Pandemic Overview
Pandemic is very much like the movie Contagion but in a board game format. It is a cooperative game of 2-4 players who navigate through the world map to stop the infestation of 4 potent viruses. All the players begin in Atlanta where the Center for Disease Control is located, and they make their way around the world to stop the spread of the virus. Each player has a different role which grants them a special ability. These abilities affect the strategy of the game which keeps everyone engaged.
The game runtime is listed at 45 minutes but that is once everyone if comfortable playing the game, you are looking at a 60-75 minute game with the explanation. It is an incredible game whose theme has many layers that can be used in various courses. The theme has similarities to the latest trend of zombies which students will be able to relate to.
How to play in class (Difficulty: Hard)
In the classroom, have this game run simultaneously with other games/activities and have a rotation throughout the semester. This is not a game where you can pair up people per player token since each player in the game is already part of a team. This restricts the player count to a max of 4 players per game. If you choose to have all the students play at once, you will need at least 6 games.
You can also choose to play the game collectively but it would only work with a very disciplined and engaged class. The game would be played on the teacher’s desk with a document camera connected to the projector. The teacher would then allow different students to take a turn and there can be a class discussion on what to do next. The teacher would note the cities that each role occupies on the board so that the information on the projector is not overwhelming.
Courses you may consider for this game
- English
- Math
- Politics
- Geography
Assessment Exemplars
- Grade 11 English
- Grade 11 Functions
- Grade 11 Politics in Action. Making Change
Teaching With Board Games 