Role playing games (RPGs) are another way to engage students in the learning process. A particular game I have used with my own students is the 3rd World Farmer Game. In order to use the game appropriately, it is important to spend some time teaching the students about challenges faced in third world countries or to tie the game into a lesson plan that enables a connection to a particular part of the world that faces many of the struggles encountered in the game. This could easily become an interdisciplinary activity between social studies (geography/history), language arts (writing/speech activity), and even math (money/resource management) and science (disease) classes. The possibilities are quite varied as you experience the game.
In the end a successful check for understanding should produce knowledge that this is not a game for many people around the world, and students will gain some virtual experience as to the frustration and often desparation that people often face in third world countries. Better yet, students and teachers can take this knowledge a step further and look for ways to assist people who face these challenges.
The website offers opportunities to take action in the following manner as stated on the site:
Rules unfair? Game rigged? Think about the people to whom this isn’t a game, but everyday life. Please visit the relief agencies on this page to learn more about how you can help.
Try the 3rd World Farmer Game with your students today!!!
H I T - Hokanson's Instructional Technology 