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Yes, that is alliteration.  I would like to get some ideas for simulations to use in social studies classes.  Those science guys always have great simulations, why should they get to have all the fun?  Post any ideas you have about these here.  I’ll start.

Dum-Dum Sharecropping

I did this simulation to teach about sharecropping used in the US after the civil war.  The lesson is that sharecropping allowed people to survive, but often in debt.  The questions for students to ponder: how is this like slavery?  how do you feel after sharecropping? 

What to do…

Explain that you own the land, but will let the students use it and pay for it later.  They need to pay 1 Dum-Dum for use of the land.  If they agree to the deal, they may begin.  Tell them they need to buy seeds and that you can sell the seeds for 1 Dum Dum, but they don’t have any dum dums, so it will cost 2 dum dums after the “harvest”  You can add additional costs if you like.

Now each student is 3 dum-dums in debt.  Announce that the season went well, there was rain and no insects.  Now give each student an equal number of Dum-Dums as what they “harvested”  I chose to give 4.  Students are happy to have so many, but now you must collect the 3 they owe.  Ask how they feel now to be out of debt.

Round (year) 2

Start off charging for land, rent, seeds.  Students will now be in debt again.  Keep them in debt until they are discouraged and actually owe YOU dum-dums.

Now you can have a good discussion.  This can be adapted for world history and feudalism as well.

CNN and the news in general has had articles that are very relevant to our class.  As we have been discussing technology and its uses, this is a perfect example.  Video iPods are being used by professional baseball teams to individualize viewing tapes of opposing teams.  Although school districts are not funded like MLB teams, we sure could use iPods for various educational purposes.  This is also interesting in the aspect that the concept of “dumb jock” is going to be lost as the incorporation of modern technology will be necessary skills to remain competetive in sports.  Or will the term dumb jock still be around as a wave of technologically educated “assistants” will be needed by professional athletes?

Athletes, what do you think?  Are technology skills necessary for the future of sports, can technology “level the playing field” for less skilled athletes, will this be widely accepted by athletes in the major sports?  If you need a tech assistant, you let me know.