Karma Tycoon Video Game Study Guide Unit – Program Description

Title – Karma Tycoon Video Game Study Guide Unit
Program Description

Primary Subject – Social Studies
Secondary Subjects – Language Arts, Math
Grade Level – 7-10

A STUDY GUIDE
3) Program Description

Grades 7-10

Karma Tycoon rocks the gaming world by offering you a thrilling ride through the world of social entrepreneurship as you earn Karma in virtual communities across the US.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• UNIT INTRODUCTION
• ABOUT US:
  • DO SOMETHING
• KARMA TYCOON PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
  (SEE BELOW)
• LEARNING GOALS AND LINKS TO CLASSROOM LEARNING
• HOW TO PLAY KARMA TYCOON
• VOCABULARY
  • Nonprofit Terms
  • “Learn” Sections from Karma Tycoon Video Game for Grants, Foundations, Balance Sheets, Credit Cards, and Loans
• CITIES AND NONPROFIT DATA
  • Cities
  • Types of Nonprofits
• PRE-GAME LESSON PLAN 1
  • What Is a Nonprofit Organization?
• PRE-GAME LESSON PLAN 2
  • City and Nonprofit Internet Learning Hunt
• PRE-GAME LESSON PLAN 3
  • The Importance of Managing Your Finances
• POST-GAME LESSON PLAN 1
  • Devising a Budget for Your Nonprofit

Note:To access these unit chapters, click on their titles above.3)  Karma Tycoon    Program DescriptionWHAT IS KARMA TYCOON?

Karma Tycoon is a new kind of video game. It has cool, splashy graphics and is fun to play, but instead of trying to make a million dollars, users are making the world a better place by running nonprofit organizations (homeless shelters, animal shelters, youth centers, senior centers, and performing arts centers) in different cities across the United States. Players apply for grants and loans (and learn the difference between them), outfit nonprofits with the basic necessities, and watch the news ticker to make sure a hurricane doesn’t interfere with plans. With successful management of funds, players are given additional grants and donations, enabling their organization to grow in scale and offer more services to further help the community.

The goal of the game is to serve as many people (or animals) as possible, which will maximize karma, so players can move on the next city and make a difference there, too. Simply put, the more people helped by each player, the more karma is gained.

Karma Tycoon is an engaging, competitive, and nonviolent real-time strategy game that is both educational and entertaining. What are you waiting for? Come check it out!

WHO CREATED IT?

Do Something is a nonprofit Internet company that helps young people change the world. Our theory: let’s try to change the world using something teens use on a regular basis, like video games! Do Something decided to create a game where instead of maximizing profits, players maximize their karma by helping as many people (or animals) as possible. We wanted to teach young people about financial responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and philanthropy using the power of the Internet and online gaming. Do Something brought this idea to The JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and because they believe in the power of young people to make a difference in their communities, they agreed to fund the project.

http://www.dosomething.org/karmatycoon

E-Mail karmatycoon@dosomething.org!