Heroes
A GIANT GAME SET
Hall OF The Waterford Heroes
COPYRIGHT © 2025 THE GIANT ROOM
INTRODUCTION
Something super weird (and oh, so wonderful!) is happening in this game book! Our superheroes are getting mixed and remixed into a deck of collectible trading cards that you can play all sorts of games with!
We are extremely honored to partner with Connecticut State Libraries and bring GIANT creative STEM experiences to the Connecticut community at the Waterford Public Library We implemented a Remix Station with the Waterford team, Christine Johnson and Jenna Bivona
More than 50 participants joined, dreamed, created, and shared. Here, we have “remixed” their creations into a one-of-a-kind game set inviting all kids (and adults) to collect the trading cards and get slapping, improvising, drawing, storytelling, fishing, and searching!
I want to thank the librarians and staff from Waterford Public 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
HEROES MEET
The hero’s 1st place award
AI-generated avatar based on original artwork
Original artwork by a GIANT participant
GREEN GREEN GREEN
COLLECTIBLES OLLECTIBLES
CCOLLECTIBLES
1ST PLACE AWARD For breathing fire
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For cooking healthy meals
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being a gymnast
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For roasting marshmallows
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For saving the day
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For making quakes
1ST PLACE AWARD For punching and kicking
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For laying eggs
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For flying
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For attacking with fire
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For being the best bug
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For keeping people safe and sound
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For controlling water and talking to aquatic animals
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being the best flyer alive
Author’s signature
Purple Purple Purple
CCOLLECTIBLES COLLECTIBLES OLLECTIBLES
1ST PLACE AWARD
For saving people and her bravery
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For shooting diamonds
re
1ST PLACE AWARD
For saving people
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being the best adventurers
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being able to swoon anyone
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For singing
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For being fast
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For destroying Tokyo
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For spreading the power of love
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For making rainbows
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being a great friend
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being the best at math
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For controlling the snow
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For scribbling
Author’s signature
Red Red Red
CCOLLECTIBLES COLLECTIBLES OLLECTIBLES
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being very fast
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being the best at making me happy
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being a pizza
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For creating animals in the underworld
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For flying through obstacle courses
Author’s signature
ST PLACE AWARD
For running
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For stalking bad guys and flying
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being a good friend
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For singing
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For weight lifting
ture
1ST PLACE AWARD For spreading flower power
Author’s signature
Blue Blue Blue
CCOLLECTIBLES COLLECTIBLES OLLECTIBLES
1ST PLACE AWARD For flying and painting
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For controlling the waves
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being kind and brave
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For giving anyone compliments
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For shooting fireballs
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being the bravest Dracken
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For using her water powers for good
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For running
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For making everything sparkle
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For hammering
1ST PLACE AWARD For creating magic
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being a great pet dragon
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD
For being indestructible
Author’s signature
1ST PLACE AWARD For doing anything
Author’s signature
TELL EPIC STORIES ABOUT YOUR HEROES
GO HERO FISHING
WHO’S THAT HERO?
STORYTELLING TELEPHONE
SEARCH & FIND: MAGICAL LAND
HERO SLAP
WOULD YOU RATHER...?
SEARCH & FIND: THE GREAT BIG CITY
DOODLE CHALLENGE
HERO-HUNT QUEST CHARADES
COLOR
TELL EPIC ORIGIN STORIES ABOUT YOUR HEROES
1+ PLAYERS MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
Divide and shuffle your deck:
Draw two cards:
Separate your Hero trading cards by color to create 4 different piles. Shuffle each one. Pick 2 different colored cards from the piles. Keep them secret for now – it's a surprise!
Dream up an origin story:
Imagine the origin story for both of the two Heroes you chose. How does each of them earn their 1st Place Award? What challenges will they face? Will they solve problems together? Or fight against each other in a battle?
Share your story:
Share your story with friends and family.
Explain your characters, the exciting journey, and how you came up with your story. You can even draw it as a comic book!
RULES
Your imagination is the boss! Make your story as funny, weird, crazy, or serious as you want.
Use both characters in your story. Incorporate their unique powers and personalities!
Everyone's a winner in this game. It's all about telling an incredible story.
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Set a timer and see if you can finish your story in a certain amount of time. Quick thinking, quick storytelling!
Trade your finished comic with a friend. Can they continue your story or add a surprising twist?
Time Challenge: Swap Stories: Random Element:
Add a random item or location to your story. Or draw a third card, and find a way to include it in your adventure.
GOHERO
FISHING
HOW TO PLAY
2+ PLAYERS MATERIALS
Shuffle and deal:
Shuffle the deck and deal 5 cards to each player. If there are only 2-3 players, deal 7 cards each. Place the rest of the cards face-down in a pile (this is the “Go-Fish” pile).
Set your goal:
The goal is to collect sets of 4 cards of the same color (blue, red, green, or purple).
Ask and go-fish:
On your turn, ask another player for a Hero trading card in a specific color. For example: “Do you have any red Heroes?”
If the player has one or more red Heroes, they must give them to you.
If they don’t have any red Heroes, they say, “Go fish!” and you draw a card from the pile.
If you draw the color you asked for, you get another turn. If not, it’s the next player’s turn.
Complete a set:
When you collect all 4 hero cards of the same color, lay them down in front of you
Keep playing and win:
The player with the most sets of Heroes at the end wins the game and earns the title of Hall of Heroes Champion!
If the Go-Fish pile runs out, continue playing with the cards in your hand until all sets are completed.
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Super Sets:
Instead of collecting sets of 4 cards of the same color, try collecting sets of 4 cards featuring Heroes with similar traits (e g Heroes that can fly, Heroes that are part unicorn)
Set a timer for each player’s turn (30 seconds or less) to keep the game fast-paced and exciting.
Timed Rounds: Guess the Hero’s Power:
Before asking for a card, name a special power you think the Hero on the card might have. If you guess right, you get an extra turn!
Pick your character card:
HO'S HERO?
MATERIALS
Each player secretly selects a Hero without showing the other This is your secret character
Set up your game board:
Draw a simple table on a sheet of paper to keep track of your guesses. Use pages 4 to 23 to search for characters that it might be.
Take turns asking each other yes/no questions about the Hero characters. For example, "Does your Hero have wings?" “Is your Hero pink?”
Ask yes or no questions: Eliminate characters:
from your list un
RULES
Be honest with your answers – no tricky business!
Only ask questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no."
Keep track of your guesses on the game board. It's your roadmap to victory!
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Speed Round:
Set a timer for each turn. Quick thinking is the key!
Limited Questions:
Restrict the number of questions each player can ask to add an extra challenge.
Silent Round:
Try playing without talking – use only facial expressions and gestures to communicate your guesses.
STORYTELLING TELEPHONE
3+ PLAYERS
HOW TO PLAY MATERIALS
Randomly choose a card:
Draw a picture of that sentence:
Choose a card. Each player writes a line of a story on their paper about their Hero. The stories can all be different. Pass the paper with the written story line to the next player They have to draw a picture of that sentence. Fold the sentence and only expose the picture.
Write an explanation of that drawing:
Pass it to the next player. They must write a sentence to explain what the picture is showing Fold the drawing and only expose the sentence.
Check if the last sentence is the same as the drawing:
Keep going until each paper is full Unfold your paper and see where your drawing and stories went! Is the last sentence super different than the original?
Each player writes a story line about the Hero.
Each player draws a picture to represent the sentence
Each player passes their folded paper to the player next to them.
Each player folds the paper so that only the sentence is visible.
Each player passes their paper to the player next to them.
Each player folds the paper so that only the drawing is visible.
Each player writes a sentence to represent the picture.
Repeat this process until the entire page is filled!
RULES
Your story line has to include the Hero, but remember, the more complicated you make your sentence, the harder it will be to draw! (This is a good thing! It will make the game of telephone more challenging and wacky.)
No peeking! Keep the drawings and sentences hidden until the end for maximum surprise.
Don't worry about perfection – the sillier, the better! In fact, the worse the drawing is, the more difficult it is to match the original story line…
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Time Pressure:
Set a timer for each turn to add an element of excitement.
Word Limit:
Restrict the number of words or lines each player can use, challenging them to convey their ideas concisely.
Choose a specific theme or genre for the story to follow, such as fantasy, sci-fi, or comedy.
Theme Variation: Multiple Characters:
Have each player choose their own Hero. Once the round is over, try to match the last story line or drawing of each paper to the Hero.
EXAMPLE GAME
Ruby, the scary dragon, traveled to the forest to hunt for something to eat She was hungry!
Draw a card for the game. 1
Esther the Dragon and Toby the Raccoon were best friends and liked chasing bunnies around.
2
Write a descriptive story line.
The cute bunnies take the raccoon and the dragon to their secret hideout in the snowy forest.
3
Fold the paper after completing your writing or drawing.
SEARCH & FIND I
MAGICAL LAND
1+ PLAYERS HOW TO PLAY
Our Heroes have gone on an adventure to a flower garden, but they got a little lost. We need YOUR help finding them! Can you help us search for these Heroes?
HIDDEN HEROES
HERO SLAP HERO SLAP HERO SLAP
2+ PLAYERS MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
Review the jacks:
Before you start, study the four Hero trading cards on the next page. These will be the special "jacks" in the game that you'll be slapping for!
Deal the deck:
Shuffle the cards and deal them evenly among the players. Keep your cards facedown – no peeking!
Start slapping:
The first player flips over the top card from their deck, placing it face-up in the center. Everyone keeps an eye out for the special Hero "jacks."
When one of the four special "jack" Hero cards is played, be the first to slap it! The quickest slapper gets to collect all the cards in the center.
Slap it: Continue playing:
Take turns flipping over cards and slapping when a "jack" appears. The player who collects all the cards in the deck wins!
HEROSLAPHEROSLAPHEROSLAPHEROSLAPHEROSLAP
OnlyslapforthespecialHero"jacks"–don'tget tootrigger-happy!
Watchoutforfalseslaps!Ifyouslapanon-"jack"card, youhavetoaddanadditionalcardtothecenterpile. Keepthegamefriendlyandfun–nooverly aggressiveslapping!
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Change Up the Jacks:
Decide on a different group of four Heroes to be the “jacks.”
WOULD YOU WOULD YOU RATHER…? RATHER…?
2+ PLAYERS
MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
Draw a random Hero from the deck. This character will be the inspiration for your dilemma.
Pick a card: Create your question:
Think of a funny, gross, serious, rhyming or thoughtful "Would you rather…" question inspired by the traits or abilities of the chosen Hero. Write it down or draw it on your paper.
Each player takes turns presenting their Hero dilemma to the group Get ready for some laughs and thoughtful pondering!
Share your question: Make your choice:
After hearing the dilemma, each player must make a choice – which option would they rather pick? There are no right or wrong answers, just lots of fun discussions!
WOULD YOU RATHER... RULES
Ask questions that make you think and feel, rhyme, spark a debate, make you go YUCK, or make you laugh!
Respect everyone's choices – there's no winning or losing in this game, just great conversation.
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Speed Round:
Set a timer for each player to come up with their dilemma. Quick thinking makes for some hilarious scenarios!
Roleplay Edition:
Act out your chosen "Would You Rather" scenarios for an added layer of entertainment.
Theme Variation:
Choose a specific theme or category for the dilemmas, such as superpowers, travel, or food preferences.
SendTheGIANTRoomyourquestions,andwe’ll publishtheminourGIANTGameSetof“Wouldyou rather ”questions!ScantheQRcodetolearnmore
SEARCH & FIND II
THE GREAT BIG CITY
1+ PLAYERS HOW TO PLAY
Our Heroes have gone on an adventure to an intergalactic library, but they got a little g them! H ?
DOODLE DOODLE ALLENGE ALLENGE
MATERIALS
aw a random Hero trading p a secret – this is the character you'll be sketching.
Start drawing with a twist:
You must draw your character, BUT you have to do it with your eyes closed!
Guess the Hero:
Show your sketch to the other players. They must guess which Hero you picked based on your drawing.
Reveal the mystery card:
Once the guess is made, reveal the actual Hero card to see how close (or hilariously off) the guess was. Prepare for laughs and surprises!
Embrace imperfections your drawing should look very weird and funny! The more creative and unexpected, the better.
Have a good laugh, and don't take the game too seriously. It's all about the joy of creating and guessing.
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Time Challenge:
Set a timer for the sketching round, making it a quick and exciting challenge
Guessing Points:
Award points for accurate guesses
The more challenging the sketch, the higher the points!
Team Edition:
Play in pairs. One player sketches with their closed eyes, and the other guesses.
HHERO-HUNT ERO-HUNT QQUEST UEST
You'll embark on a scavenger hunt to uncover the hidden location of a prized Hero The catch? The location is concealed behind a coded message written by the other player that you and your fellow treasure hunters must decipher. Channel your inner cryptographer, and let the quest begin!
2+ PLAYERS MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
Each player chooses one Hero trading card and hides it in a secret location without the other players seeing.
Select the hidden card: Create the coded message:
Each player must create one or more coded messages leading their opponent closer and closer to the card’s hidden location. Use symbols, ciphers, or any cryptic method to create your clues
Players exchange their coded messages, and the quest begins! Each player must decode the messages to unveil the location of the hidden card.
Start the hunt: Claim your prize:
The first player to decode all the messages, reach the hidden location, and discover the hidden card, claims the coveted Hero as their reward!
R U L E S
Keep your coded messages challenging but decipherable – the quest should be an adventure, not an impossible puzzle!
No sharing of decoded messages Each player must try to decode the message themselves, but can be given hints upon request.
Stay within the agreed-upon area for the scavenger hunt to keep it fair.
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Time Pressure:
Set a time limit for each decoding session to add an extra layer of excitement.
NEED SOME INSPIRATION OR IDEAS FOR CREATING YOUR CODED MESSAGES? SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH A CREATIVE PROMPT VIDEO ABOUT CRYPTOGRAPHY!
Form teams and collaborate on the codebreaking adventure. Combine your skills to decipher the messages.
Team Hero-Hunt Quest: Hidden Challenges:
Incorporate a series of coded messages that bring your opponent on an entire scavenger hunt! Include small challenges or puzzles at each location, making the journey even more engaging.
CHARADES
3+ PLAYERS MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
Shuffle your deck and draw a Hero without revealing it to others This will be the character you'll be acting out.
Shuffle and draw: Set the timer:
Decide on a time limit for each charades round. For example, 1-2 minutes works well, depending on your group's preferences.
Act it out:
With the card in hand, start acting out the Hero's traits, abilities, or any distinct features without speaking. Use gestures, movements, and expressions to convey the essence of the character.
Guess the Hero:
Your friends have the challenge of guessing which Hero you're portraying. The first person to correctly guess becomes the next charades star!
RULES
No verbal clues – strictly acting!
If no one guesses correctly in the allotted time, you have to sit out of the next round.
When a person guesses the Hero correctly, they become the next charades star
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Speed Rounds:
Reduce the time limit for each charades round, adding an extra level of excitement.
Action
Challenges:
Act out a specific action that the Hero is doing. Players then must guess both the Hero and the action.
Team Charades:
Divide players into teams Each team takes turns acting and guessing, tallying their points as they go.
HERO
STORY IMPROV
3+ PLAYERS
HOW TO PLAY
Pick a card:
MATERIALS
Pick a random Hero from the deck and dream of its story. Is it from a magical land, an underwater cave, another planet, a volcano, or something else? Share an intro to its story in one sentence.
Continue the story:
The next player draws another Hero from the deck. This player also dreams up this Hero’s story, but it must connect to the previous one.
Memorize it:
The following player draws another Hero from the deck, dreams of its story and must include all previous stories. After a few rounds, the game will become more challenging since you’ll have to memorize all of the stories that came before you!
RULES
The first player to forget or mess up a previous Hero’s story loses and is out of the game. The last player left standing wins.
Improvise and build upon the stories that other players have shared about their Heroes.
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Set a time limit for each player to create and share their story.
Limited Time: Trait Challenges:
Add a rule that each new card's origin must include a specific element from the trading cards, such as their favorite things, special powers, or their 1st place award
EXAMPLE GAME
Player 1: Mechatron owns a yummy burger shop on from Planet Broogy.
Player 2: Maggie, from Rainbow City on Planet Broogy, goes to the sea to play with mermaids and she brings them burgers.
Player 3: Super Woman roams around Planet Broogy helping everyone using her invisibility. She goes to the sea to find fish for the citizens of Planet Broogy.
Player 4: Fire Ball, who lives in the desert on Planet Broochy, uses its fire powers to cook the fish that Super Woman collects so that Mechatron can put them in burgers.
EGYPTIAN EGYPTIAN AT SCREW AT SCREW
HOW TO PLAY
Review the slap triggers:
2+ PLAYERS MATERIALS
In a standard game of Egyptian Rat Screw, there are many rules about which cards can be slapped and when. In this Hero edition of the game, we ’ ve created new slapping triggers based on the cards in the deck. Before you start, study the triggers on page 54.
Deal the deck:
Shuffle the Hero trading cards and deal them evenly among the players Keep your cards face-down –no peeking!
Play your cards:
Players take turns playing one card at a time in the center. Once a trigger card is played, the first player to slap the pile gets to collect all the cards in the center. Be quick, but watch out for false slaps! The first player to collect all the cards in the deck wins.
RULES
Only slap on designated trigger cards
If you slap a non-trigger card, you have to add an additional card to the center pile
If you run out of cards, you are still in the game! You can continue to slap and win the cards in the center pile
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Change Up the Triggers:
Invent your own rules on which cards can be slapped and when!
EGYPTIAN RAT SCREW SLAP TRIGGERS
4 OF THE SAME
COLOR
Slap when...four cards in a row are the same color.
COLOR RUN OF 4
Slap when...four cards in a row are each a different color without any repeats in any color order.
DOUBLES
Slap when...two Heroes of the same “species” are thrown in a row. This can include: two cats, two dogs, two robots, two dinosaurs, etc.
Unicorn doubles
COLOR SANDWICH
Dragon doubles
Slap when two Heroes of the same color are thrown with one card separating them. For example, purple, blue, and then another purple These Heroes create a sandwich, and you have to slap!
Purple
Red Purple
COLOR BLITZ COLOR BLITZ
2+ PLAYERS MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
Shuffle and deal:
Shuffle your deck and deal 5 cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face-down to create a draw pile. Flip the top card from the pile face-up to start the discard pile.
Set your goal: Take your turn:
Your goal is to collect exactly one card of each color (blue, red, green, and purple) in your hand.
Onyourturn,choosetoeither:
a)Drawthetopcardfromthedrawpile OR b)Takethetop
Afterdrawing, handtothedis
Check for a blitz
At the end of your turn, if you have one card of each color in your hand, shout “Color Blitz!” and win the game!
RULES
You must have exactly one card of each color in your hand to win— no duplicates allowed!
Once you discard a card, you can’t take it back. Choose wisely!
Pay attention to the cards other players discard—they might reveal what they’re collecting.
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
Rainbow Order:
Collect the colors in a specific order, like blue, green, red, then purple.
Hidden Hands:
Timed Blitz:
Set a timer for each player’s turn to keep the game moving quickly. Keep your cards hidden, so other players can’t guess what colors you still need.
DESIGN YOUR OWN GAMES AND ADD THEM TO THIS BOOK!
What games would YOU like to invent with your Hero trading cards? Write down the rules of your game and play test with friends and family.
GAME #1
# OF PLAYERS MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
RULES
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
# OF PLAYERS MATERIALS
HOW TO PLAY
RULES
WAYS TO TAKE IT FURTHER
A GIANT THANK YOU TO THE KIDS, FAMILIES, AND GIANT TEAM MEMBERS
WHO MADE THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBL
Game Concept & Planning
Design & Development
Azadeh Jamalian, PhD (The GIANT Room)
Christine Johnson (Waterford Public Library)
Jenna Bivona (Waterford Public Library)
Rebecca Schifilliti (The GIANT Room)
Rama Deshpande (The GIANT Room)
Rama Deshpande (The GIANT Room)
Rebecca Schifilliti (The GIANT Room)
Bridget Wainaina (The GIANT Room)
Paulina Quezada M. (The GIANT Room)
Camila Soto (The GIANT Room)
e GIANT Room)
ddy, Aj, Alexander, Alora, , Cambrie Marshall, Cammie, all, Dahlia, Declan, Donny, alima, Eloise, Franklin, Grace , Isaac Baker, Isla, Ivella, Izzy , Jamison Simonds, Katelyn
A B O U T The GIANT Room
The GIANT Room is a creative co-design lab that provides opportunities for children, families, and educators to collaborate with designers, policymakers, scientists, artists, and engineers.
In addition, on our GIANT Remix platform, we provide opportunities for children to co-design and co-publish books and games they can read and play with their friends and family
NEXT UP: BECOME A MEMBER
GIANT Membership is FREE. No credit card required.
As a GIANT member, you will:
have access to 500+ creative STEM challenges and how-to videos
get first dibs on open calls for upcoming remixes
be in the know about all of the latest GIANT programs
MORE GIANT REMIXES
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