World Events

What Do Players Learn? | How Do You Play?
How Do I Get the game World Events?

What Do Players Learn?
While preparing for and playing WORLD EVENTS, players learn about the major political and cultural events of the most recent calendar year. They learn to be aware of what is happening to them, their country, and their world. In addition, players learn to research a particular Theme that varies from year to year and to prepare notes and study materials about that Theme. Examples of past Themes include "Women in World History," "The 1960's," "The Civil War," and "Space Exploration." Players learn how the events in the Theme affected people at the time and how those issues still affect them today. The knowledge gained from playing WORLD EVENTS leads to more informed and responsible future citizens.

Elementary Division (grades 4-6) questions are composed with easier language than for the Middle Division (grades 7-8). At the Junior and Senior Divisions (grades 9-12), the historical and political events referred to are more demanding.
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How Do You Play?
WORLD EVENTS is a question and response game. Students sit in groups of three or four for purposes of checking each other's answers and keeping score. Many such groups may be playing simultaneously in the same room.

Current Events questions are read by a central reader. Before each question is read, players hear the topic of the question and are asked to wager either 6 or 4 or 2 points depending on how confident they are in the category. If they answer correctly, they win the number of points wagered (6, 4, or 2). An incorrect answer will lose half the number of points wagered (-3, -2, or -1). All questions are multiple choice (A, B, C, or D). Each player also has TWO abstentions that may be used out of the ten questions each round. A player may abstain and accept a score of zero on a question, even after hearing the question and choices. No outside resources are allowed.

The Theme Rounds are played in a similar fashion. There are two rounds for the Theme topics. One of the Theme Rounds is the Lightning Round. The point values of each question are determined ahead of time (2 or 4 or 6). Players score the point value for a correct answer and zero (0) for an incorrect answer. Facts in the questions are not complex and players are expected to have studied the Theme and to know these answers from memory. No outside resources are allowed.

The other Theme Round is played just as the Current Events round above, with wagering by the players. However, in this round, players may bring to the table as many printed or homemade resources as they wish. The questions are more difficult and require research. Players have only two minutes to search their resources and answer.
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How Do I Get the Academic Games, Rules and Study Materials?
Check the links to the right to view and print the Official Tournament Rules. Since the Current Events Year and the Theme changes each year, there are no Official Study Materials. Players are encouraged to visit the library and research other sources to prepare for the questions.

Sample WORLD EVENTS questions from former years

Forms for use in Tournaments may be printed from the links on the right.

The Official Tournament Rules are modified slightly every year based upon suggestions from member Leagues and the National Committee.
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