Colonization Simulation 2015

Yesterday my classes worked on developing indigenous cultures on the continents I placed them.  You see, I split my room up into 4 sections; each section represented a continent.  Three of the continents were large, spacious, and had untold natural resources.

The fourth was smaller, but no less proud.

Groups were tasked with developing flags, chants and songs, changing their style of dress, and coming up with other ways that could symbolize their particular cultures.

It was a fun day, yesterday.

Then came today: exploration, conquest, colonization, disease, defeat and shame.

The small continent with few natural resources had the opportunity to explore the other continents.  The people of the other continents decided whether they wanted to fight, or work with those who were invading their land.

If you're reading this at home, discuss what happened, and what it symbolized.

If you weren't at school today, tell what you think happened.  When you come back, find out if you were right or not.

When you're done discussing it, write a few sentences about your discussion, and have the adult you read the blog with sign the paper.

Here are some pictures:

First, a map of the world:

This next one is a close up of Saia.

I call this one "Negotiations."

And perhaps my favorite, "To the victor go the spoils."

Simulation

I don't want to give too much away, so this won't be a long post.  We just started a simulation today.  The students were blocked into continents, and they had to develop their own culture.  It was a nice review, because we haven't talked about cultures since the beginning of the year.  They made a flag, a chant, and altered their style of dress.  They also had Play-Doh™  which represented the natural resources of their continent.

To get the extra credit today, read and discuss the blog.  Tell your parent (or whatever adult you're reading this with) what you did today.  Tell them what your flag looks like.  Tell them about your chant.  Tell them whether or not your group will be ready to go right away tomorrow.  (You should be...)

Then when you've finished discussing the blog, write the following sentence on a piece of scrap paper:  "I was listening to Five Iron Frenzy while writing this blog.  On Distant Shores."  

Here are some pictures from first and second hour - if you're so inclined: