Students in Bridgehampton School’s seventh grade CTE class are bringing hands-on learning to life as they design and build their own original board games. The project guides students through the full design and engineering process, from brainstorming ideas in their notebooks to fabricating a working prototype. 

Students are using tools such as a specialized cardboard chomp saw, Shrinky Dinks and traditional art materials to construct their boards and components. They are also incorporating technology by designing game pieces in Tinkercad and producing them with an UltiMaker 3D printer. 

Each student explores creativity in the medium that works best for them. Some begin with pen-and-paper sketches, while others start digitally, demonstrating how different approaches can lead to innovative results. The process emphasizes the importance of prototyping, testing ideas, making adjustments and evolving a design into a finished product. Inspired by games they know and enjoy, and in some cases reimagining familiar classics with modern twists, students are applying problem-solving, design thinking and collaboration throughout the project. 

The initiative highlights how creativity, technology and hands-on fabrication can come together in the classroom, giving students valuable experience in designing, refining and producing their own creations.