Blog #12: John Hunter's Wold Peace Game

 I really enjoyed watching the TED talk: John Hunter's World Peace Game.  John Hunter is a public school teacher who came up with a game to solve world problems.  it originally started out as a plywood board with a map on it and some game pieces that were used to solve Africa's problems.  He wanted his kids to have an interactive experience in learning instead of having them sit while he lectured.  After a while, the game evolved.  It is now a plexiglass structure with 4 levels:

1.  Outer Space level which has satellites, asteroids, black holes, etc.,
2. Air and Space level with cotton for clouds and little airplane game pieces 
3. Ground/Sea level with 4 countries around the perimeter of which the students name
4. Under Sea level with submarines

Some of the countries on the ground level are rich, others are poor and each has a prime minister, a secretary of state, a ministry of defense, and a CFO.  There is also a world bank, arms dealers, and a United Nations.  There is a 13 page crisis document with 50 interlocking problems that the children need to solve.  They take turns negotiating as a whole and as a country to figure out what they are going to do and present their next move.  Mr. Hunter discovered that the children are very engaged in this game and they learn through their own experiences what is right, what is wrong, and when/how to avoid war.  The students win the game by solving all 50 problems and all of the countries' asset levels should be increased.
I liked how detailed this game is and how every child has a specific title and a duty.  I think that every classroom should play this game in hopes that it will brighten the future of this world. I will definitely try to use this game if possible in my classroom.  Mr. Hunter also said that his 4th graders read The Art of War-and understood it.  He then showed a clip of a student who made connections with the game and the book.  I could see the amazement on his face when he realized he was "living" what the book stated. I hope I can engage my students like Mr. Hunter has when I have my own classroom.