Thesis

Obscured Mimicry is a simple, two-player game based on communication and interpreting verbal cues. The game is composed of two sets of blocks and a visual divider. The goal of Obscured Mimicry is to create a structure out of wooden blocks and communicate how to recreate that structure to your partner.

Designing for a Montessori client

Obscured Mimicry addresses intellectual learning based on the understanding of positioning

Obscured Mimicry addresses didatic learning as the children need to learn how to communicate their structure

Obscured Mimicry teaches children physically by tuning their fine motor skills and allowing them to investigate the texture and color of the blocks.

The classroom does not have any electronics

Natural woods are used in many places around the classroom

The Montessori curriculum is set, hasn't incorporated a programming element

Initial sketches, prototypes & ideas

Survey Questions & Results

Material Prefrences

Final project photos [delete]

User Overview

• Two students
• Three to five years old
• Social, likes building

User Characteristics

Activity Attributes

• Low-medium supervision is required
• Pairings of older and younger students make it easier for the younger student to grasp the concept

Lesson Plan for Educators

Phase 1: exploration

Phase 2: introduce vocab & concepts

• The instructor places each set of blocks on either side of a table.

• The instructor picks up one of the square blocks

• Carefully examine the corners and texture

• Place it back down

• Repeat for every block type

• Set the blocks out on the table



• Allow children to hold and investigate the blocks

• The instructor picks up one of the square blocks

• Teach vocabulary about the primitive shape of the block held: "cube, square, box"

• Repeat for every block type with vocabulary such as "triangle, half-circle, rectangle, trapezoid"

• Teach vocabulary on positioning, "above, below, front, back, right, left"



• Portray each position by moving squares and triangles around.

Phase 4: student practice

Phase 3: instructor support

• Have two children sit across from each other, each with a set of blocks

• Let the children examine the blocks

• If you see a child building a structure, ask the other child to copy the structure.

• Otherwise, ask one of the children to build a structure

• Once the child has finished the structure, ask the other child to copy the structure

• When finished, return the game to the wall

• Show the children how to put it away

• Place the visual divider in the center of the table

• Sit two children opposite from each other on each side of the divider

• Instruct a child to construct a structure

• Have the other child build following the child's instructions

• When both are finished, allow them to look at each other's structures

• Make sure that the children switch roles before replaying

Video Demo (1-2 minutes)

Potential expansion

Some potential spaces for expansion would be the addition of a natural element, incorporation of curved blocks, and increase in the numbers of blocks.

Additional notes for Wildflower teacher:

• The children may have trouble finely manipulating the larger blocks
• The teacher should be prepared to emphasize the vocabulary
• The teacher should be aware of the various shapes of blocks