Using Our Games in Class: A Practical Guide for Teachers

More and more teachers are looking for new ways to connect with their students, especially when it comes to transmitting history, culture, and values. At Culture Games, we know this, and that's why our games are not just for weekend gamers: they are also living pedagogical tools, designed to bring heritage into the classroom without losing pace, excitement, or content.

If you are a teacher and you're wondering how you could use games like El Santo Encuentro or TREASON – The Last Vote in your classes, here's a guide designed for you.

Why introduce board games into the classroom?

Using games in class is not a fad: it's an effective way to foster active learning. These are some of the concrete benefits that centers that have already used our games have identified:

- Increased student motivation and participation.

- Meaningful and emotional learning.

- Cooperative work and critical thinking development.

- Better understanding of historical or cultural context.

- Inclusion of students with different learning styles.

And the best part: all of this happens while they play.

Real examples: The Holy Encounter in Lent

During Lent, several educational centers in Barbastro used El Santo Encuentro as a complementary activity to work on:

- The history of the local Holy Week.

- The organization of the brotherhoods.

- The role of intangible heritage in the identity of the town.

In small groups, students coordinated a procession in the game, facing unexpected events, making decisions, and understanding —in a fun way— everything that happens behind a tradition they might have taken for granted.

How to integrate games into the classroom?

Here are some concrete proposals for incorporating our games into your classes:

In History, Culture or Religion:

- Use the game as an initial activity to activate prior knowledge.

- As a final activity, to practically reinforce what has been learned.

- Introduce discussions after playing: what values emerge? What historical elements are represented?

In Tutoring or Values Education:

- Work on decision-making, respect for cultural diversity, or historical memory.

- Foster teamwork and conflict resolution.

In Interdisciplinary Activities:

- Connect the game with projects on local identity, oral expression, or artistic creation.

- Create new cards with students based on other traditions in their environment.

What do you need to get started?

- One copy of the game (can be shared among several groups).

- Estimated time: between 45 and 60 minutes per session.

- Optional: a small introduction to the historical or festive context to enrich the experience.

And if you need extra materials, at Culture Games we provide them: didactic guides, tracking sheets, and assessment proposals.

Where to get the games?

You can get our games at culturegames.es, partner stores, or educational fairs. We also offer discounts and special conditions for schools.

If you are a teacher, facilitator, or work in education, write to us. We will help you adapt the game to your classroom, educational level, and didactic objectives.

Because playing is learning. And if you also do it with history and emotion, even better.