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The Rise of Roblox/5 Ways to Stay Connected

Discover a thrilling online world that has helped Americans through a tough time. 

From the February 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will synthesize information from  a nonfiction article about an online video game platform and an infographic  that highlights different ways to stay connected with friends and family members.

Lexiles: 500L-600L, 600L-700L
Guided Reading Level: O
DRA Level: 34

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Think and Read: Connecting Texts

As you read, think about the topics of both texts and how they are connected.

The Rise of Roblox

Discover a thrilling online world that has helped Americans through a tough time

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Robby Scianna’s 10th birthday party seemed like any other birthday. He played a game with his friends. They sang “Happy Birthday” to him. But one thing was very different—this birthday party was online.

Robby and his dad hosted his birthday party on Roblox, an online gaming platform. Robby had planned to have his birthday party in person. But then Covid-19 began spreading across the U.S. Millions of Americans, like Robby and his family, were told to stay home. So Robby had a Roblox party.

“It wasn’t as fun as a normal birthday party, but it was fun,” Robby says.

Robby Scianna’s 10th birthday party seemed like any other birthday. He played a game with his friends. They sang “Happy Birthday” to him. But one thing was very different. This birthday party was online.

Robby and his dad had his birthday party on Roblox. That’s an online gaming platform. Robby had planned to have his birthday party in person. But then Covid-19 spread across the U.S. Millions of Americans, like Robby and his family, were told to stay home. So Robby had a Roblox party.

“It wasn’t as fun as a normal birthday party, but it was fun,” Robby says. 

Millions of Players

Millions of Players

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Roblox was created in 2004. Today the site is a worldwide hit. Packed with more than 40 million games, Roblox has something for everyone. You can whip up tasty pizzas or find a furry pet to love. And if you can’t find a game you like, you can build your own!

Last February, Roblox had about 115 million players. By March, the number had grown to 150 million!

That isn’t surprising. Think about what was happening last spring. We couldn’t go to school. We couldn’t go see a movie. To pass the time, millions played games on Roblox.

Roblox started in 2004. Today the site is popular all over the world. Roblox has more than 40 million games. There is something for everyone. You can make pizzas or find a pet. What if you can’t find a game you like? You can build your own!

Last February, Roblox had about 115 million players. By March, the number had grown to 150 million!

That isn’t surprising. Think about what was happening last spring. We couldn’t go to school. We couldn’t go see a movie. So millions of people played games on Roblox

The Power of Play

The Power of Play

Experts say that games of all kinds can help us relax. They can also bring people together, especially if we can’t see each other in person.

Roblox did that for many people last spring. Players could visit a theme park, go to school, or simply hang out in a room together—things that were off-limits at the time because of Covid-19.

Many video games also let players add friends and chat as they play. This lets people collaborate on different projects or games. “It’s easier to play with your friends than most games,” Robby says.

Experts say that games can help us relax. They can also bring people together. That’s important if we can’t see each other in person.

Roblox brought many people together last spring. On Roblox, players can do a lot of things. They can visit a theme park, go to school, or hang out in a room together. In real life, those things weren’t allowed because of Covid-19.

Many video games also let players add friends to play with. The friends can chat with each other. This lets them collaborate on different projects or games. “It’s easier to play with your friends than most games,” Robby says. 

Staying Connected

Staying Connected

Experts say that games, like those found on Roblox, shouldn’t be the only way you get through a tough time. And of course, spending too much time on video games isn’t a good idea. After all, there are other ways to stay connected.

But when played safely and in moderation, games can bring people together. And as Robby found, just hearing his friends’ voices made his birthday special. 

Experts say that games shouldn’t be the only way you get through a tough time. And spending too much time playing video games isn’t a good idea. After all, there are other ways to stay connected.

But when played safely and in moderation, games can bring people together. Plus, Robby found that just hearing his friends’ voices made his birthday feel special.  

5 Ways to Stay Connected 

Sometimes we can’t see our friends or family as often as we’d like. These tips can help you stay in touch, even if you can’t be together in person.

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1. Start a Book Club

Brainstorm book ideas with friends and family. Then vote on your favorite and get reading! You can meet over video chat to discuss your favorite parts and characters.

1. Start a Book Club

Think of book ideas with friends and family. Then vote on your favorite. Now, start reading! You can meet in a video chat to discuss your favorite parts and characters. 

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2. Write a Letter

Show someone you care the old-fashioned way—by sending mail! You can write a letter, draw a picture, or even create your own postcard.

2. Write a Letter

Show someone you care the old-fashioned way by sending mail! You can write a letter, draw a picture, or even create your own postcard. 

3. Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Make a list of interesting items around your home or neighborhood. Have your friends or family do the same. Then combine your lists and start searching!

3. Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Make a list of interesting items around your home or neighborhood. Have your friends or family do the same. Combine your lists. Now, start searching! 

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4. Hold a Dance Party

Dancing is a great way to unwind and have fun. Have friends or family share their favorite songs and create a playlist. Then start a video chat and dance the day away!

4. Hold a Dance Party

Dancing is a great way to unwind and have fun. Have friends or family share their favorite songs. Create a playlist. Then start a video chat and dance the day away! 

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5. Drop Off a Surprise

Surprises come in all shapes and sizes: freshly baked cookies, a homemade art piece, a poem, and more! Create a surprise for someone you know. Have a parent or guardian help you drop it off or send it in the mail.

5. Drop Off a Surprise

Surprises come in all shapes and sizes: freshly baked cookies, homemade art, a poem, and more! Create a surprise for someone you know. Have a parent or guardian help you drop it off or send it in the mail. 

THINK AND WRITE

How can people stay connected? Answer in a well-organized paragraph. Make sure to include ideas from both texts. Think of at least one example from your own life to include.

THINK AND WRITE

How can people stay connected? Answer in a well-organized paragraph. Make sure to include ideas from both texts. Think of at least one example from your own life to include.

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Save the Children offers six simple and creative relaxation activities you can do with your students. 

Write Letters

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More About the Article

Content-Area Connections

Social-Emotional Learning: self-management (stress-management, self-discipline and self-motivation); social awareness (concern for others); relationship skills (positive relationships)

Key Skills

synthesizing, text features, vocabulary, main idea, cause and effect, author’s craft, inference, drawing conclusions, key details, summarizing, sequencing, text to self, expressing an opinion, explanatory writing

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

1. PREPARING TO READ

Set a Purpose for Reading/Preview Text Features (15 minutes)

  • Look at page 10 with the class. Point out the labels “Paired Texts” and “One topic, two stories.” Have a volunteer read aloud the title and subtitle on page 10 and on page 12. Point out the images that accompany the texts. Then ask students to identify the topic of both stories. (The first explains how a video game platform became popular at a time when people had to spend a lot of time at home, and the second is an infographic that offers ideas of how to stay in touch with friends and family members if you can’t see them in person.)

  • Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 10 and the Think and Write box on page 12. As students read both articles, remind them to look for details that show how the two texts are related.

Introduce Vocabulary (15 minutes)

  • We have highlighted in bold four words that may be challenging and defined them on the page: platform, collaborate, moderation, and unwind

  • Preview these terms by projecting or distributing our Vocabulary Skill Builder (available in your Resources tab) and completing it as a class. You may also play our Vocabulary Slideshow, in which audio and images help students with pronunciation and comprehension.

2. CLOSE READING

Reading and Unpacking the Text

  • First read: Students should read the article and the infographic one time for general comprehension. 

  • Second read: Project, distribute, or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions (available in your Resources tab) to the class. Preview them together. Ask students to read the article and infographic again and answer the questions as a class or in pairs. (Alternatively, assign all or part of the Learning Journey Slide Deck, which contains the questions—along with other activities from this lesson plan and a link to the stories. Find it in your Resources tab.)
  •  

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

  1. Read the first section of “The Rise of Roblox.”  Why was Robby Scianna’s 10th birthday very different from his other birthdays? (main idea) His 10th birthday party took place online. He and his dad hosted it on Roblox, an online gaming platform.
  2. Why couldn’t Robby have a birthday party with his friends in person? (cause and effect) Because Covid-19 was spreading across the United States, people were told to stay home. Robby couldn’t get together with his friends. 
  3. Read “Millions of Players.” Why do you think the author says, “Roblox has something for everyone”? (author’s craft/inference) Because the site has more than 40 million video games, every player will probably find a game to enjoy. If players can’t find a game they like on the site, they can build their own games.
  4. Why do you think the number of players who visited Roblox increased so much  between February and June of last year? (drawing conclusions) Because of Covid-19, people couldn’t go to school or see a movie. Since they couldn’t leave their homes, millions of people played video games for fun.
  5. Read “The Power of Play.”  How does playing games such as Roblox help people? (key details) Playing games helps people relax. These games also bring together people who can’t see each other in person.
  6. Read “Staying Connected.” What should people be careful to do when they play video games? (summarizing) They should remember that games aren’t the only way to get through a difficult time. Also, spending too much time playing video games isn’t a good idea.
  7. Read the infographic “5 Ways to Stay Connected.” Choose one of the five ideas. In your own words, write the directions for the activity you chose. Make sure to include all the steps you need to do for the activity and put the steps in the correct order. (summarizing/sequencing) Answers will vary.
  8. The word unwind is defined on page 12. What is one way to unwind that is mentioned in the infographic? Describe another way to unwind using an example from your own life. (vocabulary/text to self) Answers to the first question may vary but should refer to one of the ideas described in the infographic, like holding a dance party. Answers to the second question will vary.

Critical-Thinking Question (10 minutes)

  1. Think about both texts. Why do you think it’s important for people to stay connected in a variety of ways during a difficult time? Use examples from both texts in your answer. (synthesizing/expressing an opinion) Answers will vary. Sample answer: Staying connected during a difficult time makes people feel better. It’s important to stay in touch with your family, friends, and classmates. For example, Robby Scianna had his 10th birthday party on Roblox, an online gaming platform. Just hearing his friends’ voices made him feel special. Because you shouldn’t spend too much time playing video games, it’s also important to connect in other ways. You don’t need a computer to write a letter or a poem. You can also make cookies or draw a picture for someone who’s special to you. No matter how you connect, the important thing is to stay in touch with your friends and family.

3. SEL FOCUS

Staying in Touch

Both texts offer ways for people to keep in touch if they cannot spend time together in person. Many students have experienced disruptions in their lives in the past year. Ask: Do you have friends or family members who you can’t see in person? If so, you can still stay in touch with them! What ways of staying connected would you like to try? If you have already stayed in touch with friends or family members who you can’t see in person, what new ways of staying connected could you try?

4. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING

Featured Skill: Synthesizing

  • Distribute our Connecting Texts Skill Builder (available in your Resources tab) and have students complete it in class or for homework.  

  • Discuss the writing assignment in the Think and Write box on page 12. Remind students to include details from both articles when writing their paragraphs.

GREAT IDEAS FOR REMOTE LEARNING

  • Our new Learning Journey Slide Deck (available in your Resources tab) is designed to make your life easier. Have students move through at their own pace, or assign smaller chunks for different days. You can also customize the Slide Deck to your liking.
  • Hold a whole-class or small-group discussion of the close-reading and critical-thinking questions. As in your physical classroom, establish rules for discussion and appropriate ways to respond to one another. You might have students use a “raise hand” emoji in your virtual classroom or ask students to respond to questions in the chat feature.

Differentiate and Customize
For Struggling Readers

Ask students to listen to the audio version of the articles while they follow along in the print or online versions. Afterward, have pairs work together on one or two of the questions from the Connecting Texts Skill Builder. Gather the group to discuss everyone’s answers and to complete the skill builder together.

For ELL Students

The first article of the paired texts contains some idioms that might be unfamiliar to your ELL students. Before having students read the articles, go over the following phrases: worldwide hit (popular around the world), whip up (create or invent something), pass the time (do something to keep busy while waiting), and hang out (spend time relaxing or being social with someone).  [Note: Whipped up was one of the  vocabulary terms in our September 2020 paired texts “Ketchup and Mustard.”]

For Advanced Readers

Instruct students to read the debate from our December 2018/January 2019 issue, “Is Fortnite OK for Kids?” In the debate, both Hannah and her parents make good points about playing video games. Ask students to choose a point from each side of the debate that would make a good addition to the article “The Rise of Roblox” and rewrite each point in their own words. In a group discussion, help them identify which section of “The Rise of Roblox” each of their points would work best in. 

For School or at Home

Ask students to read suggestion 2 from “5 Ways to Stay Connected” and choose someone to write a letter to.

Text-to-Speech