As part of the Library of Congress’ Teaching with Primary Sources program, FableVision took a page from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton composition notebook to create Civics!: An American Musical, an online game for middle school students that teaches how to analyze primary sources and promotes the importance of civics. FableVision partnered with Maryland Public Television, Maryland Humanities, and Tufts’ Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) to develop and distribute the game.
Players assume the role of a producer adapting true events from American history to the stage, choosing from four historical topics as the subject matter: the desegregation of public schools, the National Parks, the FDA, and the Chinese Exclusion Act. It’s up to them to make important decisions about costumes, set design, script, and music by observing, reflecting, and questioning primary sources taken from the Library of Congress’ archives. The end result is a new smash Broadway musical hit that is historically accurate and celebrates the power of ordinary citizens in creating change in their communities and their country.
Play here: www.fablevisiongames.com/civics