Studies have shown that when learners are having fun they tend to retain more information and to be more interested in the topics being taught. We feel games are a great tool for education! Games can be enjoyable to play and therefore are a great tool for reinforcing educational values, principles, and concepts. Below are a variety of games geared at High School aged learners that can be beneficial in the classroom, after school, or at home for reinforcing educational objectives.
Twilight Struggle
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Twilight Struggle is about the “struggle” between the USA and the USSR during the Cold War. Think of this game as a historical “tug-of-war”, that has two superpowers vying for power, prestige, and control. The cards are all based with historical sayings, facts, events, and occurrences. Players will have to decide where to react, where to make a stand, how to allocate resources, and overall live with the cause and effect of the choice or choices you made. Will you change history, or will your focus be pulled in too many directions? Will you win in the end?
Educational Focuses: Cold War, United States (US), Soviet Union (USSR), Berlin Wall, nuclear tensions, space race, Cuban Missile Crisis, world powers, arms race, political ideologies, Vietnam, US Peace Movement, Arab-Israeli conflicts, President Kennedy (USA), Brezhnev (USSR), Panama Canal, political influence, and national /international war.
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Pandemic
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Diseases are spreading and outbreaks are occurring. You have joined a team of specialists that are determined to research, treat, and eradicate the diseases. Keep in mind though, infection rates are rising and the disease is spreading quickly. You’ll have to work together quickly because, If too much time elapses things may get out of control and a cure may become out of reach.
Educational Focuses: Biology, chemistry, Epidemiology (how disease spreads), geography, research, population impact & contamination, disease and virulence factors, outbreaks, hotspots, disease eradication, epicenters, pandemics, infection rate, epidemic, and sharing of information to treat or cure a disease.
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Space Explorers
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The Space Race between the United States (USA) and the Soviet Union (USSR) was a remarkable time in history with many far-reaching achievements in science, space exploration, communication, and technology. Space Explorers is dedicated to all the folks that helped make space travel possible and honors one of the greatest achievements in the 20th century.
Educational Focuses: History of space exploration, Space Race, Cold War, and World Powers. The Space Race's effect on the world (20th century), communication, technology, and medical advancement. USA Spacecrafts: Explorer 1, Telstar 1, Apollo 11, Gemini IV, Tiros 1, Lunar Orbiter 3, Mariner 2, Pioneer Venus 2, Voyager 1, and Skylab. USSR (Soviet Union) Spacecrafts: Sputnik 1, Sputnik 3, Vostok 1, Voskhod 2, Proton 1, Luna 9, Lunokhod 1, Venera 7, Mars 3, and Soyuz 19.
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Ecos
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Ever wonder what the Earth would look like if it was formed differently?
In Ecos, players get to be forces of nature molding a part of the world including landscapes, habitats, and animals! At its base, the game is more of an engine building type of game where players are trying to set off chain reactions to shape the world. Educational Focuses: Biology, environmental biology, meteorology,
zoology, and history. |
Periodic
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"Periodic: A Game of The Elements is a strategy board game designed around the periodic table of elements, as well as some of the most fundamental principles in chemistry that can be derived from the structure and function of the periodic table.
Players maneuver across the periodic table to collect elements to score Goal Cards, and land on element groups to score points. Players either pay energy to use multiple periodic trends to move across the table, or select just one trend and collect all the energy payed to that trend!" (Description from Publisher: Genius Games) Educational Connections: Periodic table, chemistry, elements, noble gases, halogens, atomic radaii, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, metalloids, non-metals, post-transition metals, and atomic number.
Check out our lesson plan below!
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Lovelace & Babbage
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Play as a pioneer of early computing such as the brilliant Ada Lovelace or the marvelous Charles Babbage to program the very first computer. Each player has their own unique Subroutines and they compete to create the best personal program.
Educational Connections: Math, coding, history, programming, computer Science, engineering.
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Power Grid
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Power more cities than your opponents! Play the resource market and hope that your supply meets your customers' demand. The objective of Power Grid is to be able to supply the most cities with power at the end of the game. Economics at its finest.
Educational Connections: Geography, economic systems, allocation of scarce resources, inventions, renewable & nonrenewable resources, energy supplies, energy alternatives, science, investment, and money management & diminishing return
Check out our lesson plan below!
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13 Days
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"For Thirteen Days in 1962 the world stood at the brink of atomic destruction as the United States and Soviet Union faced off over missiles which had been placed in Cuba. Would the USSR back down and remove the missiles? Would the U.S. push forward with a full invasion or send bombers towards targets within the Soviet Union? Who would blink first?"
(Description from Publisher: Jolly Roger Games) Educational Connections: Strategy, nuclear war, Cuban Missle Crisis, Cold War, Fidel Castro, modern warfare, political, wargame, President Kennedy (USA), Primer Khrushev (soviet Union), United Nations, public opinion.
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Risk
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Risk with a twist! Surprisingly, we did not design this lesson plan for a math class. We have added a diplomacy aspect to this classic game that makes it a great conversation piece. This lesson plan can fit into any world history class.
Educational Connections: Alliances, battles, attacks, strategic thinking, planning, and decision making!
Check out our lesson plan below!
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Sushi Go!
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"Pass the sushi! In this fast-playing card game, the goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. Score points for making the most maki rolls or for collecting a full set of sashimi. Dip your favorite nigiri in wasabi to triple its value. But be sure to leave room for dessert or else you’ll eat into your score! Gather the most points and consider yourself the sushi master!"
(Description from Publisher: Gamewright Games)
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Check out our selection of educational games for other grades: