--- title: 2019 K-12 Game-a-thon is Open for Submissions description: Are you looking for an engaging math project for students? Check out the K-12 Game-a-thon, which challenges students to design their own math games. image: https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/MIND%20Research%20Institute/MathMINDs/Game-a-thon/GAT_Video5.png --- [![](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MIND-logo-2018.jpg?width=1701&height=623&name=MIND-logo-2018.jpg)](http://www.mindresearch.org/) [![mind logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-color2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) [![mind white logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-white2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) - [Our Approach](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-approach) - [Why MIND?](https://2024.mindresearch.org/why-math-education) - [Our Research](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-research) - [Our Patents](https://2024.mindresearch.org/patents) - [Our Impact](https://2024.mindresearch.org/impact) - [Our Partners](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partners) - [Partner Stories](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partner-stories) - Our Programs - [ST Math](http://www.stmath.com/) - [InsightMath](http://www.insightmath.com/) - [MathMINDs](https://www.mindresearch.org/mathminds) - [Life at MIND](https://2024.mindresearch.org/careers) - Resources - [Blog](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog) - [Math Discourse](https://2024.mindresearch.org/puzzletalks) - [Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) - [News](https://2024.mindresearch.org/news) - [Activities](https://2024.mindresearch.org/stem-resources) - [Donate](https://store.mindresearch.org/pages/donate) **Student privacy****:** learn more about our commitment to keeping students safe [Read More](https://www.mindresearch.org/privacy-policy) ![MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/graphics/headers/_blog-headers/MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png?width=2000&height=667&name=MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png "MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5") Category Community Teaching & Learning Technology & Games Research & Outcomes Neuroscience Celebrations & Successes [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70) [Technology & Games](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/technology-games) # 2019 K-12 Game-a-thon is Open for Submissions By [Calli Wright](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/author/calli-wright) - - - - - [mailto:?subject=2019%20K-12%20Game-a-thon%20is%20Open%20for%20Submissions&body=2019%20K-12%20Game-a-thon%20is%20Open%20for%20Submissions%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/2019-game-a-thon-open](mailto:?subject=2019%20K-12%20Game-a-thon%20is%20Open%20for%20Submissions&body=2019%20K-12%20Game-a-thon%20is%20Open%20for%20Submissions%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/2019-game-a-thon-open) - Looking for a unique way to engage students in math? Encourage your students to enter this year’s [K-12 Game-a-thon](https://www.mindresearch.org/gameathon) challenge. In this national challenge, students design, build, and share a game that features creative and unusual solutions to mathematical problems. Game-a-thon helps students explore math outside of the traditional classroom environment and allows for a whole lot of fun! [![gat-hall-of-fame-2018](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MIND%20Research%20Institute/MathMINDs/Game-a-thon/Headers/gat-hall-of-fame-2018.png?width=375&name=gat-hall-of-fame-2018.png)](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/game-a-thon-hall-of-fame-2018) Looking for inspiration? Check out the awesome entries from [last year's challenge](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/game-a-thon-hall-of-fame-2018) and as well as some photos and tips from previous years below! ## Idea #1: Get Moving with Math Many games are played with cards, a board or on a device. But some of the most interesting games we've seen in past years had a physical or too-large -for-the-table component.  ![Mathnado](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/GAT%20Images/Mathnado.png?width=711&name=Mathnado.png) ## Idea #2: Use Interesting Materials Encourage students to keep an eye out for interesting materials they can (re)use in their games. Cardboard, egg cartons, magnets, bubble wrap, clothespins, and paper cups are some examples of items that might have otherwise been thrown away. ![Face_Off](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/GAT%20Images/Face_Off.png?width=634&name=Face_Off.png) ## Idea #3: STEAM Ahead and Include Coding In the K-12 Game-a-thon students can design an app or digital game, taking inspiration from the digital games they play for entertainment or education. Here's some go-to free coding tools: - [Scratch Jr](https://www.scratchjr.org/) and Scratch (a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab) - [Snap!](https://snap.berkeley.edu/) (presented by the University of California at Berkeley) - [App Inventor](http://appinventor.mit.edu/explore/index-2.html) (from MIT) - [Godot Engine](https://godotengine.org) (for more advanced coders) ## Idea #4: Collaborate with a Team Two brains are better than one! Even if a student is designing a game on their own, they can ask others for feedback and play-testing at various points in the game design process. ![Bandits_in_the_Dark](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/GAT%20Images/Bandits_in_the_Dark.png?width=758&name=Bandits_in_the_Dark.png) We can't wait to see what students create! Share your progress with us via social media by tagging [@MIND\_Research](https://twitter.com/mind_research) and #Gameathon! [![Join the K-12 Game-a-thon](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/237516/91015b55-43e0-40c2-90cd-368586a85a33.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/237516/91015b55-43e0-40c2-90cd-368586a85a33) ![Calli Wright](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Authors/calli-wright-board-games.jpg) ### About the Author Calli Wright was the Marketing Manager at MIND Research Institute. She loves playing and designing board games, which she often talks about on twitter [@CalliWrights](https://twitter.com/CalliWrights). ### Comment #### [Free Ebook: Demanding More from Edtech Evaluations](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/demanding-more-from-edtech-evaluations) [Partnering to Build the STEM Workforce with Rockwell Automation](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/partner-stories-rockwell-automation) ### Search Result By: ![feature image](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Images/Inside-our-Minds-logo-teal-800x800.png) [Featured Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/featured-podcast) ### [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) [Listen Now](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) ##### LATEST PODCAST EPISODES ###### BY MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE - [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) - [People, Process, and Penguins: Designing Math Experiences](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/people-process-penguins) - [Bridging STEM Gaps with STEMconnector CEO Jo Webber](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/bridging-stem-gaps-with-stemconnector-ceo-jo-webber) - [The EdTech Genome Project: Talking Implementation with Elizabeth Birie](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/edtech-genome-project) - [From Meeting the Moment to Foundational Change](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/from-meeting-the-moment-to-foundational-change) ##### [See all podcasts](https://www.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) ## Interested in Contributing? 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