Question Connection Card Game
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Hannah Frazer and I am a junior at Highland Park High School in Illinois. Under the supervision of my AP Psychology teacher, I am currently working on an independent study project that focuses on how to improve young students’ overall social and emotional wellbeing––starting with the lunchroom. Specifically, I am developing a card game called Question Connection that is designed to enhance social interactions as well as eliminate bullying and isolation both in and outside of the classroom.
The goal of Question Connection is to create an open dialogue between middle school students who may not know one another well so that they can foster relationships and build friendships. To play the game, kids are broken up into small groups and given a deck of cards. Students then take turns drawing cards which prompt them to complete a sentence about themselves, for example, “If elected to office, the first law I would enact or change would be ____________.” It is up to each student to decide whether or not to fill in the blank with a true or false statement. After the information is shared, the remaining group members are given the opportunity to discuss and/or question the answer, thus fostering fun conversations while allowing participants to learn more about one another. The objective of the game is to create an environment that leads to acceptance, inclusion, and more broad-based interaction amongst peers.
Personally, I recall my own struggles at the lunchroom table beginning in the sixth grade. I wondered where and with whom I should sit and how to include people that others might not want to welcome. It was a challenging time, filled with angst and self-doubt. Although I managed to find my group and fit in, I remained concerned about others who were still having trouble navigating lunchroom cliques and loneliness. With the advancement of technology and social media, kids today have lost interpersonal skills and are feeling more isolated than ever. This is a concern that has stayed with me, and I have often thought about how I can help to change it and make a difference.
I was lucky enough to have someone help me with the graphics, but found that when it came to the actual production of the game, it was more than my allowance could afford. Therefore, I am trying to raise money in order to make the game available on a broader basis. I'm looking for a way to expand this project beyond my community and create as much positive change as I can. Proceeds in excess of the production and distribution cost of the game will be donated to provide essential materials to after school programs in Chicago, Illinois.
Many thanks to MITE Printing and ShuffledInk for their support and donations in kind.
The goal of Question Connection is to create an open dialogue between middle school students who may not know one another well so that they can foster relationships and build friendships. To play the game, kids are broken up into small groups and given a deck of cards. Students then take turns drawing cards which prompt them to complete a sentence about themselves, for example, “If elected to office, the first law I would enact or change would be ____________.” It is up to each student to decide whether or not to fill in the blank with a true or false statement. After the information is shared, the remaining group members are given the opportunity to discuss and/or question the answer, thus fostering fun conversations while allowing participants to learn more about one another. The objective of the game is to create an environment that leads to acceptance, inclusion, and more broad-based interaction amongst peers.
Personally, I recall my own struggles at the lunchroom table beginning in the sixth grade. I wondered where and with whom I should sit and how to include people that others might not want to welcome. It was a challenging time, filled with angst and self-doubt. Although I managed to find my group and fit in, I remained concerned about others who were still having trouble navigating lunchroom cliques and loneliness. With the advancement of technology and social media, kids today have lost interpersonal skills and are feeling more isolated than ever. This is a concern that has stayed with me, and I have often thought about how I can help to change it and make a difference.
I was lucky enough to have someone help me with the graphics, but found that when it came to the actual production of the game, it was more than my allowance could afford. Therefore, I am trying to raise money in order to make the game available on a broader basis. I'm looking for a way to expand this project beyond my community and create as much positive change as I can. Proceeds in excess of the production and distribution cost of the game will be donated to provide essential materials to after school programs in Chicago, Illinois.
Many thanks to MITE Printing and ShuffledInk for their support and donations in kind.
Organizer
Hannah Frazer
Organizer
Highland Park, IL