Combining fun and learning, Radnor High School teacher Paul Wright recently used the popular board game Catan to teach students about the inner workings of government, writes Max Bennett for the Radnor Patch.

Catan, previously known as Settlers of Catan, is a board game created by Germany’s Klaus Teuber.

Using the game, students in Wright’s government and economics classes learn first-hand about supply, demand, trade, barter, and opportunity cost.

“The game is really fun, and it also makes you think,” said freshman Jahmir Dixon.

Players assume the roles of settlers in the game. The goal is to build and develop holdings while trading for the resources you require.

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His students got so into the game that Wright decided to organize a tournament. His students played a series of in-class games throughout May, and the six winners competed at a championship table as part of an all-day Catan tournament on May 30.

At the end of the day, Dixon emerged as champion.

“I went in with a plan: build the most cities and roads … get the biggest army and longest road,” he said. “I was just building a lot, and I won.”

Read more about Radnor High School teacher Paul Wright’s new teaching tool from the Radnor Patch by clicking here.

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