From the Classroom
When Gaming Your History Simulations Isn't Actually Gaming
"Mrs. Zema, I figured out the pattern! You always make the morale go up when we help people, so let's just always pick the helping choices." This confident declaration came from Alex during our St. Augustine simulation. He was convinced he'd cracked the code for guaranteed success. He was about to learn that historical leadership is far more complicated than finding the right cheat code.
Teaching Students to Navigate Complex Decisions in History
"But Mrs. Zema, what's the right answer?" This question comes up constantly when my fourth graders are deep in historical simulations. They want me to tell them which choice is correct after debating whether to strengthen defenses or feed hungry families. Here's what I've learned: the most powerful historical thinking happens when students navigate decisions with no clear "right" answer.
Making Primary Sources Work with Elementary Students
"I can't read this. It's too hard." How many times have you heard that when introducing primary sources to elementary students? I used to think historical documents were only for middle and high school—until I discovered how to make them accessible and engaging for fourth graders. Here's my proven 3-step process that works.