Make Your Own Board Game Instructions

Google Sheets

Step 1: Modify the Google Spreadsheet Template

  • Make a copy of this template. (You'll need to sign-in with your Google account.)
  • Edit the Appearance for each board game space.
  • Optional: Add an Instruction to appear on specific spaces.
  • If you wish to use a deck of game cards, edit the Card cells on the Card Deck 1 tab.
    • You may also add an Answer to each card which players can check during the game.
    • You may also specify a second deck of game cards on the Card Deck 2 tab.
  • Edit the URL settings on the Materials tab.
    • Specify images for up to eight game tokens.
    • Specify images or colors for each side of up to three dice (each die is six-sided).
    • Specify card colors and symbols for up to two decks of game cards.
    • Specify a link to your own game instructions (website, Google Doc, etc.)
  • Name your board game by changing the name of the worksheet (at the bottom).
  • Do not edit any cell with a blue background. Do not add, delete, or rearrange worksheets (tabs).

Step 2: Publish Your Spreadsheet

  • Go to File, Share, Publish to web, then click Publish.

Step 3: Get Your Flippity.net Link

  • Click on the Get the Link Here tab of the template (at the bottom).
  • Click on the Flippity.net link to play your board game.

Step 4: Bookmark and Share

  • Bookmark the page to find it again quickly.
  • Share the Flippity.net link with anyone you want to play your board game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can students play the board game together remotely?

  • No, students must play on one device, either by being physically present or by screen sharing.

Can I use a different number of spaces?

  • Sort of. The game board has three possible configurations: Small (21 spaces), Medium (33 spaces), or Large (45 spaces). Just put an 'X' in the first row you don't want to use (don't delete rows) and Flippity will adjust accordingly.

Can I use a different font?

I want to use multiple choice answers. How can I make line breaks?

  • Flippity can only read the text inside each spreadsheet cell; it does not recognize any additional formatting you do, even line breaks. But you can add some HTML code ("<BR>") to force line breaks to display on your cards. Here's an example:
    • Who was the first U.S. President?<BR>A. Thomas Jefferson<BR>B. John Adams<BR>C. George Washington

How do I use images and other multimedia?

  • Images
    • You must use the URL (address) of a picture you find on the web.
      • URLs must end in ".gif", ".png", ".jpg", ".jpeg", or ".webp".
      • You cannot use Google Drive to store your images.
      • You can use Google Drawings. Use the "Publish to the web…" link.
      • Images are automatically resized.

  • Board Game Spaces & Materials
    • Images
      • Simply paste the URL of a picture in the appropriate cell.

  • Instructions and Cards
    • Images
    • YouTube Videos
      • Somewhere in the appropriate cell, type [[ followed by YouTube's "Share this video" link followed by ]].
        • e.g. [[https://youtu.be/sZrOxm5Gszk]]
        • You may include text before or after the video.
    • Links
      • Somewhere in the appropriate cell, type [[Link: followed by the full URL of the link you want to visit followed by ]].
        • e.g. [[Link:http://www.spanish411.net/]]
        • You may include text before or after the link.
        • Links will automatically open a new tab/window.
    • EquatIO
      • Once you have inserted all your EquatIO equations, use Find/Replace to replace all instances of =IMAGE(" with [[Image: and all instances of ") with ]]
        • e.g [[Image:https://equatio-api.texthelp.com/svg/%5Cfrac%7B3%7D%7Bx-2%7D]]
        • You may include text before or after the equation.
    • Desmos
      • In the appropriate cell, type [[ followed by the Desmos link followed by ]].
        • e.g. [[https://www.desmos.com/calculator/sycumu9ek9]]
        • You may include text before or after the graph.