Hazelnut Passage

The two games that I liked were The Great Flu and Stop Disasters.

The Great Flu

I have played games similar to this one except I was the flu trying to wipe out the population of the Earth so it was nice to be on the other side for a change.  This game is so realistic in how you play.  I tried my hardest to stop the flu but in the end everyone got it and the world was doomed.  This game is very strategic and a great problem solver exercise for students.  Not only do you have to stop the flu but you have a budget to work with as well.  This makes it not only a science lesson, one in communicable diseases and hygiene, but in math, economics and politics as well.  This would be a great hook activity into a lesson on the spread of diseases.

Stop Disasters

I learned that nature will always win in the end.  Stop disasters allows you to simulate what it is like to prepare for natural disasters in different areas.  The one I played was trying to help a village survive a hurricane, and well I didn't succeed.  Just like the first game this one has a budget as well and you must meet certain requirements in order to pass the level.  I forgot to meet one and didn't pass.  This game would be great to introduce a unit on meteorology and the different effects that storms have on communities.  This may also lead into a community project to make sure that their town has the proper procedures and shelters in place in case a natural disaster occurred.


I can see myself using both of these games in my classroom.  They are not only fun but informative.  Games like these may also inspire some students to explore possible careers, which is a wonderful thing in of itself.  This opens up the lesson beyond this is a disease or this is a tornado.  It allows students to safely experience these things in their own classroom.  I love these games and like I said previously, I will you them and games like them, in my classroom.