Walden, A Game: Civil Disobedience

Play as Henry David Thoreau and engage with historical and modern questions of slavery, abolition, and freedom, discovering the power of civic actions that are authentic, responsible, and informed.

Play Game

  • In this module of Walden, A Game, players explore the nature of informed civic action within Thoreau’s hometown of Concord, Massachusetts, on July 4th in the mid-19th century. As they explore, players will discover issues around abolition, slavery, and expansionism facing the people of time and responding to them as an engaged citizen.

    Players will:

    • Analyze the meaning of freedom in our society.

    • Identify issues and civic action around slavery and abolitionism leading up to the Civil War.

    • Compare and contrast writings about abolitionism and civic responsibility by Thoreau and contemporary authors.

    • Evaluate ways in which people can take civic action around issues that matter to them.

    • Create their own activist campaigns for issues that matter to them.

  • Watch the trailer here

  • Link to curriculum

    • Gameplay time: 15-30 minutes

    • Activity time: five modular lessons ranging from 20-60 minutes each

    Note: This module of Walden, A Game may run slower on low end chromebooks

  • USC Game Innovation Lab