Thinking Games

Today I had my students use a video game to assist them in learning. How did I do that? I had them play the video game Civilizations. Civilizations is a simulation game that has an authentic problem ( creating your own empire from a tribe of people) from the ground up. The user is required to build a city's infrastructure, from personal homes, to bridges, to monuments for the Gods, to ships for trading. They are then required to use the variables given to them to react to trails that they will face as they build their civilization. My students were playing against each other and they have been broken up into teams of three all trying to beat the other teams within their classroom. It is wonderful to see them use what they have learned in class about the ancient peoples of that time and what it took for their civilizations to become successful and how they in turn have to use that previous knowledge and apply that to the game. It is a wonderful culminating acitvity for the end of the year.  I just wonder who is actually going to win. They are all so into the game.