Using gamification to get kids to take fruit with them

in their school lunchboxes

FRUITthe game

More than one-third of the U.S. adults (35,7) and approximately 17% (or

12.5 million)of children and adolescents aged 2—

19 years are obese.Centers for Disease Control an d Prevention, 2012

1

Children’s diets improve outside the schoolhouse when their schools

adopt healthy nutrition policies and practices that emphasize whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Childhood Obesity, November 2013

2

Gamification is the concept of applying game-design thinking to

non-game applications to make them more fun and engaging

3Gabe Zichermann

Make it fun & engagingto always take fruit with you

In your school lunchbox

Challenge

FRUITthe game

gamified solution

• ‘FRUIT’ is a onging game• It is played in your class• Teacher is moderator / game master• Devide the class in teams of about 5

children• Each team chooses a name

• Teams can earn points and badges in a number of ways, depending on which kind of fruit they have with them in their lunchbox every day.

• Every day – just before lunch / fruit moment – the teacher will inventory what kind of fruit everyone brought with them.

• Points are granted to teams, depending on a number of factors.1

• Teams can gain status, access, power and stuff. 2

FRUITthe game

gamified solution

1 Suggestions for points (for teams)

• You get 1 point when you have a piece of fruit with you

• You get -1 point when you don’t, or have an unhealty alternative (like candy, cookies, etc).

You can get extra points if, for example:

• You are the only one in your class with a certain type of fruit

• Everyone in your team has green fruit• It’s your birthday and you have a treat with

fruit.

FRUITthe game

gamified solution

Surprise & Delight

The Teacher may give out points or badges for special occasions, or with extra games.

• Slot Machine: Put the names of all children on cards and put them in a bag. Pick 3 cards. These kids hold up their fruit. If they have 3x the same fruit, 3x the same color of fruit, or a specific combination, they can earn extra points. Continue picking 3 other cards.

• Lucky One: Pick one child / teacher. (For any special occasion). Anyone with the same kind of fruit gets an extra point.

FRUITthe game

gamified solution

2 Suggestions for rewards (for teams)

• Make a leader board, depicting the points and badges of every team

• Make up the balance every 2 weeks, and reward teams according to their score.The team with the highest score:- may carry the title ‘Fruit Kings’ for the coming two weeks (status)- may be the first to go outside to play during lunch break (access)- may ‘trade’ a team member with another team(power)- gets a free fruit basket / populair sort of fruit. (stuff)

FRUITthe game

gamified solution

Player TypesFruit –the game is most engaging for:

- AchieversThese kids will play for the rewards on any level(status, access, power, stuff)

- SocializersBecause you play in teams, peer pressure is high. Either you don’t want to fall out, or you will influence others to take (a specific kind of) fruit with them.The same effects will help children to convince their parents to provide them with fruit for lunch.

- ExplorersWill have the opportunity to discover different kinds of fruit

FRUITthe game