Home

First- and Third-World Challenges

Share

Subject(s)

Educational Technology
Social Studies
--Civics
--Current Events
--Economics
--Geography
--Government

Grade

6-8
9-12
Advanced

Brief Description

Students develop their understanding of Third World and First World problems and discuss issues related to the role of computer games in education.

Objectives

Students will
  • evelop critical thinking skills
  • develop their understanding of the Third World and First World problems.
  • discuss issues related to computer games and their role in education.

Keywords

Third World, First World

Materials Needed

Lesson Plan

Arrange the class into two groups.

Explain to students that they are going to play computer games that involve making a number of survival choices. Tell them they need to keep notes about their choices and the outcomes of their choices.

Give each half of the class a different game to play, so one group plays the Stick RPG and the other plays the Third World farmer.

After theyve played for 10-20 minutes ask them to stop. Arrange students into pairs (one student from each group) and ask each student to tell his or her partner what happened to them in the game.

When students are done, invite them to work together to decide which game they thought was hardest.

Ask students as a class what problems they faced in the games and if they developed any strategies for being successful at the game.

Have each group play the game they didnt play.

Develop some of the themes from the games for a class debate.

Discuss/debate these or other questions:

  • Who do you think these games are aimed at?
  • What did you learn from the games?
  • How accurately do the games depict the two different lifestyles?
  • Does playing a game like this trivialize the actual situations?
  • Can computer games like these educate people and change their opinions?
  • Do these games depict stereotypes rather than realities?
  • What do you think the makers of these games wanted to achieve?
  • How would you define a Third World country?
  • What is the difference between a Third World country and a developing country?
  • Why are some countries very poor and others very rich?
  • What other political or educational computer games do you know about?
  • How good do you think these games were?
  • Did you enjoy playing them?
  • Which game do you think was better and why?
  • Would you recommend these games to a friend?

Assessment

Students are evaluated on their participation in the discussions.

Lesson Plan Source

Adapted from an original posting from the Learning Technology Teacher Development Blog.

Submitted By

Nik Peachey

National Standards

SOCIAL SCIENCES: Civics
GRADES 5 - 8
NSS-C.5-8.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government
NSS-C.5-8.2 Foundations of the American Political System
NSS-C.5-8.3 Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.5-8.4 Other Nations and World Affairs
NSS-C.5-8.5 Roles of the Citizen
GRADES 9 - 12
NSS-C.9-12.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government
NSS-C.9-12.2 Foundations of the Political System
NSS-C.9-12.3 Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.9-12.4 Other Nations and World Affairs
NSS-C.9-12.5 Roles of the Citizen

SOCIAL SCIENCES: Economics
GRADES 5 - 8
NSS-EC.5-8.1 Productive Resources
NSS-EC.5-8.2 Effective Decision Making
NSS-EC.5-8.3 Allocating Goods and Services
NSS-EC.5-8.4 Positive and Negative Incentives
NSS-EC.5-8.5 Voluntary Exchange
NSS-EC.5-8.6 Gain from Trade
NSS-EC.5-8.7 Markets and Market Prices
NSS-EC.5-8.8 Supply and Demand
NSS-EC.5-8.9 Competition in the marketplace
NSS-EC.5-8.10 Market Institutions
NSS-EC.5-8.11 Money
NSS-EC.5-8.12 Interest Rates
NSS-EC.5-8.13 Income and Earning
NSS-EC.5-8.14 Entrepreneurs
NSS-EC.5-8.15 Investment
NSS-EC.5-8.16 Government in the Economy
NSS-EC.5-8.17 Cost of Government
NSS-EC.5-8.18 National Productivity
NSS-EC.5-8.19 Unemployment Influences
NSS-EC.5-8.20 Federal Budgetary Influences
GRADES 9 - 12
NSS-EC.9-12.1 Productive Resources
NSS-EC.9-12.2 Effective Decision Making
NSS-EC.9-12.3 Allocating Goods and Services
NSS-EC.9-12.4 Positive and Negative Incentives
NSS-EC.9-12.5 Voluntary Exchange
NSS-EC.9-12.6 Gain from Trade
NSS-EC.9-12.7 Markets and Market Prices
NSS-EC.9-12.8 Supply and Demand
NSS-EC.9-12.9 Competition in the Marketplace
NSS-EC.9-12.10 Market Institutions
NSS-EC.9-12.11 Money
NSS-EC.9-12.12 Interest Rates
NSS-EC.9-12.13 Income and Earning
NSS-EC.9-12.14 Entrepreneurs
NSS-EC.9-12.15 Investment
NSS-EC.9-12.16 Government in the Economy
NSS-EC.9-12.17 Cost of Government
NSS-EC.9-12.18 National Productivity
NSS-EC.9-12.19 Unemployment Influences
NSS-EC.9-12.20 Federal Budgetary Influences

TECHNOLOGY
GRADES K - 12
NT.K-12.3 Technology Productivity tools