Ever played a game and thought, “This is cool, but I wish I could add a secret level” or “What if the spaceship had rainbow lasers?” That feeling, that creative spark, is called a “vibe.” Your students can use that vibe to become game creators with the help of AI.
Every teacher has a “Guardian of Memory,” a moment that sparked their passion. For me, it was a 1980s text-based Star Trek game I wrote about in part one of this blog entry. That nostalgic spark led to an adventure in modifying classic code with modern AI. Now, you can take your students on a journey.
The lesson plan below offers students an opportunity to revise simple, game code. Students can use this to problem-solve, collaborate, and create in a lesson supercharged with evidence-based instructional strategies. This lesson will integrate several high-impact strategies to foster deep and transfer-level learning.
Vibe Coding is an approach that puts creativity and fun first. Instead of getting stuck on complicated rules, students start with their cool ideas and use an AI partner to bring them to life. This lesson transforms a classic coding activity into an exciting adventure in digital creation.
The Vibe Coding Quest: A Lesson Plan
This lesson guides students to put together a simple game. They turn their creative vibes into real, working code. It’s built on evidence-based teaching strategies to make learning stick.
- Subject: Digital Creation, Tech, Problem-Solving
- Grade Level: 6-8
- The Goal: Students will use their creativity and an AI partner to modify a simple game, learning coding concepts along the way.
Step 1: Find Your Vibe (Brainstorming Fun)
Before writing a single line of code, you will need a framework or idea to start with. Start off with a class discussion using the PRISM framework to get the creative juices flowing.
- Patterns: “What cool features do you see over and over in your favorite games?”
- Reasoning: “Why do you think those features make a game so fun?”
- Ideas: “If you could mash up two different games, what would you create?”
- Situation: “How are games today different from old-school games?”
- Methods: “How could we test if a new feature makes a game better?”
This isn’t just talk. The goal is to activate students’ Prior Knowledge (Effect Size: 0.93) and make the project relevant to them. I don’t know about you, but I have a few ideas about games I have played, from ASCII arts games to first person adventures.
Example of Vibe Coding Prompt: “You are a spaceship captain who has just returned from a journey near a black hole. Explain what you saw and what you learned to a group of middle school space cadets. Use the attached article for your scientific facts, but tell it as an exciting adventure story.”
Step 2: Vibe with the AI (Creative Collaboration)
Now it’s time to bring in the AI sidekick! Students will work with a chatbot to turn their vibe into code.
- Activity: Model how to “talk” to the AI. Instead of just saying “make a game,” show them how to be specific: “Hey AI, here is my game’s code. Can you help me add a new enemy that drops extra points when you beat it?” Maybe include a persona approach, taking academic content or an idea and putting it in the form of a story. You can have students craft their vibe coding prompts in a shared Google Doc or word processor.
- Check the AI’s Vibe with SIFT: Since no AI is perfect, model the SIFT Method for students to think critically about the AI’s suggestions:
- Stop: Does this code feel right? Is it what I asked for?
- Investigate: Look at the code. Do I understand what the AI is trying to do?
- Find: Are there other ways to do this? Let’s ask the AI for another option.
- Trace: If I add this code, will it mess anything else up in the game?
- Strategy: This whole process is a form of Problem-Solving Teaching (Effect Size: 0.68), where students learn by doing and tackling challenges in a supportive environment.
Step 3: Share the Vibe (Showcase and Feedback)
The best part of creating something cool is sharing it!
- Activity: Host a “Game On!” gallery walk where students play each other’s modded games.
- Strategy: Encourage students to give each other feedback. This use of Peer Feedback (Effect Size: 0.92) helps students learn from each other and see new possibilities.
- Reflection: End the quest with a quick reflection. Ask: “What was the coolest part of your mod? What did you learn about working with an AI?” This builds Metacognitive Strategies (Effect Size: 0.69), helping students think about their own learning.
Vibe Coding is more than a lesson, it’s a new way to create with an expert assistant. Give it a try.
An Example: Black Hole Escape!
Here’s one created through simple prompting in BoodleBox Unlimited ($16 a month for educators; $20 a month for everyone else; read how to get started for free).
