Traveling the Silk Road

TCS 4th and 5th grade Enrichment students have been exploring ancient China and the Silk Road. To experience this historical trade route and the difficulties travelers faced along the way, the students played a simulation game in which they were travelers on the Silk Road. The object of the game was to travel from Venice to China and back again and earn the most gold coins. The students earned gold coins by buying and selling valuable items including silk, porcelain, jade, rugs, and tin. They had to strategize a plan to ensure they had enough money for food and camels to cross the desert, and students even had the opportunity to purchase a “paiza,” or golden passport, as protection from the Mongol warriors.