Former Teacher Shares Genius Game That Teaches Kids Politics And Economics
While teaching kids can be challenging at times, it’s certainly rewarding. And the challenge is a healthy one if you’re willing, let alone know how to approach the topic at hand.
Former teacher Caoimhe O’Connell has shared a genius activity that she did with her class—one that involves getting into random groups, getting a random amount of resources, and making very specific goods using said resources to simulate how country economies and politics work.
Needless to say, her Twitter thread drew quite a crowd on the internet.
More info: Twitter
Teaching kids through games is probably one of the most fun things any teacher could do
Image credits: woodleywonderworks
Twitter user Caoimhe O’Connell recalled from her teaching days an activity she did with her 10–11-year-old students. Said activity was, in short, an exercise in politics and economics.
In a nutshell, the class was divided up into small groups, to simulate countries, of 3 to 7 kids, at random. After all, each country has a different population.
Then, each country was given a random set of resources: everything from scissors to colored paper to rulers to markers, including some fake money. Some had an abundance of everything, others an imbalance of resources, with some having a complete lack of something. This simulates how each country has more (or less) of certain resources, if any at all.
This teacher decided to play one too—one that should be based on working together, but which ended up being amusingly chaotic
Image credits: CaoimheRua88
Each ‘country’s’ goal was to produce very specific shapes and sell them to the teacher. They were also given a list of shapes in demand, complete with specific colors, dimensions, and even prices. In other words, make shapes, get money.
You can bet that it all started with chaos as there was no equal ground right from the get-go. What is more, Caoimhe introduced even more mayhem by walking around and sprinkling water, which effectively means force majeure and if your goods are damaged, then, well, sucks to be your country.
Image credits: CaoimheRua88
In the end, some countries lost everything, others were trying to make the best of it, yet others were picking up the pieces. Some got rich, others ended up being dirt poor and simply gave up.
This was besides all of the “theft, bartering, skullduggery, [and] corruption” that was going on and all of the price fluctuations. At this point, you can imagine the explanations of why some countries failed and others prospered.
Image credits: CaoimheRua88
They understood perfectly that not all countries were equal here, not everyone had enough resources, how the rich were able to afford that which the poor couldn’t, and how theft, wars and other factors develop.
But once the dust had settled and the bickering stopped, Caoimhe asked a very important question: why didn’t they work together? “The conversation that these questions produce always amazes me. It’s wonderful,” concluded Caoimhe.
Image credits: CaoimheRua88
Now that’s how you teach kids to work together, how to be a global citizen who understands the importance of collaboration.
While Caoimhe’s thread received modest attention on Twitter, it was later reposted on Imgur where it blew up. The repost garnered over 110,000 views alongside 5,150+ upvotes. Many praised this little game, saying it’s pure genius and that they’re gonna use this idea for their class.
Others pointed out that while it did sound like loads of fun, it is still an analogy of how things are in the world and that made them sad. And, of course, there was that one commenter who honored that one girl who ‘risked her life’ for her country by diving on the table so as to protect the produce from water.
What are your thoughts on this? How would you play this game given the chance? Let us know in the comment section below!
This is so true. The kids really engaged and really got it. This is so awesome.
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Why did they make it a competition? Well, in most tasks at school kids get results that can they can compare, the system turns it into a competition, so naturally everyone thought that this is a similar exercise. Now maybe try making school less of a competition and then repeat the experiment.
I agree but, I wonder too if maybe that was part of the point; to show them that the "competition" approach isn't always the best. Maybe she was trying to teach it out of them a little? Maybe. I don't know. Either way, sounds like a fun way to learn!
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NAFTA, EU, and APEC are all examples of international economic cooperation. They are far from perfect, but perfect means different things to different people. Opponents usually claim such agreements benefit some countries more than others, not taking into account that the longer term benefits everyone. One side effect is reducing the likelihood of going to war. I'm curious to hear other opinions about this.
I agree. There's many examples of countries working together to benefit as a whole group. Not every one of them is beneficial for the world (thinking OPEC here), but they are beneficial to their countries and they prevent wars with each other.
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If this happened in the US, I am sure some Republican parent would have complained for the game being 'socialist'!
Well depends does the US call their classes primary’s
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Try it with US Congress. Guaranteed the conversation would sound much the same. And that's really either funny, or terrible, or both, and now I need chocolate.
As a capitalist, I’m not. I know that sooner or later, idealistic societies crumble, just like chaotic ones. The USSR, China, so many countries have shown that communism (in its original meaning) is no guarantee of happiness, success or peace. People still starve and thrive, kill and be killed, lead and be led.
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This would work...on a small scale. It is certainly no way to organize a nation of 300 million people. Who seriously thinks a classroom of thirty, who all know each other, is the same as a nation of hundreds of millions, each with their own ever-changing desires and needs? This is the problem with all the 'examples' and 'experiments' people use to argue for socialism.
No, it's not the same. Of course not. The purpose wasn't to teach kids that we only need to act together, it's to start a discussion. Critical thinking. Creative problem-solving. Thinking out of the box, so to say. Why DO we think the aim is to have the most money? Of course, the teacher used it to make a point and that's okay, but the aim of these kind of games is to teach the students cooperation, creativity and problem-solving. Also opening a discussion. It can be altered and used for many purposes, many topics. Sometimes, they come to a completely different solution than you'd expect, and even that is a good outcome. It's not about shaping the world, it's about shaping brains and opening minds to more than what comes to them 'naturally'
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I had an experience like this as a student. We did a stock market game... and all given money to buy stocks a d what the stocks were. Then halfway into it the market crashed and most lost everything, only three people survived with some off-brand stocks, and I was one of them. At the end, the teacher told us all the stocks numbers were actually REAL from almost a hundred years ago, just their names changes. Taught me a lot about gambling, and the market.
This is a Christian Aid activity that many school use call the Trading Game- free resources. It is a brilliant simulation game. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/schools/trading-game
Sent this to 2 of my teaching friends. Too fantastic to not do more of!
Recently while teaching my class about the European explorers we decided to take over my husband's class one day when they didn't put out their university flag. Georgia is now teaching Alabama how to follow our ways. This can't be good for anyone.
Why didn't they? Yes why don't humans do this for real? Share...because we suck as a species, far better to stab each other in the back, greed, war, capitalism.
Capitalism isn't that great, I agree. So what do you want? Socialism? Do you want to organize an entire economy based on this classroom? Anyone with a brain can easily realize that this doesn't accurately represent a free market, nor does the cooperation prove anything about Socialism.
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We did a similar project a school. That was in the 90s. I remember it well and it was a very creative way of our teacher to teach us. Far better than normal frontal teaching.
I'm thinking about how to apply this to my youth group. Really cool activity!
because in every society since the beginning of time they were people who abused of other for profit
Yes, but that number is quite small. The most common misconception I've ever heard over capitalism is that "the rich are abusing the poor" or "the rich get richer while the poor get poorer". There is no need to explain how wrong these are.
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High chance you live in a low income household and contribute almost nothing to taxes. And think you have a life. Ghetto mentality.
Load More Replies... Downvote PR all you want, they are correct. We already have enough food to feed the world, but corrupt governments keep it from their citizens to maintain control. MS 13 ran Central America for a while.
Load More Replies...
This is so true. The kids really engaged and really got it. This is so awesome.
Load More Replies... Why did they make it a competition? Well, in most tasks at school kids get results that can they can compare, the system turns it into a competition, so naturally everyone thought that this is a similar exercise. Now maybe try making school less of a competition and then repeat the experiment.
I agree but, I wonder too if maybe that was part of the point; to show them that the "competition" approach isn't always the best. Maybe she was trying to teach it out of them a little? Maybe. I don't know. Either way, sounds like a fun way to learn!
Load More Replies... NAFTA, EU, and APEC are all examples of international economic cooperation. They are far from perfect, but perfect means different things to different people. Opponents usually claim such agreements benefit some countries more than others, not taking into account that the longer term benefits everyone. One side effect is reducing the likelihood of going to war. I'm curious to hear other opinions about this.
I agree. There's many examples of countries working together to benefit as a whole group. Not every one of them is beneficial for the world (thinking OPEC here), but they are beneficial to their countries and they prevent wars with each other.
Load More Replies... If this happened in the US, I am sure some Republican parent would have complained for the game being 'socialist'!
Well depends does the US call their classes primary’s
Load More Replies... Try it with US Congress. Guaranteed the conversation would sound much the same. And that's really either funny, or terrible, or both, and now I need chocolate.
As a capitalist, I’m not. I know that sooner or later, idealistic societies crumble, just like chaotic ones. The USSR, China, so many countries have shown that communism (in its original meaning) is no guarantee of happiness, success or peace. People still starve and thrive, kill and be killed, lead and be led.
Load More Replies... This would work...on a small scale. It is certainly no way to organize a nation of 300 million people. Who seriously thinks a classroom of thirty, who all know each other, is the same as a nation of hundreds of millions, each with their own ever-changing desires and needs? This is the problem with all the 'examples' and 'experiments' people use to argue for socialism.
No, it's not the same. Of course not. The purpose wasn't to teach kids that we only need to act together, it's to start a discussion. Critical thinking. Creative problem-solving. Thinking out of the box, so to say. Why DO we think the aim is to have the most money? Of course, the teacher used it to make a point and that's okay, but the aim of these kind of games is to teach the students cooperation, creativity and problem-solving. Also opening a discussion. It can be altered and used for many purposes, many topics. Sometimes, they come to a completely different solution than you'd expect, and even that is a good outcome. It's not about shaping the world, it's about shaping brains and opening minds to more than what comes to them 'naturally'
Load More Replies... I had an experience like this as a student. We did a stock market game... and all given money to buy stocks a d what the stocks were. Then halfway into it the market crashed and most lost everything, only three people survived with some off-brand stocks, and I was one of them. At the end, the teacher told us all the stocks numbers were actually REAL from almost a hundred years ago, just their names changes. Taught me a lot about gambling, and the market.
This is a Christian Aid activity that many school use call the Trading Game- free resources. It is a brilliant simulation game. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/schools/trading-game
Sent this to 2 of my teaching friends. Too fantastic to not do more of!
Recently while teaching my class about the European explorers we decided to take over my husband's class one day when they didn't put out their university flag. Georgia is now teaching Alabama how to follow our ways. This can't be good for anyone.
Why didn't they? Yes why don't humans do this for real? Share...because we suck as a species, far better to stab each other in the back, greed, war, capitalism.
Capitalism isn't that great, I agree. So what do you want? Socialism? Do you want to organize an entire economy based on this classroom? Anyone with a brain can easily realize that this doesn't accurately represent a free market, nor does the cooperation prove anything about Socialism.
Load More Replies... We did a similar project a school. That was in the 90s. I remember it well and it was a very creative way of our teacher to teach us. Far better than normal frontal teaching.
I'm thinking about how to apply this to my youth group. Really cool activity!
because in every society since the beginning of time they were people who abused of other for profit
Yes, but that number is quite small. The most common misconception I've ever heard over capitalism is that "the rich are abusing the poor" or "the rich get richer while the poor get poorer". There is no need to explain how wrong these are.
Load More Replies... High chance you live in a low income household and contribute almost nothing to taxes. And think you have a life. Ghetto mentality.
Load More Replies... Downvote PR all you want, they are correct. We already have enough food to feed the world, but corrupt governments keep it from their citizens to maintain control. MS 13 ran Central America for a while.
Load More Replies...
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