Almost forgot! I also use this slide show during the activity.

As always, a masterful share ERIN CUNNINGHAM  I can see how thoughtful these materials were put together and bet they were useful for your students. Did you have a specific reason why you didn't want to do the Contagion game this go around? 

Oh, I did the Contagion! game but I didn't do the Black Death one-pager I linked above (or the infographic in the original activity). The game was great! We had fun talking about how I gave them the plague for "educational purposes only". The game led into a discussion of old world networks and the beginnings of the Renaissance.

Thank you for sharing these amazing resources. Your creativity and attention to detail really shine through. Thank you for being such an awesome resource for the community!

 ERIN CUNNINGHAM I concur with Adam Esrig that the way you recreate the activities provides excellent resources for all of us. I also love your exemplars.

I have never used the contagion activity, but I would like to explore it. What instructions did you give students while they were trading?

I told them that they get to make up their own rules--they get to decide the value of each card.

Each year, I worry students will catch on (there's even a hint in the first slide...it's not trade routes...) but they so enjoy the Silk Road simulation that they take to it immediately and are surprised every time by the plot twist!

Thanks Drew Fortune , reworking the materials helps me wrap my own brain around what I'm doing. I'm glad the resources can be helpful to others!