For all the nerdy teachers out there, I'm sure you just got really excited. For everyone else, I hope your interest is peaked.
Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is an elaborate tabletop role playing game that combines imagination with storytelling and makes players think on the fly while depending on dice rolls to determine their fate.
It's so much fun!
D&D is becoming much more mainstream. It's not that niche game people were playing in their basements in the 80s - I mean, it's the same game (although updated), it's just being played more and is more visible.
All that being said, did you know that D&D is the perfect subject for Project Based Learning? Let me explain.
General Skill Building
First, it's important to recognize that D&D helps people develop some skills that are incredibly useful in the workplace and look good on a resume (if worded correctly). TikTok user @startadventuring puts it beautifully. (Edited by me for clarity)
"Do I 'spend all my free time on Dnd' or do I devote volunteer hours to coordinating and executing a weekly event series that emphasizes emotional intelligence, collaborative storytelling, team-based problem solving, and strategic resource management..."
Some of those words probably stood out to you if you're a teacher: emotional intelligence, collaborative, team-based, problem solving... all of these are common words in education and skills we consider important for children to learn. And all of these things exist in a regular game of D&D.
Classroom Application
"That's great and all, Mrs. Flewellen, but that's not enough to justify using it in the classroom."
Well, allow me to ease your worries and lay out for you just how perfectly D&D works as a cross-content project based learning activity.
English Language Arts (ELA): a key component of D&D is storytelling. If you are running a game, you have to develop a compelling storyline that will engage your players and keep the adventure moving forward. This is a great opportunity to practice writing skills as well as understanding and applying various story elements. D&D campaigns have a plot, they have conflicts that require resolutions, they use imagery, etc. Additionally, all participants have to create characters which involves developing a background/backstory, understanding character motivations, and just providing general character description. Then there's the added bonus of working on speaking and listening skills as this is a role playing game - it requires students to speak to each other, and listen to each other in order to successfully navigate the adventure.
Math: another key component of D&D is the use of dice - a variety of dice with different amounts of sides from a 4 sided die to a 20 sided die. So, for your older students, this is a great opportunity to talk about probability and percentage (there are percentage die as well). Then there's just the basic math that comes with it, such as recognizing numbers and place value, and adding and subtracting numbers to determine outcomes. Additionally, using grid paper, students can create maps which provides the opportunity to discuss area and perimeter, scale, and even multiplication/division (e.x. each square equals 5 feet, your character can move a total of 30 feet, how many squares can your character move).
Social Studies: many D&D campaigns use a map to help players see the world their playing in. This is a great opportunity to explore land masses, terrain, topography, cardinal directions, and distance/scale. Additionally, campaigns can take place in a variety of areas, so students can deal with wilderness/desert regions or they can map out a city, village, or town. Have them map an island and incorporate understanding of shallows and ocean depth, peninsulas and bays. Then, there's all the different people and cultures that exist in D&D. The player guides provide a wealth of information on the races, species, and cultures that have been developed for the game, but players are welcome to create their own. There's even a whole section dealing with government, factions, and religion. The D&D guides are essentially a Social Studies anthology.
Science: because a D&D adventure can happen anywhere real or imagined, it's a great opportunity to talk about the flora and fauna of the area. Additionally, you can discuss ecosystems, develop food webs, and label maps with the various wildlife and plant life that may be present. In the game there are potions, so you can develop a lab around that concerning mixtures. You can address physics and the laws of motion with challenges that require moving large objects or navigating across difficult terrain and large gaps. If you use magic in the game, you can apply the scientific theory - if I cast this spell, what could happen?
The Arts: from world building to character creating and all the things in between, D&D is a world of artistic and creative opportunities. Players can draw their characters, utilizing knowledge of colors, anatomy, and composition. They can build/sculpt 3D models of maps, towns, towers, dungeons or even their own characters. They can make up songs or utilize instruments to create a certain atmosphere to the game, or just because their character is a bard who plays a lute. They can sew costumes and build props for their characters. They can develop a dance as part of a challenge or to entertain as part of the game. The possibilities are endless!
Technology: this is where you take all the above and use a computer to make it happen. From typing up their stories and characters to utilizing various programs for world creation, technology can easily be integrated into this activity. Students could use video editing software to create a short film reenacting a part of their adventure, for example.
This is just a small sampling of ideas for using D&D in the classroom. You can easily scale up or down based on grade level and ability of your students.
Where to Start?
If you're familiar with Dungeons & Dragons, or you play, you've probably already got everything you need to get going on this idea.
If not, or if you have the knowledge but still aren't sure how to get started, don't stress. Aside from the variety of D&D resources out there, I am working on a PBL resource specifically for this! I hope to have it completed before the fall so you can use it any time during the school year.
Either way, the easiest way to get started is to get familiar with the game. Because there is so much available online, you don't really need to buy anything. However, if you find yourself getting very excited and wanting more, I encourage you to purchase the following:
(The following are affiliate links, which means if you click and purchase from these links I make a small commission. You are under no obligation to purchase anything from these links, and all opinions on these products remain my own.)
The Most Important Thing
D&D is first and foremost an open world game. While the books above offer "rules", they also explicitly state that these rules are guidelines and not set in stone. They are a great way to help you get started, they build a great foundation, but in the end the game is yours to build and play as you wish.
And that's why it's perfect for the classroom.
