The ATA College Prep juniors and seniors in U.S. Government teamed up with the middle-school U.S. History students to participate in a cooperative learning activity last Friday. Students were given a territory and resources in order to form a colony – their objective was to accumulate enough resources, through negotiations and trade with other colonies, for their colony to thrive.

Older and younger students were paired together, and students were given 45 minutes to complete their mission.  Obstacles to overcome were distance, time, shortage of certain resources, and aggression from neighboring colonies.

“The activity was a fun way to access the topics we’ve been talking and reading about in Gov and English while getting out of the classroom and moving around,” said junior Alex Sheddan.

ATACP US Government teacher Jennifer McEwan led the students through the exercise and found it to be a successful learning experience for them.

“This simulation gave students an active, hands-on opportunity to cooperate, negotiate, and problem solve.  At the conclusion, parallels were drawn to the colonial experience in the United States and the obstacles of post-revolutionary America.  Students enthusiastically participated and had fun while learning!”