Most of us have probably imagined ourselves being President one day. As a kid I wondered how things would change if I became the Leader of the Free World. For one thing, all mozzarella would have to be the fresh round stuff, but I digress.
Childlike fantasies aside, one of the biggest factors that prevents well-meaning individuals from becoming President is the ability to wage a successful nationwide campaign.
Fortunately for those of us who want the tabletop equivalent of fulfilling a childhood dream, a board game has emerged both to keep us entertained, and to educate us about the nuances of a political campaign. The game makes players choose between fundraising and campaigning, with the winner being the candidate who wins the greater number of electoral votes.
As a teacher with a great deal of experience teaching high school government classes, I love how The Presidential Game educates while keeping things interesting. Students sometimes become stuck believing presidential campaigns are flawed and boring after they learn how the electoral college works. With The Presidential, teams are forced to deal with plenty of realistic scenarios ranging from grassroots politics to humorous gaffes, all while being exposed to important vocabulary like “battleground states.”
Whether victory brings an extra chuleta for your son or extra credit for your student, the Presidential Game is worth a shot. Spend a few hours unplugged from — everything except Being Latino — and enjoy it.
About Eric J Cortes
I wasn’t able to access the link for the game. Would you please re-add the link? I am very interested in purchasing it for my students. Thank You
My abuela would be an awesome president.
http://www.thepresidentialgame.com/
Thank You!