Here at A Grade Ahead, we’re proud to provide your child with educational enrichment that can push their skills to new heights. While our programs can help students excel, there are other fantastic sources of learning that can help kids develop useful skills hiding in places you wouldn’t expect. Unconventional education sources can be fun, exciting ways of learning that flex brain muscles and expand minds in new directions. One such source: the historical thrills of Assassin’s Creed.
Assassin’s Creed is a long-running series dating all the way back to 2007. The series revolves around diving into the experiences and memories of people who lived in the distant past, taking players to historical locations like Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, the time of the Vikings, and the American Revolution. While the plots of these games do interact with history in accurate ways, the stories themselves are not always completely historically accurate. Luckily, there are many other benefits that this series can provide. One thing to note: these games are designed for more mature audiences, so older students are going to draw the greatest benefit from these historical adventures.
The Benefits of Assassin’s Creed!
Problem Solving and Pattern Recognition
There are many ways to solve a problem or approach a challenge. This is something that Assassin’s Creed showcases prominently. The primary gameplay typically involves sneaking by tons of guards. This is to reach specific goals along the way. Elements of stealth immediately introduce problem solving. For instance, tactical pattern recognition allows a player to understand just where a guard may be going next. Once you know the pattern, you know when it is time to move to the next bit of cover to avoid any wandering eyes.
Not only do you need to know patterns of movement, but you also need to decide the best routes to take. Should you scale the outside of a temple? Find a tunnel that runs underneath? Stick to the shadows on the ground or in the rafters above? All of these choices help a student practice their problem-solving skills in subtle, complex ways.
Geographical Marvels
One thing in which the Assassin’s Creed series prides itself is recreating accurate geography and providing a historical playground on which players can explore. This is one of the most powerful educational tools that these games provide. Students can read about locations in history or English and then literally immerse themselves in those locations, beautifully recreated within a digital world. Is your child especially interested in history or even writing? Assassin’s Creed could add another layer of immersion to an enrichment camp, such as Time Traveler Tales.
Discovery Tours
If you have concerns about the actual gameplay of Assassin’s Creed and are more interested in just the historical exploration, never fear! The three most recent games in the series all have alternative versions known as Discovery Tours! These educational modes are free-roam versions of the games, loaded with facts and pop ups about locations, relics, and culture. There are even connections to some of the mythological stories your child reads within A Grade Ahead’s English programs! These Discovery Tour versions allow you to explore Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, and the Viking Age, allowing students to investigate at their own pace and leisure. These versions are available separately or as part of the full games, so it’s the perfect opportunity for an interested learner to get their feet wet in these digital recreations of historical settings.
How to Get Started!
So, do you think your child might enjoy history and mythology coming alive in front of them? Check out the official page about Discovery Tours and the games themselves. Here, you can learn more about the potential learning within! Playing a game that allows your child to practice and apply the skills they learn in school and at A Grade Ahead can be an incredible source of knowledge that expands your child’s mind in new directions! Interested in A Grade Ahead? Take a free assessment today!
Assassin’s Creed is just another in a line of unconventional places full of learning opportunities! Does your student already love this series? Do you know of any other places where unconventional learning can be found or have an idea for the next blog post? Let us know in the comments!!
Author: Jackie Aukerman, Curriculum Writer at A Grade Ahead
