Grid Gang in the classroom

😀 Cartoons by default

In a classroom game cameras are off and every pupil is a cartoon character — a dino, robot, unicorn, pirate… The cartoon is what goes on the projector, and the silly filters land on the cartoon.

• You can switch on Cameras allowed. Even then, each pupil still chooses — every camera starts off and needs the pupil’s own tap, and the cartoon button is always there.
• Voice is off by default (you’re in the room, after all).
• Face swap is off in classrooms, and can’t be switched on.
• Nothing is ever recorded — no video, voice or pictures.

📋 Your class list stays in your browser

Paste your pupils’ first names once. When they join, pupils tap their own name — no typing, so no rude names and no “Mr Brown smells”. Each name can only be taken once (you can release it if someone picks the wrong one).

The list is saved in your own browser for next lesson. Our server only holds it while the game is open, and forgets it when the room closes. Prefer no names at all? Choose fun names and everyone gets one like “Speedy Otter” — only you see who’s who. You still let each pupil in.

🎯 Every pupil at their own level

You set each pupil’s shortest word — 3, 4, 5 or 6 letters — and can change it mid-game. Nobody else ever sees it, and it never appears on the projector. No “baby level”.

• Protected words: a fast speller on 5+ can’t hoover up the short words your 3+ pupils need.
• Fair coins: coins are paid against each pupil’s own level, so everyone can afford to prank the teacher.
• Key words: some of the hidden phrase is reserved for the pupils who need a win — the class can’t finish without them.
• Spotter tokens: less confident spellers become the team’s lookout, lighting up a letter for everyone.
• Celebrate everyone: every pupil’s first word gets a cheer. The top-scorers strip is off unless you turn it on.
• Gentle feedback: a wrong word just wobbles grey — no buzzer, no red. Tap any word for a child-friendly meaning, read aloud by the device.

🚨 The panic button

One tap on All avatars turns every face on screen into a cartoon, instantly. You can also turn any single tile into a cartoon, mute everyone, rename or remove a pupil, or switch the filter shop off. If a pupil makes a rude hand sign on camera, their tile swaps to their cartoon for ten seconds by itself.

All the controls are on your device, never on the projector. If your laptop dies mid-round, the round finishes by itself and nobody new gets in until you’re back.

✏️ This week’s spellings

Type in up to 20 words (3 to 7 letters) — this week’s spellings, a topic list, anything. The game hides as many as fit into every grid. Finding one earns bonus coins, and it’s ticked off on your summary. Words go through the same rude-word check as names.

📊 Your end-of-session summary — yours, not ours

When the game ends you see which words each pupil found (and which of your spellings were found). It is shown only on your screen, and you can save or print it yourself. We never keep it — once the room closes, it’s gone from our side.

Playing over several lessons? The maze journey gives you a short save code (no names in it) to type in next time. You keep it, not us.

📁 Data protection paperwork

Because nothing is recorded and nothing outlives the room, the paperwork is short. Our privacy policy explains exactly what is processed and for how long, and the safety page explains it in plain words for parents. If your school or local authority needs a DPIA or wants us to sign a data processing agreement, email hugh.mackenzie247@gmail.com and we’ll help.