Favorite Simulation Activities?

[Thomas Daccord]

Simulations are a great way to vary instruction and engage kids in active learning. One of my favorite activities is to simulate Treaty of Versailles negotiations between the U.S. and the major WWI European powers. I'd also have students simulate Kennedy cabinet discussion during the Cuban Missile Crisis. (Elizabeth Helfant just blogged about her Twitter Cuban Missile reenactment -- check it out.)
What are your favorite simulation activities and how do your organize them?

[Mollie Hackett]

It looks like this is a good opportunity to plug the program I work for. Choices Education produces a wide range of curriculum on current and historical international issues, and each unit features at least one role-play simulation. As a matter of fact we have simulations on the two historical moments mentioned by Thomas. If you are interested in learning more about our program, go to http://www.choices.edu

[David]

Mollie,

I am happy to endorse the Choices curriculum. I have adapted the Weimar Republic unit for use in my eighth grade social studies class. What my students find helpful about the simulations is that they are given solid starting points for developing their assigned positions. I also feel that the background readings do a nice job of synthesizing key information in order to appropriately set the stage for the simulation. One might find oneself searching for articles and text book summaries to prepare students for simulations, but Choices streamlines that process for teachers. I am currently planning a trimester course on the history of Hindu and Muslim conflict in India, and I will be using the Choices simulation on Indian Independence as a touchstone exercise for the unit. I strongly recommend that folks check out the excellent curriculum guides that Choices offers as well as professional development opportunities at the Watson Institute.

[Rose M Ruback]

Although I haven't personally done them, I have seen really effective and fun Constitutional Convention simulation. The model that I have seen has students assigned to be one of a number of different groups that have a stake in the creation of the constitution, such as slaves, women, bankers, land owners, lawyers. The "delegates" then go to the Convention and fight for their group's interests to be taken into account. It sparked lively debate and also taught students about political compromises! Also, I have seen an awesome UN simulation, where students became one country and defended their country's interests on a particular issue.

[Emily Trono]

As a new teacher, I'm interested to hear more about your Treaty of Versailles activity. What does it look like? What did you need to consider (classroom layout, individual personalities, etc.) when you originally planned the activity and when you modify it to use different classroom contexts? I would like to include more simulations in my teaching, but need to gather more ideas and resources...The Choices website looks helpful.

[Jennifer Beraduce]

I conducted a simulation activity in my practicum class on How a Bill Becomes a Law and also had the students become an appropriations committee to review real spending bills. The students loved both of these activities and actually learned a great deal of material just by participating. I enjoyed teaching them too and hearing the different opinions on the issues!

[Sarah Hopper]

The most rewarding for us was the simulation of the 2nd continental congress and then later the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Each student pulled a name randomly and used that as their "name tag". I give each of them 3 little facts about their person on the back of the cards. They then did quick Internet or encyclopedia research on their person. At the continental congress we had debates, then the motion was put in place & approved by the students who were "playing" the appropriate representatives. I've done other simulations but I think what made this so rewarding for them was that afterward, they were able to watch the scene from "John Adams" that was similar to our simulation-- they all got so excited when they saw "their person" talking!

[Zahra Contreras]

In a preservice training I created a lesson where I simulated a situation where students had to take and pass quizzes created from questions on a literacy test from the Jim Crow era and the current USCIS naturalization exam so show them what types of questions were/are asked. It didn't go so well the first time (it was my first time trying it out, after all), but I was able to tweak it and am waiting for an opportunity to try it again. Students however did like learning where I got the questions and were more interested in the rest of the lesson once I told them.

[Eric Hamlin]

I have used some of the Choices materials in my middle school classes. The lessons generally take longer to get through at that level, but are still very worthwhile. What I like best about the Choices units is that they put the students in the positions of world decision-makers, and through the experience, students learn that solving global problems is not as easy as it appears to them at first.