This is a quick smattering from the hundreds of different free online history games and interactives I have come across. This slice of the history games web underscores a few key points behind building the Playing History collaborative directory.
First, the list gives a quick sense of the different diversity of groups making history games. Each of these places have their own silos of content, making it nearly impossible for teachers to get a quick sense of what sorts of games are out there on a given topic.
If you get a chance to click through some of the links you will get a clear sense of the other need Playing History can address. The quality of these games and interactives varies widely. By allowing educators to rate and review these games in one central location Playing History can ensure educators can find both topical an high quality games.
If you get a chance to take a look at some of these post your reactions and thoughts about them in the comments.
From NOVA via WGBH Boston
Escape from Antarctica– Students relive Ernest Shackleton’s voyage from Antarctica’a Elephant Island to South Georgia island using a sextant and a chart.
Galileo’s Experiments– Students conduct virtual versions of Galileo’s thought experiments, including those using an inclined plane and a pendulum.
Map of the Maya World– Students explore 15 Mayan cities in an interactive map.
From the National Museum of American History
You Be the Historian– Students examine objects left behind by the Springer family, who lived in Delaware more than 200 years ago.
From Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg Coins: Students examine the diverse types of money jingling in the pockets and purses of colonial ancestors.
From the British Broadcasting Service
Viking Quest – Students explore Viking life by building a ship and looting monasteries.
Who Wants to Be a Cotton Millionaire? – Students run a cotton company in Victorian Brittan
From the Discovery Channel
Attack on Pearl Harbor– Students explore the virtual battleground through an interactive map
The Emperor’s Tomb– Students enter the mysterious tomb of the first emperor of China.
From the History Channel
Explore Shermans March– Students trace this historic civil war event
From the National Portrait Gallery
A Brush with History – Students explore famous portraits.
From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Holocaust era in Croatia- Students explore daily life in holocaust era Croatia
From PBS Kids Go
Day in the life of a Native American Boy (ca.1855) -Students learn about daily life of Native American children in the mid 19th century.