Teaching Through Simulations
Get Your Students' Attention Through Role Playing
In the social studies classrom, get your students' attention through role playing activiites.
“'Without geography, knowledge about the earth is fragmented and unsatisfactory.”
-R. J. Johnson
Geography connects us all and it reveals so much about our past, present, and future. The best way to get students excited about learning is to hook them from the start and actively engage them.
An effective way to get them motivated is through simulations and role playing. Education World conducted an interview with Board Certified teacher Max Fischer on February 25, 2002 in which he detailed his experiences with simulations in his classroom, "When students are given an affective outlet in which their feelings are aroused to stimulate learning, we are increasing their opportunities to learn cognitively as well."
The author of several books on simulations, he further maintains that simulations can be as simple as posting a sign that says, "Free Ice Cream Tomorrow". or as complex as The King and M&M's simulation that he describes in the article.
Simulations are a way to draw students in and develop empathy and understanding of the subject they are learning about.
Simulations in the Geography Classroom
Give your students a physical map of the world or display a physical map using an LCD projector. Tell your students to pretend that they are emperors and must choose an area of the world to build their empire. You can have the class brainstorm key things that an empire needs to succeed, for example, water source, defensible position, trade, natural resources, climate etc. Have them describe or circle the area they chose on a map and justify their decision.
For an additional challenge, limit their empire to a certain number of square miles, thus making them use the scale. Or limit them to a continent or hemisphere in the world. You can also tell students to prioritize their geographical goals and base their decisions off of their list; if they think security is the most important, they should base their decisions off of that.
You can also give students a blank piece of paper and have them draw a physical map of their ideal empire, including of course a key, compass rose, and legend. This concept can also be flipped and they can identify the worst place to build an Empire, or the wort places in the world to build an empire.
Role-Playing in the History and Economics Classroom
There are many fun ways to tie this into the history classroom. For example, you’re studying the Renaissance, have students choose the best spot to build a castle. Your students are colonists in America, where is the best place to build their colony? Economics can take advantage of this concept as well; give your students economic parameters like your country is in need of additional timber resources, what country has the largest timber export market?
These lesson ideas can be used in a geography, history, or even economics classroom, and can be modified for any age.
Getting your students’ attention with role playing makes learning more fun and teaching the rest of the lesson or unit a bit easier. In fact, Max Fischer believes his use of simulations in his classroom leads to fewer discipline issues. In addition to checking out Fischer's many books on simulations the Interact series offers simulations for just about every subject.
