← Home
ScholarForge is a national educator-driven platform for exceptional curriculum,
engaging lessons, and meaningful collaboration.
The Cave
ScholarForge
Built by educators. Designed for classrooms, homeschoolers, and lifelong learners—anywhere.
⚒️ ScholarForge • Teacher Exchange
This lesson is available through ScholarForge.
The Cave
Civics/Government
Grade 7-12
Lesson Description: The Cave – A Civics & Government Simulation
In this immersive simulation, students confront an extinction-level event that forces them to govern themselves in order to survive. After viewing The Cave video, students must establish rules, create a governing structure, assign essential roles, and make collective decisions under time pressure and uncertainty.
The lesson is intentionally discussion-driven and teacher-neutral, allowing students to experience firsthand the challenges of cooperation, leadership, and maintaining order. Breakdowns in collaboration are not considered failures, but critical learning moments that mirror real-world problems faced by governments and societies.
Designed for 11th–12th grade Civics and Government courses, this lesson emphasizes the foundational purpose of government—providing order—and sets the stage for deeper study of constitutions, rule of law, and civic responsibility.
In this immersive simulation, students confront an extinction-level event that forces them to govern themselves in order to survive. After viewing The Cave video, students must establish rules, create a governing structure, assign essential roles, and make collective decisions under time pressure and uncertainty.
The lesson is intentionally discussion-driven and teacher-neutral, allowing students to experience firsthand the challenges of cooperation, leadership, and maintaining order. Breakdowns in collaboration are not considered failures, but critical learning moments that mirror real-world problems faced by governments and societies.
Designed for 11th–12th grade Civics and Government courses, this lesson emphasizes the foundational purpose of government—providing order—and sets the stage for deeper study of constitutions, rule of law, and civic responsibility.
Supporting Files
The cave modified 2-10-25.mp4
Want to help improve this lesson?
ScholarForge collaboration tools are available to approved educators. Create an educator account to contribute,
share adaptations, and build better lessons together.