Last year we took our students to spend a day outdoors, and it was right around Earth day. There were to be a series of activities for them to rotate through, and I was to facilitate one of the stations. I wanted something that was “Earth Day” related, and I wanted something that they would enjoy doing. I didn’t want to preach to them, rather I wanted them to understand that actions in the “real” world, and thus in their world, have a large impact on the sustainability of our environment. I started combing the internet for eco-games, and after a long search I found this gem of a website. It combined all of the elements that I was looking for; a little math, a little science, and a focus on the impact of our decisions.
There are three board games that are shared on the Business Behind the Scenes site. They are Monopoly style games, complete with game boards and chance cards to download. Each game focuses on a different industry – The Clean Scene looks at dry cleaning, The Fine Print looks at the world of printing, and Rev it Up! looks at an auto service shop. In each game, the students compare the advantages and disadvantages of eco-friendly methods versus the old standbys. Students must begin by setting up a business and making initial decisions as to how eco-friendly their business will be, taking into account the related start-up costs. They then travel through a series of scenarios, each affecting their business in a positive or negative way, depending on the initial decisions made. Throughout the game they must keep track of their profits and losses, and at the end determine how successful their business choices were. It is a great lesson in budgeting and, more importantly, students learn that each and every choice made in the world around them should be made with care.
A fine lesson for one and all.
