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Games About Landforms

From the sudden, violent eruption of volcanoes to the slow accumulation of sediment to form mountains, land formations are ideal for combining game play with hands-on learning. Whether they involve players reacting to geological processes, as in "Pompeii: The Last Days," or players assuming Mother Nature's role in "Erosion," participating in these games can illustrate concepts more clearly than merely reading from a textbook.

Pompeii: The Last Days
- Mount Vesuvius, the famous volcano that leveled the city of Pompeii in A.D. 79, is the central villain in this board game, published by the Another Challenge Game Company. There are two stages to the game. In the first, players must purchase as much land and gather as many people as possible. In the second phase, the volcano erupts and players must escape the random lava flows with as many -- preferably important -- people as possible. The game is out of print, but it can be purchased at such places as the Board Game Geek Marketplace website.
Erosion
- In Erosion, an essential board game for students curious about earth science, players attempt to erode a mountainside to collect valuable minerals that are swept into the delta. Players use various geological processes to erode the mountain, such as rain or volcanic activity. At each turn, the mountain climbs another 1,500 feet while players collect erosion cards. The mountain peaks at 8,000 feet, then players compete to see who can take down the mountain first.
Volcano Explorer
- The Discovery Kids website's Volcano Explorer is a blend of interactive gaming and intuitive learning. Players halt a spinning globe identifying active volcanic regions around the world. The game provides interesting facts about the volcanic process as players advance. After a brief introduction, players are asked to "build your own volcano." Players determine the lava viscosity and gas pressure of the volcano, then select "Start Eruption" to watch a simulated version of the eruption. As the smoke plumes rise and the lava flows, linked facts are presented to players, along with an overview of the type of volcano players have constructed.
Houses Built on Sand
- In this game, which introduces students to river delta formation and soil erosion, players seat model houses in a waterproof box filled with sand or soil. Water is poured into the box in stages to simulate the formation of rivers, streams and deltas. The object of the game is to have the last house standing as the soil erodes around them. The game can be adapted to demonstrate patterns of erosion with different soil types, such as sand, dirt or rocky soil.

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