Objective:

Students will explore the geographic features of Medieval Europe and their impacts on life by using conditional logic to simulate historical decision-making in a card game. They will apply computational thinking by using if-then conditions and documenting how geography affected daily decisions.

Materials Needed:

• Geography cards (rivers, mountains, forests, etc.)

• Condition cards (rain, snow, drought, etc.)

• Game boards or large sheets of paper for group documentation

• Worksheets for reflections on geography and decision-making

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Begin by discussing Medieval Europe's geography, including its climate and topography. 

  • Explain how these factors influenced where people settled, how they traded, and how they lived.

• Group Activity: 

  • Divide students into small groups and hand out geography and condition card decks. 

  • Students draw cards and make decisions based on what they draw. 

  • For example, if a group draws a river card, they must decide how to cross it, taking weather conditions into account.

• Conditional Decision-Making: 

  • Groups use conditional logic (if-then) to navigate the geography. 

  • For example, “If we draw a mountain card, then we must take a longer trade route.” 

  • Document the paths and decisions.

• Discussion and Reflection: 

  • After the game, groups present their scenarios and decisions. 

  • Discuss how geography, like rivers or mountains, dictated life and trade in Medieval Europe and draw parallels to how technology today uses similar logical conditions to make decisions.

Equity and Access:

Provide varied difficulty levels by creating different types of scenarios that are accessible to all students. Pair students of different strengths to promote collaboration.

Real-World Application:

Relate the activity to modern transportation systems, where road conditions, weather, and geography affect decision-making. Discuss how computers use conditional logic in mapping apps to help people navigate similar obstacles today.

CS Practice(s):

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students recognize how geographic features present problems that need to be solved.

• Developing and Using Abstractions: Students use abstractions to represent complex terrain and conditions in simplified game mechanics.

Standard(s):

• CA HSS 7.6.1

• CA CS 6-8.AP.12

Objective:

Students will create and modify a game in MakeCode Arcade, Scratch, App Lab, or another coding platform that simulates life in Medieval Europe, using geographic and climate conditions to influence player actions. They will integrate control structures and compound conditions into their game to simulate real-world decisions based on geography.

Materials Needed:

• Computers or tablets

• Pre-made Medieval Europe game template

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Begin with a discussion of how geography impacted life in Medieval Europe. 

  • Show examples of how geography affects modern life (e.g., traffic navigation systems). 

  • Introduce a coding platform and explain the task of building a geography-based game.

• Collaborative Coding: 

  • Students create a game by beginning with a character and a map representing Medieval Europe. 

  • Guide them through adding conditional statements that affect the player’s movement. 

  • For example, "If the player encounters a river, they must find a bridge to cross, but only if the weather is favorable."

• Game Development: 

  • In pairs, students add different conditions, such as mountains that slow the player’s movement or snow that makes certain paths impassable. 

  • They use compound conditions (e.g., "If the player encounters a forest AND it is raining, they must wait a turn.").

• Testing and Refining: 

  • Students test their games, adjusting variables to refine how geography and weather interact with gameplay. 

  • They reflect on how their control structures influence outcomes and how Medieval Europeans faced similar decisions.

• Discussion and Reflection: 

  • After testing, students share their games with the class. 

  • Lead a discussion on how geography affected life in the past and draw parallels to how algorithms today make decisions based on complex conditions (e.g., self-driving cars).

Equity and Access:

Offer different levels of complexity in the game design, allowing students to build on their existing coding knowledge. Provide tutorials or additional support for students new to coding.

Real-World Application:

Discuss how modern geographic information systems (GIS) and navigation apps use similar logic to suggest routes, taking into account terrain, traffic, and weather, and how they build upon geographic and cultural constraints like those seen in Medieval Europe.

CS Practice(s):

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students create games that simulate Medieval geography-based challenges.

• Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts: Students iterate on their game designs, improving how conditions affect gameplay.

Standard(s):

• CA HSS 7.6.1

• CA CS 6-8.AP.12

• CA CS 6-8.IC.20