Zapata in Candyland: A Board Game Assignment

Zapata in Candyland: A Board Game Assignment

Sophie Esch, Rice University

This talk discusses how to further student learning on the Mexican Revolution via student-designed board games. This assignment is a student-centered, content-in-context learning activity that teaches higher-order thinking in the cognitive and emotional domains, while deepening acquired knowledge. It creates classroom community and motivates and stimulates students, while allowing for creativity, critical thinking, and playfulness. In this assignment—which works in a language, literature, culture, or history classroom—students are tasked with creating a board or card game that teaches others about the Revolution. This talk takes attendees through conceptual, pedagogical, and practical considerations for a successful implementation.