Learning Area
Design and Technology
Year Level
Although this game is targeting the curriculum for the younger years; unless you are experienced with playing the game I suggest it be used by years 3/4 to revisit the concepts learned in earlier years.
Strand
Technologies Contexts
Sub-Strand
Food and fibre production – Plants and animals used for production have basic needs, such as food/nutrients, water, space, protection (ACTDEK003)
From from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA).
Link to the Resource
http://www.bigfishgames.com/games/2135/plant-tycoon/?pc
Can be purchased online for $10 through Big Fish Games; however, once it is purchased once it can be downloaded as many times as needed!
General Capabilities
Information and communication technology (ICT) capability and Critical and Creative Thinking.
Links to Other Learning Areas
Science, Literacy
Using this Resource
Plant Tycoon is perfect for classrooms that want to teach the values of planting a garden but simply do not have the space or resources. The game allows students to create their own garden in a virtual world. They can water and fertilise their plants while also making sure they are getting enough sun. Plant Tycoon also allows the students to experiment with cross-pollination – seeing how the DNA of plants can combine in a simple way and make new creations come to life. Although creating a physical class garden would be ideal, not every class can do this. Plant Tycoon allows the younger years to learn about the basic needs of plants and the production of growing different types in real time which is different to other garden-based virtual realities. It also incorporates the learning of sustainability and economics with plant production; displaying to the students how plants need to be bought and sold to increase revenue. This resource is cheap and its real-time running makes it feel more true-to-life. It is relaxing, challenging and students can create at their own pace.
A Quick Video
Below is a video of some in-game action. Don’t be deterred if it looks too complex – it is much simpler than it looks! From 0:00-1:20 the game shows how ‘people’ purchase the plants. This video is just to display how interactive the game is and how many different plants can be created; but as the teacher it is possible to restrict the game play to just growing the plants if you so desire.
Hi KJOHNST6
This is a fantastic resource to have in a classroom where there is not enough space or resources to have a garden. Students get very excited when they are able to put to action the knowledge they learn about how to care for plants and what plants need to survive and this would be a wonderful opportunity for them to do so, without having an actual garden.
What a great resource, thankyou for sharing.
I could definitely see this benefiting students as they learn about food and fibre but also the scientific aspects attached. This game is the basis for a great technologies program, the opportunities appear endless in teaching students about use of ICT, food, plants, sustainability, economy and most importantly creating their own virtual garden (which could also be used to plan a garden in the school/classroom).
Keeping this one book marked for later, thankyou!
This is very interesting! I would not have thought about using digital technology to teach food design before. This would also be a nice program to run with Year 4 Biological Science.
What a fantastic idea! I would never have thought to use an iPad app to teach children how to grow their own plants without having to physically plant and grow them. Most schools have iPads now at their disposal but not all have the room for a student garden so this is brilliant! Good thinking 🙂
I always enjoy using games in lessons. It helps to keep students engaged and they are often learning without realising it. Thank you for sharing this resource, I will be sure to use it in the classroom.
Thanks for sharing this resource so I can hopefully use this in my future primary classroom one day!
This will be a great addition to the classroom where needed. Both teachers and students always enjoy games, that’s why I think this resource would be very effective, educational and also entertaining.
Thanks again,
Kate Hutchinson
I found this blog post quite interesting. When teaching content from the food and fibre sub strand can either be very hands on or quite the opposite way when speaking from experience. I like the idea that this game can break up learning activities in a program and apply learning to the game. It could perhaps be used in conjunction with a real life garden should a school have the room for one or even used to break the class up into smaller groups to make interactive activities easier to manage. One group could be on the Ipads playing Plant Tycoon whilst others participate in interactive activities and rotate where necessary. It could also be used as a formative assessment or to consolidate learning. The fact that the learning is embedded in a game makes it even the more engaging for students at every age. Majority of students enjoy interactive games and don’t even realise they are applying skills learnt to successfully play the game.