Mission US

FAIN: TR-50143-10

WNET (New York, NY 10019-7416)
Sandra Sheppard (Project Director: August 2009 to present)

Funding details:
Original grant (2010) $200,000.00
Supplement (2010) ($16,178.00)
Supplement (2012) $35,499.00

Production of three of a series of five free, online immersive animated games for children ages nine to thirteen that cover crucial historical moments in the shaping of American ideals and institutions.

Mission America is a multi-media initiative on American history for young people aged 9-13. It centers on five online games set in different eras of U.S. history. In each "mission," the player assumes the role of a young person of the time, navigates historical settings, interacts with key figures, investigates primary documents, and experiences multiple perspectives on events. The games combine sophisticated social history content with popular conventions of role-playing games to put students inside crucial moments of U.S. history, building their historical knowledge and thinking skills. Mission America games will be available free on a Web site that also offers rich additional resources for middle school students and teachers. Outreach with PBS stations and national organizations, and a potential partnership with a leading textbook publisher, will ensure significant reach. Requested funds will support production and launch of Missions 2-4.