A challenging and engaging game of colonial politics

My Take

This game is a great introduction to the tensions and difficulties of Patriot vs. Loyalist in pre-Revolutionary America. Students assume the character of a young apprentice who must learns the positions of both sides and must make choices about his own life going forward. Developed by PBS, it is richly detailed with facts of daily colonial life, and the politics of the time. The game nicely weaves in relevant vocabulary and primary documents. Extensive support materials give teachers the option to extend this 6-part interactive game into a fully developed unit of study. Crown or Colony is a rather long game (an estimated minimum of 60 minutes of playing time) and each part must be played in sequence, so teachers should plan to devote significant class time to playing, or assign it for homework. The richness and complexity of the game and supporting materials for the classroom, however, make it worth the investment.