Our time in Village flies by. There are so many different new things to learn, new problems to solve and new situations to navigate. We unofficially close the game the day before mini-fair. The bank closes and Peep University transcripts are due. On that day, "Appraisal Day," we invite volunteers in to act as real estate agents. Students present their land and their homes as if they were selling them - highlighting their assets and answering questions. Appraisers (including myself) are often floored by the detailed thought that students have put into their work. Innovations and imagination abound. There is a reason for everything -- "I put the window here because my peep wanted to look out at the woods when she woke up." "My peep really worries about bugs so I put the house up on stilts." "My peep likes privacy so I didn't put any windows in." Students receive three appraisals with personal notes about their property and work. Those appraisals are averaged and folded into the final Financial Wrap Up.
But, of course, the financial literacy and house building are only a part of the game. This year, we also wanted students to reflect on the governments they built by reading about strong democracies reading about strong democracies and comparing the relative strengths and weaknesses comaring the relative strengths and weaknesses of their village government. Villagers who experience some struggle around government often develop a much deeper understanding of the fragility of democracy and a greater appreciation of the work citizens must do to protect democracy. Students pass a law that states anyone can leave the town meeting if they want to, they just don't get a vote. They soon learn that leaving unfettered power in the hands of a few while one "gets on with the 'important things'" results almost always in abuse of that power (these are fourth and fifth graders, however, so, occasionally, power is left in the hands of a very fair minded leader committed to civic duty and everything turns out OK.). In any case, reflecting on the government, helps students begin to articulate what they think is important about being a citizen.
Finally, we ask students to reflect on the many ways they can explore village. Did they have a business? Go to college? Learn to do new things? Spend time carefully working on their home? Get involved in politics? Have a family? Work at a job? Where did they find interest? Where did they find challenge? And, as they came to the end of the game, are they satisfied with how they spent their time? (Gulp...)
There is a lot to think about - and our time is too busy to allow the careful reflection that the experience warrants. That's why we send home the reflection so students can work on it with their families - during the quieter pacing of summer (all of the files are linked above in case you need them.).
Village sticks with kids. When our alums come back, it is often Village stories they tell. We hope that these reflections will help deepen those memories and the learning those experiences can hold. -mmm
Thanks to Don Findlay for these AMAZING pictures of mini-fair! (Our blog host is being finicky this morning and has stopped uploading - so here are the mini-fair pictures in an album. The images below are from appraisal day.)