Rating a Popular Video Game

Objective:

To evaluate and analyze the criteria used for rating a video game, using the ESBR (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) website*.

To apply the criteria in rating one of their own video games, using the website to guide them**.

Key Questions: 

What criteria are used to rate the video games you play?

Why do you think video games are given ratings?

Why do we need a standardized criteria for rating video games or do we? 

What could be possible outcomes if we didn’t have a rating system? 

Here is a link to the ESBR website that explains the rating system, criteria used to rate video games, and rating summaries. https://www.esrb.org/ratings-guide/ - Let’s find out how video games are rated.

Composition: Once the students have had a chance to explore the website and discuss their findings as a class, they will pick a familiar video game and create a rating for this video game based on what they have learned. They should be able to justify why they have rated it the way they have.

Follow-up: Students will share with the larger group the video game they have rated, the rating they gave it, and why. This should elicit discussion and students will be encouraged to listen to others and to comment respectfully on what they are hearing.

*The outcomes for this lesson are linked to the following in the New ELAL curriculum (Grade 5) but would be appropriate for Div II students:

*Engaging with non-fiction texts can help to analyze the world through the eyes of others.

Comprehension strategies that can be used to understand and interpret complex texts include

     predicting

     inferring

     making connections

     summarizing

     synthesizing

     evaluating

**Evaluating is a comprehension strategy where readers make judgements based on textual evidence.

Comprehension is enhanced through application of critical thinking strategies and skills that support interpretations of texts and management of information.