Franklin educator uses board game to teach historical lessons

[Sherman A1]

FRANKLIN —
Their ships reach the shore of Catan, an island of rolling hills and pastures and towering mountains. With wood and bricks, they set out to build settlements and amass resources.

They eventually carve out roads for other villages. Cities spring up everywhere, but supplies grow scarce. Brief alliances and rivalries form. Some seek isolation; others barter willingly with friends and enemies alike, though every exchange is calculated.

Soon, the pioneers find themselves vying for supremacy over Catan, to establish that great empire. Another Rome or Egypt.

Mark Brady announces to the room full of sixth graders that it’s time to move on to their next class. Rapt no longer, the social studies students sigh in disappointment and begin packing away the role-playing board game they had been lost in for the last hour or so.


Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/education/x1433777900/Franklin-educator-uses-board-game-to-teach-historical-lessons#ixzz2Nh9wjp7C

[canoeist52]

1. Great way to learn and remember history.

We can’t bring them back to Mesopotamia, Egypt or Greece, but this (Catan) brings it alive,” Brady said. “One student was so frustrated because he was winning at one point, and the other kids froze him out and wouldn’t trade with him. He said flat out, ‘I now understand why people go to war.’”

[Sherman A1]

2. Indeed

and there are a whole lot of good games out there that can be used to teach both history, reading skills, math skills, social skills and more. Settlers of Catan is a great one, but just one of many.

[flying rabbit]

3. In 7th or 8th grade

I had a history teacher, Mr Blaine, that made the class play Diplomacy. Excellent way to learn many things.

[Sherman A1]

4. Dippy is a great game

just loved it when I played it. We used to run ongoing Diplomacy games with weekly turns at the game store I ran so very many years ago.