Jamestown Simulation

What are the social, political, and geographical implications of settling in a new area?

Students engaged in a simulation whereby they were charged with developing a settlement in the new world.  Students were grouped and had to elect a member to act as John Smith.  Students then had to move through a series of activities to build and maintain a thriving community.  Once members endured five sessions, we came together as a whole class to debrief.  When asked to share their thoughts about the social, political and geographical implications of building a new settlement, students concluded:

1.  Building a new settlement requires communication, collaboration, and trust.

2.  Settling in a new area requires skill sets one may or may not have time to learn.

This simulation serves as an excellent hook for the new unit in social studies entitled, Interactions In Action, and prepares students for grappling with the following:

Enduring Understandings	Essential Questions
·   Where you live influences how you live. ·   People migrate for social, political, and economic reasons. ·   Interactions often prompt change.	·   How does the physical environment impact the social, political, and economic characteristics of a group? ·   Why do people move? ·   What happens when cultures collide? ·   How does need drive change?