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VIRGINIAECONOMICEDUCATORAWARDS2023THE RACE TO CIVILIZATIONHarrisonburg High SchoolHarrisonburg City Public SchoolCARA WALTONLESSON PLAN:
THE RACE TO CIVILIZATION20 Sided DiceGame PiecesPrint outs of game boards and cards denoting units of grainManagement of resourcesNatural and Human ResourcesSpecialization of laborDevelopment of TradeGrade Level: High SchoolMaterials:Time Required: 90-120 Minutes: Game play variesLesson Description: The students will play as one of the original river valley civilizations. They will taketurns rolling for their harvest and advance through the states of civilization asthey increase their agricultural surplus. Some civilizations will experienceobstacles based on their natural resources and geographic barriers or lackthereof.Economics and/or Personal Finance Topics:
Standard WHI.3aThe student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographicalanalysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenshipStandard WHI.3a-c, and eThe student will apply social science skills to understand the ancient rivervalley civilizations, including those of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus RiverValley, and China and the civilizations of the Hebrews and PhoeniciansGeography, economic patterns, religion, writingThe Four CivilizationsAncient MesopotamiaThe Indus ValleyAncient Egypt Ancient ChinaStandards: Procedure: Each student/group will receive a game board for their Civilization. This willinclude a blank map of their region and main physical features. Map should include a grid so students may plot information, they may use a wetor dry erase marker to annotate their game boardEach Civilization will come with a base level of natural and human resources,which will reflect the natural resources of their region. Students can research this information or it can be provided for scaffoldingpurposes. Each student/group will be provided with a 20 sided diceMap of Tin DepositsIcons to represent Grain and Copper and TinYou will need different denominations for the Grain. Grain amounts go quitehigh, I would do units of ten, one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand. The Race to CivilizationBy: Cara Walton
Discuss the game with the students, find out what they observe and learnbased on game play. How come some civilizations are attack and others are not?Why doesn't everyone have all the resources they need? How can they obtainthese resources?One can also build on the foundational knowledge of this game and move onto lessons on the different river valley civilizations.InstructionsAt the beginning of each turn, each team will roll a 20-sided diceThis will be to determine the harvest for your civilization for the previous year. Roll for Harvest/Flood: 0-5 Destructive: Lose half Food6-15: Fair Weather: Food Increases by 50%16-20: Good Harvest: Food DoublesThis could be adapted for a standard 6-sided dice, adjust number ranges asneeded. As you reach different levels of food, you will be able to progress to the next stageof the game. The Team that reaches “The End” first wins the game. There are occasional obstacles on the board, these are a bit different based oneach civilizationThe student can roll the dice for damages. These can be made up by the teacher,or the same as for the harvestRoll for Damages 0-5 Destructive: Lose half Food6-15: : Food Decreases by 50%16-20: Fight off your attackers, keep your food supplyAssessment: The Race to CivilizationBy: Cara Walton
Additional research and readings on each civilization may be provided. Students may play in pairs or teams with students grouped based on abilityto assist students with disabilities. Readings may be differentiated by grade level or read aloud.Students learn how environmental factors lead to the gain or loss ofeconomic resources in ancient civilization by simulating harvests andweather conditions of the time. Students learn that different civilizations lacked resources and they are forcedto trade to obtain resources to progress to the next level of the game.Extension and Modifications:Supplemental Materials Found Here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PdDMjGVNjDu2kLnCHC5YgaxDAgaB9W-1?usp=sharingExplain how this lesson/unit teaches or reinforces the economic/personalfinance concepts above.Cara WaltonHarrisonburg High SchoolHarrisonburg City Public SchoolThe Race to CivilizationBy: Cara Walton