Social Media Card Game
I-Think’s bilingual card game shows that complex contemporary issues can be taught through play-based, collaborative problem-solving. This scalable resource ensures that every student has access to impactful skill building.
“Can I have one to take home and play again?”
— Student
“Many students who are often quiet during collaborative learning, were engaged, participating and invested. I can easily build on the learning and momentum from this game in my teaching. I didn’t know my students knew this much about social media.”
- Teacher, grade 5
We created this game because of constraints. To meet 2024’s PPM 128, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board wanted an Integrative Thinking-inspired resource that could scale to every grade 7 and 8 classroom, without any teacher PD. We had always wanted to make an I-Think game, and this was an incredible opportunity to do so. Creativity thrives under constraints! We thank the WCDSB for choosing to work with us. Their rigour, creativity, and enthusiasm for innovative approaches made them remarkable partners.
I-Think Different About Social Media
Think Different. Play Different.
I-Think Different About Social Media is focused on engaging students in problem solving about social media use. To play, each player starts with a real scenario: a Grade 5, 8 or 12 student facing a challenge with social media, and inviting the class to solve it together. Students use cards with content knowledge about the issue and informed viewpoints from different perspectives to identify big ideas that lead to novel solutions. Small groups pitch their solutions to an audience who choose a winner based on empathy, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration.
Every game-play is different and sparks meaningful conversations.
Pick Up, Play, and Spark Big Ideas.
Teachers and families need ready-to-use ways to dive into the issues young people care about most. I-Think Different, is a pick-up-and-play game for Grades 5–10 that sparks creativity, builds connections, and turns real-world challenges into active learning. Without chances like this, students tune out. With play on their side, they engage, imagine, and find hope through action.
Download Print-Ready
Files and Play
To print the files properly, print pages double-sided and cut along dashed lines. This resource includes the following:
Cards
Game mat
DM Cards: 3 scenarios describing a Grade 5, 8, or 12 student facing a challenge with social media that the students will need to solve together.
Instruction Cards: A reference card that contains a summary of the game’s rules.
The game is meant to be played in groups of 4-8 students. Print a copy of the files for each group.
This project was generously funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation
Why Play?
5 reasons for playing I-Think Different About
1. Skill building can be fun.
By playing, students develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities that extend far beyond the classroom. These transferable skills serve them beyond the classroom and prepare them to think differently about real-world problems throughout their lives.
2. Seamless implementation makes everyone happy.
This fun, accessible game eliminates implementation barriers by requiring zero training or preparation time. Educators and students can pick it up and start playing immediately, making meaningful learning experiences instantly available in any classroom setting. (Though you should read the instructions before playing with students!)
3. Play is good for well-being.
Studies reveal a growing mental health crisis among young people, with rising rates of hopelessness and anxiety directly linked to feelings of powerlessness to create change. I-Think Different directly addresses this crisis by helping students discover their agency and capacity to make meaningful impact, transforming passive learning into empowering action that restores hope and engagement.
4. Playing is good for learning.
Play-based learning activates the brain's natural reward systems, promoting creativity while building schemas. Playing transforms how students process and retain knowledge, making complex learning more accessible and memorable.
5. It works!
Built in partnership with the Waterloo Catholic DSB as a response to PPM 128, the Social Media Game is now in every Grade 7 and 8 classroom.
Interested in creating your own?
If your organization would like to create its own version of this resource, or you'd like to share how it's helped you, we'd love to hear from you.