When studying humans, one of the major lessons is that all humans have the same fundamental needs. Still, they can be fulfilled in different ways. For example, everyone requires shelter, but those shelters have looked very different depending on the era or environment. Everyone wears clothing, but that clothing can look very different depending on climate and decoration. Everyone requires food, but there are a variety of styles of cooking, as well as different plants and animals available for consumption.

In the past, before grocery stores and modern farming, all humans had to work very hard to collect their food. In the time of early humans, they started primarily as hunters and gatherers. Foraging and gathering food was the easiest and least risky way of obtaining food. Still, a lot was needed to feed a (growing) group of people. Hunting small game was typically not very risky but required skill or ingenuity and was more difficult than foraging. However, small games provided protein. Next, there was big game hunting, which required many hunting skills, and could be dangerous. However, the amount of food (fat and protein) and functional bone, hide, and tendon material was substantial. Finally, there was massive game hunting, like wooly mammoths. High levels of skill and patience were needed for megafauna hunting. The threat of danger was very high because one swipe of a trunk or tusk could quickly kill someone. If they were unsuccessful during the hunt, they and their tribe could starve, but if they were successful, it yielded giant amounts of meat and supplies. This game will simulate the risk versus reward of hunting and gathering.

This game can be played indoors and out. If played outdoors, this version will emphasize throwing, bouncing, and punting a ball in an attempt to hit a target. Suppose you play indoors and can access several basketball hoops (even better if adjustable). In that case, you can work on various basketball skills. Students decide what to do to best help the class (tribe). The children’s decisions will ultimately affect their team’s score as they weigh the pros and cons of each hunting and gathering decision. Afterward, it’s interesting to discuss the students' strategies and whether they succeeded. Ultimately, the game revolves around the idea of risk and reward. Students will either try a complex skill worth more points or go for the easier skill worth less. The students will experiment and see which skills they are best at so that they can contribute the most to the overall effort.

Materials: 

·      Outdoors

o   At least two substantial containers (55-gallon trash containers work well)

o   At least two balls of the same type that can be thrown bounced, and punted easily (a soccer ball or kickball work well) (one per person is best)

·      Indoors

o   Basketball hoops (more the better, adjustable is better)

o   As many basketballs as possible (one per person is best)

·      For both

o   Whiteboard or chalkboard to record scores

§  Chalk or marker

Minimum Number of Students Needed: Theoretically, this game could be played by a single person. However, it can accommodate large groups if you have enough materials for each student. 

Age: Upper and Lower Elementary