video > Graphics.
Visualize Sound Effects: This setting turns on the visual radial indicator for sounds, such as other player steps, the direction of gunfire, or nearby treasure chest audio. To find this setting, navigate to Game Menu > Settings >Audio > Sound.
Keyboard Remapping: Under Keyboard Controls, you can reassign keys on the keyboard for various controls.
Controller Support: If students prefer to use a wired or wireless controller, they can change the controller mapping under Wireless Controller.
Xbox Adaptive Controller: On PC or Xbox, students can also use the Xbox Adaptive Controller, if needed.
Standards Mapping
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
HS-ETS1-1. Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
HS-ETS1-2. Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
ISTE Standards for Students Connections
Empowered Learner
Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving, and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences.
Innovative Designer
Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.
Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
Creative Communicator
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats, and digital media appropriate to their goals.
Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.
Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models, or simulations.
Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
Global Collaborator
Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.
Students explore local and global issues and use collaborative technologies to work with others to investigate solutions.
Global Competencies
Creativity, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, and Communication (Optional Collaboration)
Interdisciplinary and 21st Century Connections
Relevant content areas include:
Health, wellness, and personal development
Technology and design
Physics
Biology
Entrepreneurship
Social emotional learning
Author Contact
This lesson plan was developed by educator Benjamin Kelly from Anglophone East School District. Find Ben at:
Email [email protected]
Twitter @BBTNB