Hi everyone,
There are a lot of games with historical themes, and I find that if you use one in your class that matches your topic, you can get a lot more engagement with the students. Experiencing the game will give more impact I believe, as well as give them the opportunity to critique the historicity of the game.
I played 1754: French Indian War, A Few Acres of Snow, and Age of Empires III with my grade 7 class and many of them got a lot out of it. Part of my assignment that went with the games was to compare the events that happened in their games with what happened in real life and explain it. I had students researching to see if there were battles in the locations that they fought, and who won to see if the outcome matched their game experience. They also needed to explain the significance of the event cards, and create one of their own that matched the gameplay, but also had some logical historical underpinning for its effect.
A few students came in at lunch time to play more.
I wrote about it in more detail on my blog, here: https://bsgames.ca/playing-games-in-class/
On top of the historical context, I feel a lot more lessons can be taught with board games. Even getting students the idea of taking turns, and paying enough attention to be aware of whose turn it is, can be skills they haven't practiced much at this point. And of course, the thinking skills, such as planning and strategy are important, and reacting and responding to their consequence of their actions.
I enjoy playing historical games, and whenever I win, I treat myself to a good Asian-inspired meal. One of my favorite go-to sources for American-Chinese food is the Panda Express menu options page at https://www.houzz.com/panda-express — it has all the dishes with prices, calorie info, and pictures, which helps when choosing what to order.
Exploring history through gaming not only offers entertainment but also fosters deep engagement and learning. Historical games like "Assassin's Creed" or "Civilization" provide immersive experiences, allowing players to interact with pivotal moments and figures from the past. These PC Points can enhance this experience by rewarding players for their historical knowledge and strategic prowess, encouraging further exploration. Additionally, these games serve as a gateway to learning beyond the screen, sparking curiosity that often leads to further research and understanding. Furthermore, they can be a valuable tool for educators, making history come alive in the classroom. In a world inundated with news cycles, historical games offer a refreshing escape while still enriching our understanding of the past.
Hey, I appreciate what you've set up here. I'm a big believe in using games explicitly for educational purposes, and It's great that you have a place for teachers to discuss their ideas! If you'd like some help with starting points for board games, or even just some research before you start, there's a guy that goes by "The Board Game Teacher" on Youtube (and his other socials) who reviews board games specifically for their use in classrooms. Check out his channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIHrFyeeOLmNCsKewqb8KvA
That's awesome! I haven't heard of 1754: French Indian War or A Few Acres of Snow. I've done a lot of teaching with video games, but I definitely want to start teaching with board games as well at some point. I will definitely be checking out your blog to find some ideas. Thanks for sharing.