Social Studies: Middle School Games

The tables below share some great resources we've found for using games to teach social study skills to middle school age students. If you have similar games to share, add them in the "comments" section on the bottom of this page.

US History:

Explore Jamestown


The game is essentially mine sweeper with a twist.  Students need to uncover the different artifacts and avoid the hazards.  Once an artifact is recovered, the student can click on it and read about how it relates to the history of Jamestown.




In Strike it Rich, players take on the persona of a different person who took part in the gold rush.  Players must balance different attributes, such as health and wealth, while they try to strike it rich.

World History:

Social Studies: MS Games

Pyramid Challenge

Players simply act as the person responsible for building the pharaoh’s pyramid.  Students are given different choice such as what building site or materials to use.  Build it correctly and you win, make to many mistakes and you lose.  The game gives a lot of great information, but isn’t the most fun

Mummy Maker

Players simply act as the person responsible for mummification.  They are offered different options on how to prepare the body for mummification.  Make too many mistakes the body is ruined and you fail.  The game offers a lot of information on the mummification process and the religious beliefs associated with it.   



Adventures In Ancient Greece takes students through different aspect of Greece's history, geography and culture. Along the way students can test there knowledge in a variety of quizzes.  



Muck and Brass

Students play the part of a 19th century capitalist creating a textile mill.  They are offered options on where to locate the mill, who to employ and what to invest in.  The game gives great rationale behind why certain choices were more logical or economical than others.  

Students answer a series of trivia questions about ancient Rome.  Each correct answers helps in the construction of a trebuchet which will be used to fling the "teacher".  An incorrect answer means you must start all over again.


Do I Have a Right?

In this game, students play the part of an attorney managing a law firm that specializes in the 27 amendments.  Players must match the different clients and their possible civil rights violations up with the attorney who specializes in that aspect of the law (ie freedom of religion, double jeopardy).

Executive Command

Executive Command is a game in which a player acts as the president.  In the game, students must delegate responsibilities amongst the different cabinet positions, serve as commander and chief as well as serve as the chief diplomat of the country.



The Road to the Capitol
In The Rode to the Capitol, students navigate a congressional campaign answering trivia questions to gain popularity in the polls.