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Teacher Review for Power Play

Strangely Awkward Football Game

Kris H.
 Instructional Technology Specialist
Cornell Senior High School
Coraopolis, United States
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My Subjects Social Studies
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My Rating
Learning Scores
Engagement
Pedagogy
Support
My Students Liked It Yes
My Students Learned Yes
I Would Recommend It No
Setup Time Less than 5 minutes
Great for Homework
Individual
Knowledge gain
Practice
Great with Advanced learners
How I Use It
I used this game at the end of a unit on Federalism. The point of the simulation is to get students to understand different perspectives in regards to state vs. national power. There is good information and students can learn from the game, but my students spent more time trying to understand how the game works than on their learning. In the game you pick a team, state or federal government, and your team must argue that your team should have more power. They give you three issues in each round and you select players to make your argument. When you make a successful argument, you pull a statue towards your end zone.
My Take
I really do like the vast majority of resources on iCivics and use them with my students. I really feel that this one should be completely revised. If they are doing a football analogy, they should make the game somewhat like football and move a ball towards the end zone instead of pulling a statue away from it.