Project A.C.R.E. is a team of faculty, staff, and students that develop research-based serious educational games to promote agroecosystem literacy, enhance understanding of sustainability, and increase awareness of STEM careers relevant to agroecosystems.
The Sandhills and other grasslands in the Great Plains are currently threatened by what is being called "the green glacier"-- a slow but steady encroachment of invasive tree species into ecosystems which have traditionally been dominated by grasses and wildflowers. These invasive species not only threaten the habitat of native wildlife but also threaten the livelihood of ranchers who depend on the vast grasslands to feed their livestock. In Prairie Protector, test your skills at defending the High Plains from this threat!
The following four lessons are provided to connect the Prairie Protector digital game with broader learning objectives.
- Prairie Protector digital game (external website link)
- Lesson 1: Introducing Prairie Protector and Comparing Gameplay Strategies
- Lesson 2: Comparing the Game to Real-World Land Management Challenges
- Lesson 3: Looking Back: How Have Cultural Beliefs about Fire Changed Over Time?
- Lesson 4: A Systems Thinking Approach in Mitigating Woody Species Encroachment
- Lesson Pack (All 4 lessons)
Need a quick start guide before playing the Prairie Protector digital game? Watch the video below to see a quick walk-through tutorial to learn a bit about the game and some useful tips.
The following resources provide more information about the phenomenon at the heart of the Prairie Protector digital game-woody encroachment in the Great Plains- and its social, economic, and environmental impacts.
Farming is a balancing act. Are you ready to take on the challenge of maximizing production while using limited resources like land and water? Play AgPocalypse to test your skills!
The following lessons are provided to connect the Agpocalypse gameplay scenarios with broader learning objectives.
Need a quick start guide before playing the AgPocalypse digital game? Watch the video tutorials below led by game developer, Chloe Lehnert, in which she introduces each of the scenarios (Irrigation, Grassfed Beef, and Life Cycle Analysis) and provides some useful tips.