Walden, A Game: What I Lived For

Players take a mindful walk around Walden Pond as Henry David Thoreau, stopping to appreciate the virtual environment around them. As they explore, they will cultivate skills for being “awake” in the present moment.

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  • In this module of Walden, A Game, players are asked to take a mindful walk around the Walden Pond, as Henry Thoreau did, stopping to appreciate the virtual environment around them. As they explore, they will cultivate skills for being “awake” in the present moment, as Thoreau described.

    Players will:

    • Practice breathing and walking/movement meditation exercises.

    • Identify their sensations, thoughts, and emotions.

    • Identify and appreciate why Thoreau spent time outdoors.

    • Identify and analyze connections between bodily motion and mindfulness in literature, including Thoreau’s writings.

    • Create a trail map that engenders a sense of place and appreciation of the natural world.

    • Compare and contrast their own mindfulness practices with Thoreau’s.

  • Watch the trailer here

  • Link to curriculum

    • Gameplay time: 15-30 minutes with six options for related lessons and activities

    • Lesson time: seven modular lessons ranging from 20 - 60 minutes each

  • USC Game Innovation Lab