Interactive programs for civic, media, and financial literacy.

  • At State of Play, we believe that some of the most important lessons about society, leadership, and economics are best understood through interactive experiences.

  • Our programs are designed for schools, libraries, youth organizations, and community programs, and are structured so educators can easily integrate them into classrooms or after-school programming.

  • Our curriculum combines games, simulations, and media analysis to help students understand how real-world systems work. Through these activities, students develop skills in civic literacy, media literacy, financial literacy, collaboration, and critical thinking.

The world we build

Media Literacy • Civic Literacy • Systems Thinking

Inspired by “1,000 Players Simulate Civilization: Rich & Poor” by Ish (Watch on YouTube)

The World We Build is a game-based civic learning program that helps students understand how societies function and how decisions shape communities. Through interactive simulations, students explore governance, media influence, and economic systems while collaborating to solve shared challenges.

Program Overview

The program builds critical thinking, collaboration, and media literacy while introducing students to key civic concepts. Students leave with a deeper understanding of how power, information, and resources shape real-world systems.

Skills & Learning Outcomes

Students participate in collaborative scenarios where they must make decisions about leadership, resources, communication, and community priorities. As the simulation evolves, they experience how choices and narratives influence outcomes across the entire system.

Systems & Decision-Making

State of Play is launching a pilot with select schools, parents, and community organizations to refine the curriculum and gather educator feedback. Pilot partners receive early access to materials, facilitator guides, and opportunities to help shape future program development.

Pilot Program

interested in becoming a partner?

Financial Literacy Through Play

Budgeting • Resource Management • Economic Decision-Making

Community support helps State of Play expand access to financial literacy education for young people.

State of Play’s Financial Literacy modules use games and simulations to help students understand how money, resources, and economic systems work in everyday life. Instead of only discussing financial concepts, students practice real-world decision-making through interactive activities and collaborative challenges.

Program Overview

Students develop foundational financial literacy skills including budgeting, planning, and understanding trade-offs. The module also builds collaboration, problem-solving, and systems thinking through hands-on learning experiences.

Skills & Learning Outcomes

In this activity, students participate directly using a game-based economy environment using titles such as Minecraft, Roblox, or other accessible digital tools. While playing, students are asked to actively track their economic decisions throughout the session. This includes recording the resources they gather, items they trade, and materials they invest in building projects.

Game Economy Lab

For classrooms without gaming technology, we also offer a game-agnostic classroom simulation that teaches the same financial concepts. Students receive resources, set goals, and negotiate with others while tracking budgets and making strategic decisions.

Resource Economy Simulation

Interested in bringing game-based learning to your classroom or organization?

State of Play works with educators, libraries, and youth programs to integrate games, simulations, and interactive media into learning environments.

Our team also develops original curriculum focused on civic literacy, media literacy, and financial literacy, including our pilot program The World We Build.

info@changingthegame.org