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To win you must advance, but you lose when you advance. Winner is really the last country with manpower left. After playing, students should feel incredibly frustrated…simulates feelings of officers of WW1 very well.

Object is to wipe everyone out. It is VERY possible that everyone dies and no one wins the game. It IS possible to win the game without using nuclear weapons. There are expansions, but not necessary or helpful in a classroom. It’s advantage is the game plays fast.

Variable dice can be used to determine probability. Or can be used for counting—results can range from 1-30.

Simulates the creation of modern civilizations. It comes with an introductory scenario that, while not balanced really, does a good job of showing the key issues in developing an empire in the ancient world. It is also great fun.

This would be very good to have in a 5-6 grade class level for rainy days and indoor recess. You have to move pieces to get them in the same order as the pieces in the board’s center, except both players play cards to switch pieces in order, back and forth AND the order in the center!

One player is the German guard, the others are POWs trying to escape. Colditz was the escape-proof castle and was the subject for a PBS NOVA special as well. There is a novel based on the book, along with memoirs.

Good game, but needs multiple decks. It is possible to have multiple games going on, but at $40/game, that can get pricey for a larger class. The game is a card came. The art is accurate and attractive. Cheap copies are available on ebay.

Good game, but needs multiple decks. It is possible to have multiple games going on, but at $30/game, that can get pricey for a larger class.

Not a normally covered area. Hard to get lots of students involved. “the Columbia block games" all use similar systems, so familiarity with one WILL make the others much easier as well.

Hard to bring a game to class with the name "Cheapass" on it. If used, whiteout the references and then play. Low quality components won't stand up to prolonged use.