At NAISR, we believe in a VIP approach to learning: Values, Inquiry, and Perspectives. Our Core Values Programme (CVP) is a key part of this, ensuring that students engage with our values—Empathy, Collaboration, Adaptability, Resilience, Respect, and more—every day. One of our CVP homeroom teachers, Ms Jennifer, took this initiative to the next level by challenging Year 8 students to bring these values to life through board games.
This project aimed to help students connect their learning to real-life situations in a creative and engaging way. By designing board games, they not only explored values deeply but also had the opportunity to introduce these concepts to Year 6 students in an interactive manner. This cross-grade collaboration helped both groups develop confidence, teamwork, communication, and resilience.
The results were incredible. Year 8 students took ownership of their learning and embraced leadership roles, guiding the younger students through their games. Meanwhile, Year 6 students practiced listening, teamwork, and relationship-building—all while having fun. The activity also gave them a glimpse into middle school life, fostering a sense of connection within our close-knit NAISR community.
But don’t just take our word for it—here’s what some of our Year 8 students had to say about the experience:
Mariana (Y8) shared, "Making this board game was difficult, but using our imagination and recycled materials made me feel creative and thoughtful. I learned that we could have fun with anything—not just a computer!" She reflected on a moment when her group laughed and played with simple materials, realizing that "what seems like nothing to us can be a big treasure to someone else."
Ishika (Y8) emphasized teamwork, saying, "I learned that it’s not about our work being perfect. What matters is making sure everyone feels included and important. When we work together, the outcome is just imperfectly perfect." She also noted how Year 6 students had to be adaptable, learning to collaborate with new peers—an essential skill for their transition to middle school.
For Rudra (Y8), the project was an exciting first-time experience: "I had never created my own board game before, but in the end, it was fun and exciting! I learned all our core values and how to make a game like Snakes and Ladders or Ludo. A funny moment for me was when Fabien had to do 14 jumping jacks—it was hilarious!"
Fabien (Y8) took a unique approach by making his game intentionally challenging. "I learned that people enjoy tough games! When someone landed on the space that said, 'Go back to the start because life isn’t fair,' we all burst out laughing. But through that, the Year 6 students learned resilience—they had to keep going, even when the game got tough. That was the whole point!"
Lori (Y8) appreciated the creative aspect, saying, "I love playing board games and creating things, so this was a fun activity. I think the Year 6 students learned resilience—despite landing on 'detention' multiple times and losing turns, they kept going!"
Not every student found the process easy, though. Lukas (Y8) admitted, "Brainstorming ideas and planning the board game felt boring at first, but playing it was a great way to spend time. I found it funny that many people didn’t expect board games to be fun—but after this experience, I think they changed their minds!"
This initiative truly showcased the power of learning through play. It strengthened our values, built bridges between year groups, and reinforced NAISR’s strong sense of community. Watching our students connect, lead, and learn together was incredibly rewarding. One thing is certain—we’ll be doing this again!
