IDEA: Back to School
Back to School is a fun and exciting time of year that is looked forward to by parents, students and teachers - but it’s missing from the Sims 4. Here's an opportunity to add engaging gameplay focuse...
Forum Discussion
Gameplay Objects
Tutoring Table
- Crescent shape.
- Teacher sits on one side, up to 4 students sit on the other side.
- Assign worksheets
- Lecture, discuss subjects
- Flashcards
- Question Answer session, students raise hand
Activity Easel Artboard
- Used by Child Sims
- Chalkboard/Whiteboard swatches
- Doodle Drawings
- Math Problems
- Cursive Writing
- Group activity: Pretend School / Play Teacher
- Play Games
- Tic-Tac-Toe
- Hangman
- Draw & Guess
School Desk Activity Table
- Activity Table that looks like a School Desk
- Educational crafts
School Events
Picture Day
- Go to school, come home with a photo!
- Portraits are randomized
- Make Silly Face +Mischief
- Whatever outfit child goes to school in is the outfit worn in the photo
- Gameplay
- Buy a photo package
- Gift photo to Grandparents and Family
- Trade photos with Friends
Book Fair
- Go to school, come home with a new book!
- Add more school-themed children’s books
- Add children Skill Books
- Buy Activity Books - puzzles, games, coloring
- Buy Craft Books - Read to unlock new crafts for the Activity Table
- Buy Science Books - Read to unlock new potions for the Science Table
Classroom Awards Day
- Go to school, come home with an award!
- Mini-goals for students to work toward
- Perfect Attendance
- Honor Roll
- Most Improved
- Homework Hero
- Best Manners, Parenthood
- Reading Rockstar
More Afterschool Activity / Clubs
- Bookworms
- Read Books
- Write book reports
- Visit the Library
- Discount books at book fair
- Future Scientists
- Use the Chemistry Table
- Grow common crystals
- Make playdough (clay) - new shapes!
- Urpy Burpy potion
- Junior Space Cadets
- Study Solar System
- Use Telescope
- Go to Space Camp - weekend adventure rabbithole
Learning Traits & Guidance System
Create a well-rounded classroom that adds challenges to the Tutoring experience. Unique interactions between Tutor and Student with the goal to guide the Student through encouragement and motivation. Guide Students to overcome learning obstacles and improve their grades.
Types Of Students that Tutors may encounter:
- The Struggling Reader
- The Unmotivated Learner
- Teacher’s Pet
- The College Prepper (Teens)
Personality Traits
Make teaching interesting. Provide challenges through new personality traits. These personalities tend to need more tutoring and guidance due to their innate behaviors and quirks. Guidance can include one-on-one attention, acquiring a new skill, becoming focused, etc.
Defiant
- Resistant and disruptive
- Hates homework
- Make messes, Parenthood
- Empties trash can, deposits on floor
- Spitwad
Absent-minded
- Easily distracted. Forgetful.
- Queue will clear randomly
- Daydreams / Zones out / Stops listening
- Plays on Phone, Turns on TV, Stereo, plays Computer
- Wander off
Studious
- Eager. Diligent. Earnest. Gifted.
- Needs a challenge or will become bored and disengaged
- Enjoys homework, studying, extra credit
- Loves to play pretend school, help others
Overactive
- Hyper. Energetic. Animated. Bouncy. High energy. Impulsive.
- Can’t sit still. Fidgety.
- Talks too much. Interrupts class. Distracts others.
- Random actions added to the queue.
- Rushes through homework, makes mistakes
Academic Journey: New Ways to Learn
Add variety to day-to-day schooling by offering options to the schooling experience. Give Players the opportunity to tell more stories and become inspired to create new households based on their Sims’ educational journey; much like how some households created are inspired by a Career path.
Study Abroad / Exchange Student
- Sign up Child to be an exchange student
- Duration: 1 school week, Monday - Friday
- Played Child disappears from Home Lot.
- Exchange Student NPC from another household/world (postcard locations) temporarily live with the Played Family - similar to the Roommate system of Discover University.
- Stay connected
- Write letters / Send postcards - Become Pen Pals!
- Call home, get homesick
- Send emails / Chat online
- Social Bunny, High School Years
Boarding School
- Send your children off-lot for formal education.
- Abroad during school week, Monday - Friday
- Home on weekends, Saturday - Sunday
- Specialized skill learning
- Very expensive. Add boarding tuition to weekly bills.
Home School
- Register to school from home
- Daily tasks, Weekly exams
- Online Learning, computer
- Off-Grid, mail exam - slower results
School Uniforms
- New toggle setting
- ON - students go to school in a “Career” outfit
