Ocean Tales Game Book - Ansonia Library

OceanTale s

A gI A N T setGame

i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e A n s o n i a l i b r a r y

Ocean tales

CO-DESIGNED BY GIANT KIDS AT THE ANSONIA LIBRARY

COPYRIGHT © 2024 THE GIANT ROOM

other GIANT participants

Featuring Peyton P., age 8, Jamison Daly, age 7, and

About this book

Something super weird (and oh, so wonderful!) is happening in this game book! Our characters and underwater dioramas (a.k.a. Setting Cards) are getting mixed and remixed to spark an epic storytelling game!

We are extremely honored to partner with Connecticut State Libraries and bring GIANT creative STEM experiences to the Connecticut community at the Ansonia Library. We planned an epic under-the-sea-themed family workshop with with Jen Shuart, the Children’s Librarian at Ansonia Library. We joined the Ansonia community at their library and dreamed about all things marine biology, ocean habitats, sea creatures, and sustainable fishing!

More than 25 participants joined, dreamed, created, and shared on that day. Here, we have “remixed” their creations into a one-ofa-kind game set inviting all kids (and adults) to invent the silliest, funniest, most interesting, and weirdest stories with an underwater theme!

I want to thank the librarians and staff from Ansonia Library for their partnership. Funding for this program was made possible by the Connecticut State Library and Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Let’s play!

Azi Jamalian Founder of The GIANT Room

Creation by Jamison Daly, age 7

Cooperative mode how to play

OceanTale

GAME RULES

Players

1 or more: Play with yourself or in a group

Ages 3+

Materials

Your deck of Ocean Tales

Optional: paper and markers

How to Play - Cooperative Mode

Gather your deck of Ocean Tales.

Separate the deck into Character Cards and Setting Cards. There are 22 Character Cards and 11 Setting Cards.

Shuffle each pile of cards.

Choose a random Character Card and a random Setting Card. Read each card and get to know your character.

Use your two cards to invent a story using the character and setting. Is the character from this underwater world? Are they traveling there? Did they get lost and don’t know how to get home? Or something else?

Share your story with others! Explain your character, the setting, backstory, the conflict, the decision your character makes, and how they solve it in the end.

Gather your deck of Ocean Tales. Separate the deck into Character Cards and Setting Cards and shuffle each pile.

Choose a random Character Card and a random Setting Card. Read each card and get to know your character.

Use your two cards to invent a story with your character and the setting.

Here’s a story example using the cards shown above...

In the depths of Pink Coral Perch lived Sir Blu-Ice, a serpent with a unique talent: the ability to suck in water and turn it into ice. He used this power to sculpt intricate ice creations that adorned the ocean floor.

One day, Sir Blu-Ice encountered a family of trapped sea turtles beneath a collapsed reef. Without hesitation, he froze the surrounding water, creating a pathway for the turtles to escape. They swam free, grateful for his heroism.

Word of Sir Blu-Ice's deed spread, and he became a revered figure in Pink Coral Perch. But for him, the true reward was knowing he had helped his fellow sea creatures and preserved the beauty of their home. And so, Sir Blu-Ice continued to use his powers for good, a symbol of hope and kindness in the vibrant underwater world.

Rules - Cooperative Mode

Your imagination is the boss! Make your story as funny, weird, crazy, or serious as you want.

Use the character in your story. Incorporate their special powers and unique sea treasures!

Use the setting in your story. Give an introduction and backstory on how your character got to this place. Is this their home? Were they trying to help someone? Were they escaping from a villain? Were they on a long, arduous journey and stumbled upon this place? Or something else?

Everyone's a winner in this game. It's all about telling an incredible story.

Ways to Take It Further

Time Challenge: Set a timer and see if you can finish your story in a certain amount of time.

Draw It: Bring your story to life by drawing it as a comic, picture book, graphic novel, or storyboard! Grab some paper and pen to bring it to life. Give your story a title and a cover page.

Make It A Series: After telling your first story, choose another Setting Card to bring your character on another adventure.

Random Element: Add a random item or location to your story. Choose a second Character Card, and find a way to include it in your adventure.

how to play

Competitive mode

OceanTale s

Game rules this way

GAME RULES

Players

3 or more

Ages 3+

Materials

Your deck of Ocean Tales

Optional: paper and markers

How to Play - Competitive Mode

Gather your deck of Ocean Tales.

Separate the deck into Character Cards and Setting Cards. There are 22 Character Cards and 11 Setting Cards.

Each round, one player takes the role of Story Genie.

The Story Genie chooses a Character Card and a Setting Card. They may look at the cards or choose them at random.

The other players must come up with a story based on the selected cards, including both the character and the setting.

The Story Genie decides who told the best story. The player who is chosen collects both cards.

The player to the right of the Story Genie becomes the Genie for the next round. The player who collects the most cards wins!

Gather your deck of Ocean Tales. Separate the deck into Character Cards and Setting Cards.

Each round, one player takes the role of Story Genie. The Story Genie chooses a Character Card and a Setting Card. They may look at the cards or choose them at random.

The other players must come up with a story based on the selected cards, including both the character and the setting.

The Story Genie decides who told the best story. The player who is chosen collects both cards.

The player to the right of the Story Genie becomes the Genie for the next round. The player who collects the most cards wins!

OceanTale s

Rules - Competitive Mode

The Story Genie is the round’s moderator. What they say goes! The Story Genie changes each round. Each player should be Story Genie at least one time.

Use the character in your story. Incorporate their special powers and unique sea treasures!

Use the setting in your story. Give an introduction and backstory on how your character got to this place. Is this their home? Were they trying to help someone? Were they escaping from a villain? Were they on a long, arduous journey and stumbled upon this place? Or something else?

Play as many rounds as you’d like.

The person with the most cards at the end wins!

Ways to Take It Further

Time Challenge: Set a timer. Each player must tell their story within a certain amount of time.

Draw It: Bring your story to life by drawing it as a comic, picture book, graphic novel, or storyboard! Grab some paper and pen to bring it to life. The Story Genie can choose their favorite based on the artwork and storytelling.

Random Element: Allow the Story Genie to add a random item, location, or additional character to your story.

Make It Thematic: Allow the Story Genie to ask for a story theme. Make it scary, funny, dark, happy ending, sad ending, or something else.

Ocea n Tale s Cha r acter cards

The character’s name

AI-generated avatar based on the project

The character’s sea treasures The original project

The character’s special powers

The character’s power rating

Ocean Tales

Ocean Tales

Ocean Tales

Ocea n Tale s

Set t i ng cards

AI-generated avatar based on the project

The setting’s name

The original project

Ocean Tales

Ocean Tales

Ocean Tales

A GIANT THANK YOU TO THE KIDS, FAMILIES, AND GIANT TEAM MEMBERS WHO MADE THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBLE.

Book Concept and Planning

Azadeh Jamalian, PhD (The GIANT Room)

Rebecca Schifilliti (The GIANT Room)

Maru Segovia (The GIANT Room)

Maya Hood-Wilson (The GIANT Room)

Book Design and Development

Azadeh Jamalian, PhD (The GIANT Room)

Rebecca Schifilliti (The GIANT Room)

Maru Segovia (The GIANT Room)

Event Preparation

Azadeh Jamalian, PhD (The GIANT Room)

Rebecca Schifilliti (The GIANT Room)

Maru Segovia (The GIANT Room)

Jen Shuart (Ansonia Library)

Event Instructors & Hosts

Maru Segovia (The GIANT Room)

Jen Shuart (Ansonia Library)

GIANT Kid Collaborators

Photography

Peyton P. (age 8), Quinn, Owen, Summer, Alexa, Leonardo C-C (age 6), Dessanie, Mia, Andres, Amber, Jefferson, Rachel, Justin, Jamison Daly (age 7), Elena, Dimleri, and Giana

Event mentors from The GIANT Room & the Ansonia Library

about the giant room

The GIANT Room is a creative STEM organization for kids with GIANT dreams who dare to act on them. We help kids use STEM as a tool for creative expression and collaboration.

The GIANT Room offers after-school programs, camps, family events, specialized co-design workshops with industry designers, and an online creative boot camp membership. Kids may join our programs online, in person at our studio, or off-site at one of our partner locations in museums and schools.

Founded by two women with PhDs in education and backgrounds in science and engineering, we dream of a world where every child has the confidence to voice their ideas, has access to mentors and resources they need to build prototypes of their ideas, and the opportunity to share those ideas with their community... just like the GIANT kids who dared to dream up characters and contributed to this unique game set to be shared with millions of families around the world.

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