If you’ve sensed big things are happening in the Grade 5 classrooms this week, you are right – the World Peace Game has taken center stage! For the past two weeks, fifth graders have been trying to resolve global conflict with the goal of achieving world peace. They have discovered new strengths in negotiation and critical thinking along the way.

At the heart of the “game” is a multilevel, plexiglass shelving structure that warehouses various world resources in the sea, land, air and space. Similar to Model UN, Students have been assigned various roles as leaders of different countries, global conditions and organizations. During the two-week period, they have been learning more about their roles, protocols and rules to achieve the end game: world peace.

The World Peace Game began in 1978 when teacher John Hunter devised an activity that would help children learn how to solve problems through harmony and peaceful solutions – within a chaotic and often violent world. The game requires students to apply multiple thinking and problem-solving strategies to situations and negotiations with the object of resolving or reducing all conflicts, increase the value of your country and to develop thinkers who are equipped to solve problems in multiple ways. This is the third year the Bolles lower school students have participated in the valuable learning experience.

“The World Peace Game is a hands-on political simulation that gives players the opportunity to explore the connectedness of the global community through the lens of the economic, social, and environmental crises and the imminent threat of war. The goal of the game is to extricate each country from dangerous circumstances and achieve global prosperity with the least amount of military intervention. As ‘nation teams,’ students will gain greater understanding of the critical impact of information and how it is used,” the World Peace Game Foundation explains on its website.

Students, who all assume different roles in the game as leaders of different countries, funding organizations, treasuries, the weather, government bodies and other groups. Students learned to consider such thoughts as, “Does it make sense? Or, can you accept the consequences? Or, can you afford it?” The day is run according to a very structured timetable and students enjoyed the pace and rigor of the assignments.

The game concludes January 17. Students on the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus will participate in the World Peace Games this spring.

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