Gaming+Project

__Overview- The ReDistricting Game __

According the Constitution of the United States, “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons...every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.”

This past year the United States government in accordance with the Constitutional requirement directed a Census to be taken amongst all its citizens. The purposes of the Census include determining population shifts, establishing funding for public projects, gaining data on birth and death rates, and perhaps most significantly for the apportionment of representatives to Congress.

 Given that the apportionment of congressional districts is such an important matter, students in my Government and Economics class will complete a project in which they make their arguments about the issue of apportionment. As part of the unit regarding the legislative branch, students will examine the issue of gerrymandering through playing the online game, ‘The ReDistricting Game.” Within the game students will complete five different scenarios dealing with the apportionment of legislative districts. Students must follow the guidelines established by the game for each level. As students play they will come to recognize both the challenges of apportionment and subsequently the arguments made by majority and minority parties.

At the conclusion of the exercises students will be given a series of options to complete as a culminating project, developing a informational pamphlet, creating a video, developing an op-ed, writing letters to members of Congress soliciting their views on apportionment. Students will also have the option of developing their own projects to demonstrate they have mastered the objectives of the unit. The culminating project in combination with the game will harness 21st century skills in a meaningful way that is both challenging and meaningful within a real-world context.

In conclusion, “The ReDistricting Game” is a great tool for enhancing student understanding of the challenges regarding apportionment. Students will play the role of legislators facing key challenges that students must confront. In a traditional classroom students likely would have read a few article about gerrymandering and then answered a few questions on a test. This real-world application invites students to delve into the topic and develop an understanding of not only the process but also gain a perspective of the wider issues facing our union especially regarding the two party system. Students will likely come out of the unit with a greater understanding of the differences of opinions regarding fairness and partisanship within the political system. Students will lastly be able to shape an argument about their own legislative district and the role of government within their community.

__Lesson Design__

1. Students will read the text of Constitution regarding the Census. Students will analyze what text is actually stating, students will then read a [|brief pamphlet] from the Census Bureau about the concept of apportionment and will be given a map that shows the division of [|congressional districts in Pennsylvania].

2. Students will use the map and the pamphlet to post their reactions to the class wiki based on the information they received. Students will respond to two questions: Does the map fairly represent the citizens of Pennsylvania? What is the fairest way to apportion the congressional districts within Pennsylvania?

3. Students will be given an introduction the next activity on an interactive game regarding the concept of apportionment. Students will view the brief introductory video on the game that describes what redistricting is and the concepts of the game.

4. Students will be given a brief tutorial/demonstration on how “[|The ReDistricting Game]” is played; students are encouraged to follow along on their own screens. Once students have had a chance to ask questions they may begin playing the “The ReDistricting Game”, students will work in pairs to redraw congressional districts based off the parameters stated in the levels introduction. Students are to take brief notes regarding challenges faced and successes. In other words students will describe what they did to achieve the objectives and get their plan passed within their state.

5. Once students have completed the game, we will conduct a circle talk, students will discuss their findings based off the game play, students will discuss the following items:
 *  What were some of the struggles you had in achieving the objectives?
 * What did you learn about the concept of apportionment?
 * What is gerrymandering? Why is it often used?
 * What systems could be put into place to improve the system?
 * Would you community benefit by being a split district or by having one representative?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Students will then develop a culminating project that will be published. Students will have the option to complete one of the following assignments: write an opinion-editorial to a local newspaper, produce a documentary highlighting the controversies behind apportionment, send a letter to a local representative expressing viewpoints on the issue, or students may self design a project that demonstrates their understanding of apportionment.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">__Resources__

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Article, "[|On Gaming, Politics and Reform]." Article from the Washington Post, "[|The New Political Game Makes a Point]."