Session plan 3 of 8

Type matchups as rock-paper-scissors

Start with rock-paper-scissors, find the same loop in Fire, Grass and Water, and practise giving a reason with “because”.

30 minutes. Ages 7 to 11 (Years 3 to 6, Grades 2 to 5). Uses Type Clash.

Learning objective

Pupils describe a three-way loop of strengths and weaknesses, use it to predict a winner, and explain the prediction with “because”.

Curriculum links

England, KS1 and KS2

• KS2 English: spoken language, giving reasons and building an argument
• KS2 Maths: reasoning and explaining your thinking
• Computing: logical reasoning with rules (a loose link)

United States, broad grade bands

• Grades 2 to 5 speaking and listening: support a point with reasons
• Grades 3 to 5 mathematical practice: explain your reasoning

What you need

• A projector
• The Type Clash game
• Large paper and markers for each team
• Optional: the type chart printable

The plan, minute by minute

1. Warm-up, 5 minutes: Human rock-paper-scissors. Play a quick knockout. Then ask why paper beats rock, and why nobody can have a move that beats everything.
2. Main, 6 minutes: Draw the loop. Draw a triangle with Fire, Grass and Water at the corners. Fire attacks do double damage to Grass. Grass does double damage to Water. Water does double damage to Fire. Match the three starter Pokémon to the corners: Charmander is Fire, Bulbasaur is Grass (and Poison) and Squirtle is Water.
3. Main, 9 minutes: Type Clash, in teams. Show two Pokémon. Teams pick a winner and say “because” in one sentence. Press Reveal to see the matchup. Give the point for the best reason, not the loudest voice.
4. Main, 5 minutes: Make your own loop. Teams invent a loop of three things (for example scissors, paper and a glue stick, or three playground games) with a reason for each arrow.
5. Plenary, 5 minutes: Why no winner?. Look back at the board. The real chart has 18 types, not three. Ask why a game with a single best type would be boring.

Projector game

Type Clash. Use it for the main round. Ask for the reason before pressing Reveal.

More to use

• Type chart printable. A colour-coded chart for the wall or a desk.
• Lesson: Types 101. The eighteen types and what super effective means.
• Quiz pack: Types. Ten questions pupils can do on their own device.
• Type chart. The full chart, to look up any matchup.

Differentiation

Easier

Keep to the three-corner loop and use only Fire, Grass and Water. Provide the sentence starter: “Fire wins because it ___.”

Harder

Add Electric and Ground. Electric does double damage to Water, but Electric attacks do nothing to Ground, and Ground does double damage to Electric. Ask pupils to redraw the loop with four corners.

Talk about it

Is a game fairer when one thing beats everything, or when every strength has a weakness? What would you change in a game you play at break?

Numbers used in this plan

From the pokee.si Pokédex.

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