World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements

The story of the life of John Hunter, a fourth grade teacher, is integrated with the educational activity, "World Peace Game," which he created and developed for classroom use based upon his world travels. Hunter narrates the program documenting the actual game as it evolves over an eight-week period in his fourth-grade classroom. The game is a simulation involving four countries in competition politically, socially, militarily, and economically. It requires students to think critically, problem solve, and develop leadership skills based on simulated crises that arise throughout the game. The game is played only one day per week during the eight weeks. In the first week, simulated scenarios are introduced and each member of the class is given a role assignment: prime ministers for each country, members of the United Nations, a king, a weather goddess, arms dealers, members of the World Bank and the Nin Tribe. Week two introduces the crises and their effects on the countries. Students must work together as teams to solve the crises in order to obtain the ultimate goal of world peace. Week three presents additional crises, forcing students into negotiations among countries to solve the problems during week four. At the beginning of week five, mercenary soldiers are deployed by a secret saboteur, who is one of their classmates. Team members must discover the saboteur. In weeks six and seven, other crises arise. In the final week, the game is won when the saboteur is discovered, all conflicts are resolved, and world peace is achieved. Viewers feel the intensity and engagement of the students throughout the game. Many students are interviewed and they talk about the effect of the game on their learning and development of leadership skills. While the program focuses on the implementation of the game in a fourth grade class, Hunter discusses its versatility and adaptability for higher grades. A nice addition to professional collections.—Linda M. Teel, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC