The Performing Arts Centre at Nanjing International School once again transformed into a bustling arcade as Grade 4 students proudly unveiled their handmade games to families, teachers, and friends. From marble mazes and mini golf courses to pinball challenges, foosball tables, and imaginative ball games, the annual Grade 4 Arcade was filled with laughter, creativity, and plenty of friendly competition.

More than simply a day of fun, the project represented the culmination of weeks of learning in Design. Guided by Design teacher Ms. Jo Qiao, students followed the complete design cycle process. They began by generating ideas and sketching their concepts, sought feedback from classmates, built prototypes, tested their games, and refined them through multiple iterations.

“The Grade 4 Arcade is a great way to engage students in a fun and meaningful project that allows them to apply their learning and skills in a real-world context,” said Ms. Qiao.

Throughout the project, students exercised creativity and choice while developing important Approaches to Learning skills. They learned how to collaborate effectively, manage their time, solve problems, and use a variety of tools and materials to bring their ideas to life. Most importantly, they learned that good design is an ongoing process of testing, feedback, and improvement.

On Arcade Day, parents and community members became the players, enthusiastically trying each game while the young designers explained the rules, kept score, and encouraged participants. The event highlighted not only the ingenuity of the students, but also their growing confidence as communicators and creators.