Beyond the Controller: Using GRIS for IBDP Lang & Lit and English B
Free Resources
We often talk about “texts” in the IB classroom, and thankfully, the definition has expanded well beyond dusty novels and static poetry. For a while now, I’ve been using the stunning platformer GRIS as a Body of Work for my Language A students. It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling, color symbolism, and the non-literary exploration of the Global Issue of Mental Health and Resilience.
But recently, I’ve been thinking about how this same “text” can be pivoted for our English B learners, specifically within a unit on The Power of Games (connecting to the themes of Human Ingenuity or Experiences).
If you aren’t familiar with it, GRIS is a dialogue-free game where a young girl navigates a fading world to restore color to her life. It is widely interpreted as an allegory for the Five Stages of Grief. Because it lacks dialogue, it forces students to rely entirely on visual cues, music, and atmosphere—making it a perfect equalizer for mixed-ability language classes.
Here is how I am bridging the gap between these two courses, and some resources you can use to do the same.
For Language A: The Body of Work
For my Lang & Lit students, GRIS serves as a rich non-literary text. We treat the gameplay experience as a “reading.” We analyze:
Symbolism: The recurring motif of the statues and the black ink representing depression.
Color Theory: How the shifting palette (from monochrome to red/anger, green/bargaining, etc.) dictates the narrative arc.
Global Issues: It is a goldmine for discussing Culture, Identity, and Community (specifically the isolation of grief) or Beliefs, Values, and Education (emotional healing).
(Note: I have already created a comprehensive worksheet for this, which breaks down the visual techniques scene-by-scene. You can download that below!)
This game goes alongside a novel I teach, Kitchen, Banana Yoshimoto. Some students have found that these two texts align well for their individual oral assessment.
For English B: The Power of Games
For English B students, the focus shifts from deep literary analysis to communication, description, and interpretation. GRIS provides a low-stakes, high-engagement environment to practice complex vocabulary without the barrier of difficult reading comprehension.
Here is how it fits into the English B themes:
Experiences: discussing life stories, overcoming struggles, and emotional journeys.
Human Ingenuity: exploring artistic expression through technology and how video games can be art.
Activity Idea: The “Walkthrough” Writer
Have students play (or watch a play-through of) a specific level, such as the “Anger” (Red) stage. Their task is to write a blog post or review describing the atmosphere. This pushes them to move beyond basic adjectives like “sad” or “mad” and use more precise language like frustrated, hostile, intense, or overwhelming.
Resources to Download
To help you bring this into your classroom, I’ve put together a few resources.
1. The “Gamer’s Toolkit” Vocabulary Sheet
I’ve created a downloadable PDF that categorizes vocabulary essential for discussing GRIS and video games in general. This is great for scaffolding oral activities.
Descriptive Adjectives: Ethereal, monochrome, jagged, fluid, oppressive, vibrant.
Abstract Nouns: Resilience, grief, isolation, restoration, metaphor.
Verbs of Movement: Glide, plummet, scramble, ascend, transform.
2. Language A “Body of Work” Worksheet
(Link to your existing worksheet) - This guides students through the semiotic analysis of the game’s opening sequence.
3. English B (SL) Individual Oral Prompt
For Standard Level students, the IO requires a visual stimulus. GRIS frames are paintings in motion, making them ideal for this. Below is a sample prompt setup I have used.
English B SL Internal Assessment: Sample Visual Stimulus
The Image: (Insert a screenshot here from the “Red/Anger” stage of the game—specifically a moment where the character is struggling against the strong winds or the jagged red architecture.)
The Prompt: Theme: Human Ingenuity / Experiences Topic: The Power of Games & Storytelling
Look at the image provided. It is a screenshot from the video game GRIS.
Describe the image and relate it to the theme of Human Ingenuity (or Experiences).
In your presentation, you should wish to include:
A description of the atmosphere and colors used in this scene.
How video games can tell stories without using words.
Your own opinion on whether video games should be considered “art.”
Final Thoughts
Whether you are dissecting the semiotics of grief in Language A or debating the artistic merit of gaming in English B, GRIS is a text that meets students where they are. It validates their interests while demanding high-level critical thinking.
Have you used video games in your IB classroom? Let me know in the comments!
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