Building knowledge.
Building skills.
Building readers.
Transform your classroom into an extraordinary learning lab with a Game Based method that combines traditional content with real world skills.
Play To Learn
Read The Room
Pattern Recognition
Make It Right
What is eduPLAYnation ?
eduPLAYnation is an online platform that uses Game Theory to put K12 social studies and STEM principles into the foreground of literacy instruction. This novel approach uses human connection to spark connection, bringing all learners into the game!
What are JAMS ?
JAMs are 50-minute shortform games that position small groups to layer viewpoints, identify bias & test truths. Stacked by standard & organized by schema, your class can use JAMs as stand-alone activities, or as prequels and sequels to bridge BRAVE board games. Our growing library of JAMs gives players a million chances to spiral knowledge & skills needed to outwit any sich. Play one, or play āem all!
Why are JAMS important ?
Ever been in a jam? Of course you have, everyone has! Getting out of a jam without creating a bigger mess demands a skilled response. Enter JAMS. These short activities are a sweet way to explore our tangled roots without too much trouble. Because kids love sticky situations!
What are BRAVE games ?
BRAVE games are longform board game history games designed to play between JAMs. Gaming begins when a classroom is divided into 5 or 6 teams. Next, teams are tasked with skilled reading to identify their bias and competitive advantage. If so, teams can buy, sell, and trade small game pieces they'll need to dominate the board game surface. There are four (4) BRAVE board games in the mix; each one uses the same board game surface.
How Do You Play a JAM ?
Each JAM is a 50-minute adventure that transforms your classroom into an interactive learning environment through 8 engaging steps.
BOOKLET
Each JAM has an optional Pre-Game Warmup that presents a unique schema, embedded vocabulary & reflections to frame learning ahead of a JAM. Highly recommended, not essential. Download & print.
ENGAGE
The hook is a quick quote, idea or brain teaser that piques interest the minute before a JAM begins. Found on the first page of each 16 pp.
SETUP
Teachers organize their class into small groups, 4 or 5. Next, deliver 1 page/role/student.
EXPLORE
Individual group members read and annotate their unique viewpoint.
EXPLAIN
Each small group collaborates to layer viewpoints based on key questions: Who, What, Where, When & Why.
ELABORATE
Large group reconvenes to clarify key points, found in Guiding Questions.
EVALUATE
Small groups reassemble to complete graphic organizers & timelines. Plus, diagnose the embedded conflict.
EXTENSIONS
(6) extensions, labeled B-G, provide structured journaling, retrieval practice, interleaving, analysis, and more!
BRAVE board games
Alliance Diplomatique
A clever take on statecraft whereby six teams across colonial North America meet the triple challenge of nation building, international diplomacy, and economic sustainability. Iroquois Confederacy, Britain, 13 Colonies, France, New France & the Wabanaki Confederacyāwe know which team wins this game. The question is, what empowers nations to thrive over time?
Hopewell
Welcome to Hopewell. A call to Federalist and farmer, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cajun, Creole & Free People of Color. Here, students explore the Hopewell Treaty era by revealing the Yazoo Land Fraud, the Compact of 1802, the Louisiana Purchase, War of 1812, the Era of Good Feelings, the Marshall Trilogy and more! Because if the balance of power is stolen, history has its eyes on you.
PODER
Just because you can, does that mean you should? With PODER, students create a head-spinning model of Manifest Destiny. From commodity deals in Louisiana and trade fairs in Santa Fe; from the Alamo, the Battle of San Jacinto and the Texas Republic; to a lone soldier breaking the chain of command in Alta California! The trick is clearing the gap between power and protocol.
Bozeman Trail
Set against the backdrop of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie, this illegal short-cut off the Oregon Trail explores the nature of boom & bust economies across the Northern Plains from six viewpoints. Learning culminates as teams race to manage the 2016 Standing Rock/Dakota Pipeline conflict using the gameās original constraint. Because Tribal treaties arenāt history , theyāre federal law.
JAM Series
Trusted Voices From Our Nation
4th grade teacher, Desert View Elementary, Rock Springs, WY
At the beginning of the week I was skeptical my students would be able to manage this much complexity. But after listening to them debrief their combined experiences during the last session, I realized ALL of my students successfully met the learning objectives. Now Iām skeptical adults could do what my students just did.ā
Jess Moore, 4th grade teacher; Jackson Elementary Wyoming
EduPLAYnation is a game-changer in my classroom of diverse learners! From interactive lessons to thought-provoking activities, every component of this curriculum is meticulously designed to capture students' attention and foster deep understanding. Students have opportunities to develop skills as readers, critical thinkers, writers, team players and above all else advance their social skills.
Kathy Brower, St. Stephenās BIE School, Riverton, WY
The students learned so much in such a short time. A good testament for the success of the games was that all of the students wanted to know when we could play again! As a teacher, that kind of enthusiasm tells me that it was a real success.ā
Anne B.; parent, Jackson, Wyoming
Watching my son engage with the BRAVE games while learning Western history was incredible. The games made history come alive for him in a new way; like he was living the moments. He came away not only with a deeper understanding of the past but also with a newfound enthusiasm for learning. I couldnāt have asked for a better way to make history both fun and meaningful for him!ā
Ali & Will E.; parents, Jackson, Wyoming
Our child loved playing PODER! He came home everyday with updates on gameplay. As parents, we were excited that he wanted to share what heād learned. More importantly, we noticed that sharing knowledge was boosting his confidence! Listening to him proudly explain what heād learned was so fun, and so fulfilling! What an awesome addition to the curriculum!ā
5th grader; Kelly, Wyoming
I really appreciated the time and effort you put into this Bozeman Trail game. It was very fun and engaging, and really grew my understanding of the 1800s. It also allowed me to studie [sic] the economy. It was really fascinating learning about how people loved consumerism and would get so wrapped up in it, they would kill other people just to get it. I defi nitely think that though there was so much emotion and greed I really think the WHOLE class enjoyed it. Thank you for a whole week of amazing, emotional, fascinating, fun, and very stressful week!!!ā
4th grader; Kelly, Wyoming
Iām not good at writing letters. But I would like to thank you for coming to our school. Iāve learned about figuring out peoples bias, and how to respect it. Thank you!ā
4th grader; Casper, Wyoming
The game made me more confi dent for in later life and adult-hood: it made me better at dealing with making better disitions [sic] when I am stressed. You should play the game with adults then compare them to usā¦ā
10th grade ELL student, Jackson Hole High School, Jackson, WY
In my opinion these games are a fun way to learn the history of our past, it doesnāt make me want to sleep in history class, no offense to my teacher, but instead we learn something from it while being part of the game. The game helps us feel the way the people then did, we had empathy for them. I think this game should be played by many other schools, I think they would enjoy them.ā
4th grader, Jackson Elementary, Jackson, WY
The most yousfull [sic] thing is learning how to solve problums [sic] without a fight.
4th grader, Jackson Elementary, Jackson, WY
It is fun, and you get to learn new stuff about history everyday. You learn how people survived and helped or didnāt help people.
Sherry Smith, SMU Professor Emeritus
The most important thing about these games is that it makes it really clear to students and anybody who plays this game that history is not just one story; it's a multiplicity of narratives and explanations and points of view. Itās a chance to understand how complicated history is.
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary goal of playing JAMs is to learn how to layer multiple viewpoints before forming a response. JAMs look like fun and games, and they are, but the larger purpose is supporting pathways toward becoming a critical thinker.
Yes! JAMs use STEM principles to create a living model of the past, versus reinforcing existing myths and narratives. Every student plays a key role revealing & releasing a JAM, meaning students are gradually taking responsibility for their learning. In this sense, JAMs support shy, hesitant, or non-traditional learners since the act of giving voice to the past teaches players how to take their voice, too.
