"games to teach US History map skills and knowledge" Topic

I recall years ago playing several different boardgames and then computer games of US presidential election campaigns. I recall boardgames, and no doubt there are now computer games or internet games, of the Revolution, or the Civil War, or the Oregon Trail, in which players pick up geographical knowledge almost incidentally, simply by playing. I used to spend a week in Euro History playing DIPLOMACY and expected knowledge of that map afterwards, which for anyone who really engaged was pretty automatic.

What games are available NOW and simple enough to use in a classroom setting, but are played on a map of the US, or part of it, such that geographical knowledge comes automatically from the play?

Ticket to Ride, though a few of the cities are slightly displaced. But children can at least get a general grasp of relative locations of US and Canadian cities from the game.

You might post this question on BoardGameGeek, where there are vast numbers of experts on childrens' games, Eurogames, etc.

Forum for requests for recommendations: link

(Moderators: I haven't checked the FAQ, but I apologize in advance if this violates policy by directing users to other forums. I considered this link directly responsive to the request and felt that the question was peripheral to miniatures.)

You might also look at Academy Games' product line, which includes several American History titles. link

1775 gets great reviews.

It's also based on the same engine as 878 AD: The Viking Invasion of England, which I review on my blog (if you want a feel for how the game engine would play, my review of 878 is here: link )

The game is a lot less complex than it initially appears. I'd say it's easily playable by ages 12 and up, and possibly even ages 10 and up with adult guidance.

Rail Baron is another train game you might look at.

Empire builder would work.It would show both map location and items produced near them.

Thanks, all; I had forgotten about the railroad games. And emckinney, yes, thanks, it IS peripheral to minis and your link is what I needed.

Not a criticism, just an explanation to the mods in case I'm violating policy.

Another oldie (1950's) that was actually intended for what you want – The Game of the States.

Yes, I had The Game of the States. Great idea, if you can find it!

link

boardgamegeek.com may be the place to search.
Simple to use in a class room setting is dependent on whether you teach High school or Elementary.

search for American War of Independence or American civil war for those periods. Usually these are 2 player games but some of the newer type like Liberty or Death are 4 player.

the card system of LoD or Washington's War also teach the various events that occurred and the playbook of the former explains the event in more detail.

O