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Empowering
Students For Life Through Gaming
Prepare Kids for College and Career
1UpEDU is a professional development program dedicated to harnessing the power of games to teach young people invaluable life skills. By integrating interactive and engaging games into the learning process, 1UpEDU helps students build social and emotional intelligence while fostering safe spaces for growth and connection. This innovative approach makes learning fun and equips young people with the essential skills they need to thrive in personal and professional settings.
1UpEDU Prepares For Life
NGSS Aligned STEAM Unit Plans
CASEL Aligned SEL Game Based Lessons
P21 Game Based Curricula
PA Career Ready Skills Continuum Aligned Curricula
Social Intervention Systems
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Since the Pandemic, the Need for SEL Mentoring is Clear.
Pillars of Professional Development
The Frameworks
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CASEL Gaming
Framework for Life
Every 1UpEDU kit includes access to the 1UpEDU Framework for Life and a curated collection of tabletop and video games. The Framework provides guidance on using these games to positively impact your school’s climate and help students build meaningful connections. By simply opening the box or pressing play, students will engage with one another, breaking down social stereotypes and barriers in the process.
Gaming Based
Steam Projects
Our NGSS-aligned Game-Based Framework for STEAM challenges students to collaborate, cooperate, and communicate effectively as they tackle problem-solving and critical-thinking tasks in assigned STEAM projects. Through our curated Unit Plans, you and your students will integrate the design thinking process with elements from the gaming industry, fostering employable STEAM skills and real-world connections.
Preparing Socially Awkward
Students for Life
Embrace the power of Haven's Quest, a Role-Playing Game designed to help socially isolated and awkward students build friendships, develop real-world social skills, and collaborate to overcome challenges in a supportive small-group setting. As the Game Master, you will guide your chosen students through ten engaging Adventure Scenarios, each carefully aligned with the P21 Framework and CASEL's 5 Core Competencies.
Promoting Leadership
and Social Philanthropy
Inspire your students to make a difference by organizing a fundraiser for a local charity, participating in a community clean-up effort like restoring a nearby creek, or raising awareness for an important cause. These activities not only strengthen your club’s bond but also help members develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and pride in becoming active contributors to their community.
Our Student Development Systems
A Gaming-Based Framework for Life
1Up EDU, created by Video Game Clubs of America (VGCUSA), is a groundbreaking professional development and curriculum framework that uses gaming clubs to transform education. Built on the belief that games can teach empathy, teamwork, and resilience, the 1Up EDU Framework connects Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and STEAM principles to create meaningful, community-driven learning experiences.
Our Mission
1Up EDU empowers educators to “rethink gaming” by turning play into purpose. The framework helps schools foster inclusion, social philanthropy, and student leadership while improving school culture through the power of gaming. It provides educators with strategies, lesson plans, and SEL “hacks” to make every game a tool for teaching life skills.
The Core of 1Up EDU
At its heart, the 1Up EDU Framework aligns with CASEL’s 5 Core Competencies:
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Self-Awareness – Recognizing emotions and strengths.
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Self-Management – Regulating emotions and achieving goals.
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Social Awareness – Showing empathy and understanding others.
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Relationship Skills – Building trust, teamwork, and communication.
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Responsible Decision-Making – Making ethical, thoughtful choices
The Framework for Life
STEAM Gaming Projects Framework
1UpEDU is an innovative, gaming-based STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum developed by Video Game Clubs of America (VGCUSA). Our mission is to empower students through creative, hands-on projects that blend Social Emotional Learning (SEL) with real-world STEAM and career skills, all through the power of games.
What Makes 1UpEDU Unique
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Gaming as a Gateway: Students design, build, and explore through game-based projects in coding, art, storytelling, and design.
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SEL Integration: Every project aligns with CASEL’s 5 Core Competencies, helping students develop teamwork, empathy, leadership, and responsible decision-making.
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STREAM Focus: Moves beyond STEM to include arts and literacy, encouraging imagination, communication, and creativity alongside technical skill.
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21st-Century Skills: Projects are built around the Four Cs — creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
How It Works
1UpEDU offers educators ready-to-use project-based units that connect gaming to learning outcomes. Each unit includes clear objectives, materials lists, standards alignment, and reflection activities for both students and teachers.
Havens Quest: Social Intervention Systems
Haven’s Quest is a one-of-a-kind tabletop RPG designed to teach Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) through adventure, empathy, and storytelling. Developed within the 1Up EDU Framework, this game blends fantasy role-play with real-world emotional growth, making it a powerful tool for counselors, teachers, and youth mentors.
Set in the mystical world of Haven, players form a party of heroes who must work together to restore balance to their realm and to themselves. Each challenge they face mirrors real social struggles such as conflict resolution, impulse control, cooperation, and empathy building. Haven’s Quest helps students and participants explore emotions, relationships, and leadership through cooperative storytelling. It transforms the gaming table into a therapeutic and educational space where students practice social strategies, reflection, and problem-solving in a safe, imaginative environment
Features
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SEL-Driven Gameplay: Each quest connects to CASEL’s 5 Core Competencies — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
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Guided Reflection: Built-in debrief prompts allow educators or counselors to translate in-game experiences into real-world lessons.
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Flexible Structure: Works in small groups, after-school programs, counseling sessions, or classrooms.
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Inclusive Design: Encourages collaboration, empathy, and acceptance among diverse learners
1UpEDU Cyber Framework for Life
1UpEDU Cyber Framework for Life is a comprehensive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and STEAM-aligned curriculum that empowers educators to teach life skills through the world of gaming, both digital and tabletop. Created by Video Game Clubs of America (VGCUSA), this framework transforms classrooms and clubs into inclusive learning communities where students build empathy, teamwork, leadership, and resilience through play.
The program helps educators use gaming as a bridge between social connection, academic learning, and real-world readiness. It connects CASEL’s 5 Core Competencies with the Pennsylvania Career Ready Skills (PA CRS), showing how self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making are developed naturally through strategic and cooperative gameplay
Framework Highlights
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CASEL 5 Integration: Every lesson links directly to SEL competencies such as self-awareness, social awareness, and self-management.
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STEAM & 21st-Century Skills: Students practice creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration (the Four Cs) through games that reinforce STEM concepts and digital literacy.
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Mentorship Focus: Educators serve as mentors who foster empathy, inclusivity, and leadership in every club meeting.
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Game-Based SEL “Hacks”: Simple, adaptable in-game “triggers” and “actions” transform any card, board, or digital game into a social-emotional learning opportunity.
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Real-World Application: Each activity builds transferable skills such as problem-solving, ethical reasoning, and emotional regulation.
1UpEDU SEL Single Class Gaming Plans
1UpEDU SEL Solo Shot is a collection of ready-to-use daily Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons designed for teachers who want to make a meaningful impact in just 10–15 minutes a day. Built on the 1UpEDU Framework and aligned with CASEL’s 5 Core Competencies, these lessons help students strengthen self-awareness, relationships, and responsible decision-making all through short, engaging activities that connect to real life.
What Is a Solo Shot?
A Solo Shot is a focused, one-day SEL experience that teachers can use in any classroom, advisory period, or club setting. Each lesson includes:
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A clear SEL objective
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A short engagement activity
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Guided discussion questions
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A meaningful reflection prompt
Why It Works
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Low prep, high impact: Every lesson is classroom-ready and time-efficient.
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Student-centered: Encourages voice, choice, and authentic reflection.
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CASEL-Aligned: Targets core skills like empathy, regulation, and teamwork.
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Flexible use: Perfect for homerooms, clubs, counselors, or substitute plans.
These mini-lessons turn brief classroom moments into powerful opportunities for connection, trust, and growth.
Got Questions?
Mrs. Delaney's Story
“ We focused on recruiting 1st-3rd grade students who struggled with social interactions. We meet every Monday after school and have learned about sportsmanship and how to be a good friend. The kids have built a strong sense of community with the older students and it makes me feel good to be a part of this program.”
Chantelle Delaney
Hamilton ES
Lancaster, PA
