The Most Memorable Social Studies Experience
From Student to Teacher: The Japan Simulation
Throughout my life, I've always enjoyed learning about history and geography. It's safe to safe I had a natural proclivity for the subject of Social Studies as a result. One of the most memorable units I did as a student was the 7th grade Japan unit. I remember being so excited to learn that we'd be doing the unit by simulation. I gasped, simulation? I thought. What does that mean?
I was delighted to learn that we'd be simulating "warlords' in Japan and learn about Japanese history and culture while competing on a map. Wow, just like Risk I thought! It was such an amazing and cool concept to do an interactive activity while learning the unit. I remember being amazed and engaged, and delighted to learn I'd be working with a team to be the best group there was. My 7th grade teacher, Mr. Lazzaro, did everything he could to make the unit as memorable as possible. We'd have battle days, quizzes, and all sorts of different activities that were all equally engaging. In the end, my group "Shikoku" didn't have much luck, but the unit stuck with me.
In fact, so much so it stuck with me that I taught the unit when I became a 7th grade Social Studies teacher! When I found out I'd be teaching 7th grade Social Studies, I knew I had to incorporate this unit into my plans. Here's what some of the maps ended up looking like after a little while.
I remember entirely geeking out over student progress in each of my different periods. It was great fun and got so many of my students engaged. Students that went from previously struggling with focus became significantly more engaged knowing they had a team competition and their work was more than just a grade, it was teamwork. I would never have done this without doing it myself as a 7th grade student, and passing that torch on (with cultural updates) felt incredible and so fulfilling.
Highs: Student engagement, work quality, fun, competition
Lowes: Organizing "battles" in a class of 40
You make excellent points about both simulations and aesthetics being important in student work. I would never consider myself much of an artist, but I always loved the opportunity to create something tangible in social studies classes. I think it probably started with dioramas in elementary school. I would always take that option when available. Like you, simulations stand out in my memory of middle/high school. I heavily modified a Cuban Missile Crisis simulation from my 11th grade US history class and made it my own. I have had many students say it is the highlight of the class and it builds its own hype for students not yet in my classes.
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