Mission US: A video game that teaches US History
If your kids love video games and you want to introduce them to US history in a way that’s educational, I have a treat for you! Our kids at Modulo love adaptive learning games, I've scoured the market for programs that offer an engaging and insightful exploration of American history with little success until now. Developed by seasoned educators and game designers, Mission US has garnered accolades for its innovative approach to teaching history. Through immersive storytelling and dynamic gameplay, it transports players to pivotal moments in America's past, fostering empathy and critical thinking along the way. What sets Mission US apart is its ability to make history come alive, captivating learners of all ages with its rich narrative and interactive challenges. Ideal for homeschoolers, educators, and families seeking a hands-on approach to history, Mission US offers a unique blend of education and entertainment. While it's not without its flaws, notably in its pacing at times, the overall quality and depth of the experience make it a standout choice in the realm of historical education. Pro-tip: Encourage your child to explore beyond the game by discussing the historical events and themes encountered, deepening their understanding and engagement.
Grades: Grades 5-8
Cost: The best part is it’s free!
The in-depth review
Finding a quality US history program can be challenging for parents because many educational tools lack interactivity, diverse perspectives, and the ability to engage students deeply, whereas Mission US addresses these issues by providing a highly interactive, well-researched, and inclusive platform that makes learning history both engaging and educational.
About Mission US
Mission US is an award-winning educational media project that provides a unique way for middle school students to learn about pivotal moments in U.S. history. Developed by WNET New York Public Media in collaboration with the American Social History Project at CUNY, Mission US first launched in 2008. It has since become a staple in educational gaming, lauded for its engaging approach and historical accuracy. The project has garnered several awards, including the Japan Prize for Educational Media, the Games for Change Award for Most Significant Impact, and numerous Parents' Choice and International Serious Play Awards.
Who Mission US is for
Mission US is ideally suited for middle school students but has proven beneficial and engaging for a broader audience including high school students and adults. It's particularly valuable for educators looking to enhance their history curriculum with interactive, thought-provoking content that encourages critical thinking and empathy.
Why I recommend Mission US for Teaching US History
Mission US stands out for a multitude of reasons that enhance the educational experience for students. Firstly, its "choose your own adventure" style gameplay keeps students actively engaged, making the learning process both interactive and enjoyable. Each game is deeply researched, ensuring historical accuracy and a depth that enriches students' understanding of the eras they explore. Furthermore, the gameplay encourages the development of critical thinking skills as students make choices that directly influence outcomes, teaching them to consider the cause and effect of historical events. The inclusion of diverse perspectives, often omitted in traditional textbooks, provides a more comprehensive view of history. Lastly, the effectiveness of Mission US is well-documented through research, which consistently shows that students who use the program not only enhance their knowledge of U.S. history but also develop sharper analytical skills.
How Mission US works
Mission US uses interactive, narrative games that immerse players in historical settings. These games are designed to empower students to make choices that illustrate how ordinary people experienced past events. The educational journey is enhanced with comprehensive educator guides that provide additional resources and activities to bring the broader social, political, and economic contexts of the historical events to life in the classroom.
What Mission US covers
Mission US covers essential educational materials across several pivotal periods in American history, including:
The American Revolution
The institution and abolition of slavery
Native American history post-European settlement
Immigration and the experience of immigrants in early 20th century America
The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl
World War II and the internment of Japanese Americans
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s
These themes are explored through interactive narratives that place students in the roles of young people during these significant moments, enhancing their understanding of the historical, social, and political contexts.
For Crown or Colony? Explores the tensions in Boston leading up to the American Revolution in 1770.
Flight to Freedom: Follows the journey of a 14-year-old enslaved girl seeking freedom in 1848.
A Cheyenne Odyssey: Looks at the life of a Northern Cheyenne boy in 1866, highlighting the challenges faced by Native Americans.
City of Immigrants: Tells the story of a young Russian Jewish immigrant navigating life in New York City in 1907.
Up from the Dust: Deals with the Great Depression and Dust Bowl through the experiences of the Dunn twins in the 1930s.
Prisoner in My Homeland: Focuses on the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II in 1941.
No Turning Back: Set in the 1960s, it involves the civil rights movement through the experiences of a young African American in Mississippi.
Updates and Additions
Mission US has had recent updates and additions. The most notable recent updates include a technical upgrade of all missions to Unity 2021 LTS in the summer of 2023, which improved load times and overall game performance. Additionally, a new mission titled "Spirit of a Nation" began its design phase in the spring of 2023, which will explore American history in the 16th and 17th centuries. These updates are part of the ongoing efforts to keep the educational content current and engaging while expanding the historical periods covered by the games.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Mission US
What Parents Like
Engaging and Interactive: Parents appreciate how the game keeps students actively involved and interested in historical content.
Educational Content: They value the deep research and historical accuracy that go into each game scenario.
Encourages Critical Thinking: The decision-making aspect of the game helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Diverse Perspectives: Parents like that the game includes varied perspectives and stories, often overlooked in traditional history lessons.
Accessibility and Inclusivity: The game is praised for being accessible and inclusive, making it suitable for a wide range of learners.
What parents dislike
Technical Issues: Some parents have reported occasional bugs and issues with game performance, particularly with saving progress.
Complex Vocabulary for Younger Players: The language used can sometimes be too complex for younger children without guidance.
Requires Active Supervision: To avoid students skipping through important texts or discussions, active supervision is required.
Limited on Mobile Devices: Earlier versions were not fully compatible with all mobile devices, although recent updates have begun addressing this issue.
Special Needs
Dyslexia or Dysgraphia: For students with dyslexia or dysgraphia, traditional text-heavy learning can be particularly challenging. Mission US mitigates this challenge by offering a visually-rich, interactive experience that reduces reliance on extensive reading and writing. The game incorporates graphics, animations, and spoken dialogue to convey historical events and concepts, making it easier for these students to grasp and retain information without the stress of decoding large amounts of text.
ADHD, Executive Function Disorders, or Mild Intellectual Disabilities: Students with ADHD, executive function disorders, or mild intellectual disabilities often struggle with attention, organization, and decision-making. Mission US supports these learners by providing a structured, engaging format that captures their attention with interactive scenarios. The game's clear choices and immediate consequences help improve decision-making skills, while its episodic nature allows for natural breaks, which are beneficial for managing attention spans and cognitive load.
Tips from Parents on how to get the most out of Mission US
To maximize the educational benefits of Mission US for your child, consider incorporating the following strategies into your approach to using the game:
Supplement with Discussion: Use the game as a starting point for deeper discussions about the historical events and figures encountered.
Combine with Traditional Materials: Integrate the game with traditional learning materials to reinforce the historical concepts and vocabulary.
Active Participation: Encourage children to actively participate and make decisions in the game, discussing the outcomes and historical significance of these decisions.
Use Educator’s Guides: Take advantage of the extensive educator’s guides and supplemental materials provided to enhance the educational experience.
Monitor Progress: Regularly check in on your child’s progress through the game to ensure they understand and absorb the content.
Select Reviews from Parents and Teachers
Parent Review: "My kids were completely absorbed by the historical stories and characters. It's so much more engaging than their usual textbooks."
Homeschool Parent Review: "As a homeschooling mom, I find Mission US to be a priceless resource that brings history to life for my children in a way that books alone cannot."
Teacher Review: "The interactive nature of Mission US allows my students to experience history firsthand, making the lessons memorable and impactful. It's a fantastic supplement to our curriculum."
Parent of a Child with Special Needs: "My son has dyslexia, and traditional history classes can be a struggle for him. Mission US has been a game-changer with its visual and interactive approach, making learning history accessible and fun for him."
Educator Review: "In my classroom, Mission US has stimulated insightful discussions and critical thinking among students. It encourages them to consider multiple perspectives of historical events, which is a crucial skill in history education."
Why Trust Me
With over 20 years of teaching experience across diverse environments like New York City, Paris, San Francisco, and conflict regions in the Middle East, I bring a broad and deep perspective to educational tools. I hold a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and have taught a wide variety of subjects, including history, to different learning archetypes. My work in tech has sharpened my eye for sound, user-friendly product design. Additionally, I’ve spent over seven years in the secular homeschooling community, teaching children of all ages and coaching parents, and I am deeply passionate about making history both accessible and engaging.
How I vetted
To ensure a comprehensive evaluation of Mission US, I delved into hundreds of online reviews covering various history programs. I then analyzed studies and hundreds of reviews from parents and teachers about Mission US specifically. Additionally, I consulted with historians who are also homeschooling their children, gaining insights from academic professionals who use these tools in a home education environment.
What I Looked For and How Mission US Stacks Up
Mission US meets all the critical criteria I looked for in a history education program: it is secular, accurate, decolonized, inclusive, anti-racist, mastery-based, and exceptionally engaging for young learners, making it a highly effective tool for teaching U.S. history.
Secular: Mission US focuses purely on historical events without any religious bias, making it suitable for a diverse range of users regardless of their religious backgrounds. It adheres strictly to historical facts and interpretations based on evidence.
Accurate: The narratives within Mission US are deeply researched and collaboratively created with historians to ensure accuracy. The scenarios are based on real events and figures, with a strong emphasis on historical integrity.
Decolonized: Mission US makes a concerted effort to present history from multiple perspectives, not just from the viewpoint of dominant groups. It includes the experiences of Native Americans, African Americans, and other marginalized groups, offering a broader, more inclusive view of U.S. history.
Inclusive: The game excels in inclusivity by featuring diverse characters and storylines. It highlights the roles and experiences of historically underrepresented groups, providing a platform for voices often excluded from mainstream history education.
Anti-Racist: By actively including the struggles and contributions of various racial and ethnic groups, Mission US fosters an understanding of systemic racism and its impact on American history. It encourages players to think critically about race and privilege.
Mastery-Based: Mission US allows students to progress through historical scenarios, making decisions and seeing the outcomes based on those choices. This method helps reinforce learning as students apply historical concepts in different situations, thereby achieving mastery through interactive practice.
Fun and Engaging for Kids: The "choose your own adventure" style of gameplay keeps students engaged by allowing them to take active roles in the narrative. The interactive elements and critical decision points make learning history dynamic and enjoyable, far removed from rote memorization or passive learning.
Who is it an ideal fit for?
Mission US is ideal for middle school students who thrive on interactive and visually engaging learning formats. It's particularly well-suited for learners who benefit from seeing history in action, rather than just reading about it. This program is also a great choice for educators and parents looking to supplement traditional history education with rich, immersive experiences that encourage critical thinking and empathy. Its narrative-driven gameplay makes historical events accessible and relevant, helping students to understand the importance of various perspectives in shaping history.
Who is it not a fit for?'
While Mission US is an exceptional tool for learning, it functions best as a supplement rather than a standalone curriculum. Additionally, the realistic portrayal of historical conflicts and social issues might be intense for some younger children or sensitive players. Parents and educators should consider previewing the content to ensure it aligns with their educational goals and the emotional readiness of their students.
Alternatives and supplements to Mission US
For World History: For students who want a more robust curriculum with hands-on components, Curiosity Chronicles offers an in-depth history, project-based program with a strong narrative focus that might be more straightforward than the interactive game format of Mission US.
Visual learners who prefer video content to interactive game play: For students who find watching videos more engaging than interactive gameplay, Crash Course offers high-quality, accurate, and inclusive world history lessons in video format. For younger students or those specifically interested in U.S. history, Liberty's Kids provides animated video content that is accessible and engaging, ideal for visual learners who enjoy a more narrative-driven approach to history.
Learners seeking a comprehensive, free resource for U.S. history and social studies: The Zinn Education Project offers a range of teaching materials that present a more nuanced view of American history, emphasizing social justice and the experiences of marginalized groups. This resource is ideal for learners and educators interested in a critical approach to history education.
Teens looking for an unconventional and humorous approach to history: For older students who appreciate a more informal and entertaining approach to learning, Drunk History can be a compelling option. This series features narrators recounting historical events while intoxicated, with actors enacting these descriptions, providing a unique and amusing take on history.
The best part is it’s free!
Mission US is a free online resource, making it an excellent value for educational and historical enrichment without financial investment. This aspect makes it even more accessible for classrooms and families looking to enhance their history education without additional cost.
Highlights
Based on reviews and feedback from educators, parents, and students, one of the most loved content pieces within Mission US is the game "Flight to Freedom". This game allows players to navigate the experiences of Lucy King, a 14-year-old enslaved girl seeking freedom from slavery in Kentucky in 1848. Here are some reasons why this content is particularly appreciated:
Ways to Get Mission US
Mission US can be accessed online through its official website. It is also available as a mobile app for tablets, enhancing its accessibility and ease of use in various educational environments, whether in traditional classrooms or home schooling setups.
Affilate Disclaimer
While I provide detailed and unbiased reviews of educational products like Mission US, please note that in other contexts, I may earn a commission on purchases made through affiliate links. However, this review is provided as a straightforward educational resource without any such affiliations.
Sources and Further Reading
Mission US | PBS LearningMedia
Selected Projects: Mission US | electricfunstuff
Mission US - TeachersFirst Review
Why Use Mission US? (4-minute series overview)
Up from the Dust Research Summary EDC/CCT pg. 1 Mission US
About "No Turning Back" - MissionUS
Stamped From The Beginning — Ibram X. Kendi
The Journey From 'Colored' To 'Minorities' To 'People Of Color' : Code Switch : NPR
More US History Resources to Explore
Discover IllumiNative, a groundbreaking Social Studies curriculum that brings Native American histories and cultures to the forefront. Ideal for K-12 education, this program uses authentic narratives to enhance understanding and respect for Native perspectives. Access to most resources is free, making it accessible for all educational settings.