Blog Archives

Flip The Fairytale: Roterra A Puzzle Adventure

Roterra: Flip the Fairytale 

Help Princess Angelica find her way back to her castle after her evil brother’s betrayal. While it might seem benign, the magical world of Roterra prevents easy navigation. Use all your puzzle-solving skills to guide Angelica home in this twisting, turning fairytale where sometime you are not sure

Play Roterra is launching for iOS devices January 31, 2019.

Pre-order App Store
Explore Magical Forests in the Lands of Roterra

 Game Features

Official Game Site

Can you find your way in a world where the ground shifts under your feet with every move? Slide and rotate cubes in this gravity-defying magical world to find the correct path for Princess Angelica and her friends. Flip the world and you may just discover that the journey matters far more than the destination – and that stereotypes are not to be trusted.

Betrayed by her brother Orlando and left alone in a magical forest, Princess Angelica must traverse a world of cubes to gain her rightful place as Queen. But this Princess is no damsel in distress–she has the power to literally change the world! Join Angelica on a journey of discovery as she harnesses the magic of Roterra and creates the path to her destiny.

NAVIGATE a shifting world that you can spin, rotate, even flip upside down!
SOLVE more than 80 challenging puzzles
BEHOLD stunning fairytale-inspired levels set in a world brimming with dense forests, dark caves, and giant castles
CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE by switching between quirky, colorful characters
UNCOVER the full story as you progress through the kingdom of Roterra

Inspired by “Orlando Furioso,” the 16th-century Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto, the constantly shifting physical world of Roterra reflects the many conflicting points-of-view in the poem. The constant changes in perspective are not only a core feature of the gameplay but the of the narrative itself, prompting players to see female agency and power in a whole new light.

Learn More

Uncover The Story

Fairytale Story Angelica and Orlando in Roterra

The Studio

Dig-iT! Games is a woman-owned indie game studio that has been making a positive impact on game-based learning in education.  So why are we producing a casual mobile puzzle game? In many ways its was by chance. An internal game jam session to create ideas for new games sparked the project. As the game concept (Project Furioso) evolved, it became clear this could be a great casual mobile game and the rest is history.

This marked an expansion of the focus of the company from strictly educational products to include entertainment games. In these new efforts, we could use our experience working on educational products and apply those ideas to crafting challenging puzzles but without the design restrictions of game-based learning. Just like in our social studies or science games, players learn as they tackle Roterra’s challenges. The mind-bending puzzles demand critical thinking and careful logic from players. We look forward to you having many hours of fun with Roterra!

Follow Us

For more information on Roterra please visit the game site. Keep up on everything happening at Dig-It! Games by following us on social media and subscribing to our newsletter!


ExoTrex2: A Scientific Space Adventure Game

Exotrex2: The Scientific Space Adventure Game Continues!

Exotrex 2 is a beautifully rendered, STEM focused game that will challenge and engage your 8th – 10th grade science students.

The Story of ExoTrex 2 

Life on Earth is no longer sustainable. Due to this fact, you must venture into space to find a new home for humanity. 

Gameplay begins as you arrive at the Mars orbital station, ready to put the astronaut training from Exotrex 1 into practice. From the start, you must explore an in-depth solar system map to learn about the planets, moons and asteroids as well as their relative distances from each other.  Then, you must choose between three missions- exploring Mercury, Venus and Titan. Only by demonstrate your resourcefulness will you be able to find that new home for humanity. Now’s the best time to start the second phase of your scientific space adventure!

FOR EDUCATORS

While completing these missions, students will start by balancing speed, thrust, and acceleration while navigating gravitational fields to successfully land rovers on their chosen planet or moon.  They will remotely navigate their rovers to collect ground and atmospheric samples and later analyze them for their chemical compositions.  Students will also learn about the planetary characteristics of each destination and take observational notes. 

No space mission would be complete without a life-threatening emergency and Exotrex2 delivers!  Students will be challenged to reboot their life-support systems while engaging with thermal, kinetic and electrical energies in a race against time!

The ExoTrex™ game has a series of fun facts on chemistry and planetary science presented by the character Dr. Burke during the game play.  These fun facts with the voice over by Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi are a great way to engage the classroom on a daily basis when preparing to use the game or in your lesson planning.  You can view them all on our YouTube Fun Facts Playlist

Grades: 8th-10th
Platform: Web-based game supported on most browsers.  See device support below.

Key Features
  • Open-ended solar system map and Distance Simulator – Use for demonstration purposes or assign students to explore on their own.
  • Aligned to NGSS Standards.
  • Narrative long-form version corresponds to lesson plan support.
  • All mini games can be accessed through Missions option for repeated play and practice.
  • Engaging animated transition videos.

ExoTrex2 screenshot from stem game based learningExoTrex2 stem game character concept

Curricular Supports

Download the following materials to aid in your integration of Exotrex2 into your course of study. Due to its nature, ExoTrex 2 is able to fit in to a wide variety of curriculum and classroom types.

Exotrex2 Lesson 2.2 Answer Guides

Each handout includes student answers for lesson 2.2 including discussion prompts for debriefing with students and an essay prompt facilitating cross game analysis.

 

Play Online Now

This game is compatible on most recent HTML 5 browsers.  It has been tested on the following desktop/laptop browsers:

  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari (on Mac computers)

Chromebook compatible: Most

Mobile Device compatibility using mobile browsers:

  • Ipad Series 3 : Yes
  • Ipad Series 2:  No
  • Iphone: No
  • Android tablets: Varied Support – Requires min 1GB Memory

Standards:
Next Generation Science Standards

MS-PS-1.1 Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
MS-PS-2.1 – Apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.
MS-PS-2.4 Construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects.
MS-PS-3.4 Plan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles as measured by the temperature of the sample.
MS-ESS – 1.3: Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.
MS-ESS – 2.4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
Common Core State ELA Standards  
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1  Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.


Roman Town 2: Social Studies Puzzles in Pompeii

Roman Town 2

Learn about Roman life in a brand-new way! Help Team Q track down the master thief Ladrone in Pompeii and stop her from stealing the city’s artifacts. Can you unravel the clues from Roman history and foil her plan?

OUT NOW FOR WEB & IOS!

Standards Alignment
Game Purchase Options
Honors & Game Reviews

Solve Social Studies Puzzles in Roman Town 2!

Ladrone is on the loose!

Explore Pompeii, play games and solve puzzles to track down the master thief.  Gather clues by solving challenging mini-games that push your logic and creative thinking skills to the limit.  You’ll need to use all your expertise to beat Ladrone at her own game.

Roman Town 2 is our revamped, updated version of our classic Roman Town. Rejoin Fiona and Charlie on their quest to stop Ladrone from stealing the artifacts of Pompeii with updated gameplay, graphics, and more. Each social studies puzzle is now more effective and more fun!

Roman Town 2 Features

  • Unique, replayable puzzles
  • Investigate clues to track Ladrone
  • Play ancient Roman games
  • Detailed factual information about Roman life
  • Explore Pompeii
  • Emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking
  • Immersive learning
  • Aligns to National Council for Social Studies and Common Core State Standards for Math and Literacy.

Standards Alignment

  • NCSS THEME I: CULTURE – Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity.
  • NCSS THEME II: TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE – Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the past and its legacy.
  • WORLD HISTORY STANDARDS ERA 3 – Classical Traditions, Major Religions, and Giant Empires, 1000 BCE-300CE
  • WORLD HISTORY STANDARDS ERA 4 – Expanding Zones of Exchange and Encounters, 200-1000 CE
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.10 – By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 6-8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NBT.A – Understand the place value system.
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NBT.B – Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.

GBLxAPI

This Roman Town 2 educational game includes the new GBLxAPI standard developed through the support of the National Science Foundation. GBLxAPI creates a common standard for analytics collection across game-based learning and other digital educational products. In this Roman Town 2 game, GBLxAPI is used to track student progress against C3 and ELA education standards in an easy to read format. Learn more about this standard and how it can help you evaluate your students’ learning at gblxapi.org.


Platform Support

Game Purchase Options

The Roman history social studies game will be available in HTML5 on our site or on the Apple App Store for iOS devices. Android options will be coming afterwards.

Buy social studies games online

For Online Play

Buy social studies games for iOS

For iOS iPhone & iPad Play

If you love Roman Town, make sure to also check out the associated sticker pack for iMessage for iOS when it releases!

Honors & Game Reviews

Award for Roman Town, now Roman Town 2
Creative Child Magazine 2010 Game of the Year

On Award of Common Sense Media for Roman Town

On for Learning Award Common Sense Media
 NAPPA Silver for Roman Town
National Parenting Publications Awards Silver Winner
Parent Tested Parent Approved for Roman Town, now Roman Town 2
Parent Tested, Parent Approved

They see pictures of artifacts and art such as frescoes and mosaics and learn about how the people lived. In between the history education, they are playing some really fun games.

I Choose Joy

We love history. We love puzzles and games. After all, isn’t the goal  of home education to help our children learn HOW to think? …now I can say we have fallen in love with Dig-It! Games; particularly Roman Town.

A Peace of Mind

This game is packed with information about the Roman Empire, which is seamlessly integrated into a fun and engaging game…the learning occurs in a very fluid and natural way

Common Sense Media

Roman Town 2 Charlie portrait

 Questions?

Want to know more about how you can use Roman Town 2 in your social studies classroom?

Feel free to contact us for any and all inquiries about using this Roman history game or our other educational products.

Roman Town 2 Fiona portrait


Excavate! Byzantine Empire

Excavate! Byzantine™

Apply C3 skills in this middle school social studies game that brings the ancient civilization of the Byzantine Empire to life through archaeology.

Curriculum Materials
Learning Standards
Reviews & Comments

Game Overview

Piece together the daily life of ancient Byzantine in this immersive social studies educational game!  Use Archaeological thinking to apply C3 skills of Inquiry and Evaluation of Evidence to aspects of Byzantine daily life not covered in textbooks. Excavate and analyze four significant locations to make connections and deduct facts about the people who lived, worked and played there. Find out about the origins of Christianity at the Hagia Sophia, the power of the Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Palace, the importance of trade along the Silk Road at the Augustaion, and the important role of women and family at an Oikos.

Visit the sites in any order; your progress will be recorded in journals that log collected artifacts, field notes and achievements.  At each location, make meaning of how artifacts were used through a series of analysis questions and reports that help you consider the historical context of the primary source artifacts to make connections.  Finally, players see each site come alive as artifacts populate an historically accurate image of Byzantine life.

Learning Goals:

  • Discover important icons at the Hagia Sophia.
  • Discuss what kind of military was most important for Constantinople.
  • Find out what role women played in the household.
  • Explain the role that trade played in the wealth of the Byzantine Empire.

Game Purchase Options

This world history educational product is available for HTML5 browser play at our store and for tablets at one of the app stores below.  iOS and Android tablets are supported.

Price: $3.99 US  (store may vary in price)

Buy social studies game for Chromebook

For Online Play

For iOS iPad & Phone play

Android Tablet & Phone Play

Amazon Fire Tablet Play

Curriculum Materials

  • Teacher’s Guide – a step-by-step guide for game-play as well as a resource containing all content and answers. (2 Files – Excavate Overview & Byzantine Content Guide)
  • Inquiry-Based Analysis Lesson (D-I-E) – Activate student interest before playing Excavate! Byzantine by inviting students to describe artifacts and hypothesize their use in the ancient Byzantine Empire. Use the D-I-E lessons to record observations during game-play and to check their hypotheses for accuracy.  It is a fun way to prepare and engage with content while playing Excavate! Byzantine. (Answer sheet included)
  • Artifact-Based Question Prompt (ABQ) – Each location in Excavate! Byzantine culminates with a beautifully rendered scene that incorporates all excavated artifacts in an historically accurate scene.  Use this scene combined with artifacts from the game to have your students answer a DBQ assignment that will demonstrate their learning. (rubric included)

C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards

  • D2.Civ.10.3-5. Identify the beliefs, experiences, perspectives, and values that underlie their own and others’ points of view about civic issues.
  • D2.Civ.1.6-8. Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a variety of governmental and nongovernmental contexts.
  • D2.Civ.2.6-8. Explain specific roles played by citizens (such as voters, jurors, taxpayers, members of the armed forces, petitioners, protesters, and office-holders).
  • D2.Geo.6.6-8. Explain how the physical and human characteristics of places and regions are connected to human identities and cultures.
  • D2.Geo.7.3-5. Explain how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the distribution and movement of people, goods, and ideas.
  • D2.His.9.3-5. Summarize how different kinds of historical sources are used to explain events in the past.
  • D2.His.3.6-8.Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.
  • D2.His.16.3-5. Use evidence to develop a claim about the past.

GBLxAPI

The Excavate! Byzantine educational game includes the new GBLxAPI standard developed through the support of the National Science Foundation. GBLxAPI creates a common standard for analytics collection across game-based learning and other digital educational products. In the Excavate! Byzantine game, GBLxAPI is used to track student progress against C3 and ELA education standards in an easy to read format. Learn more about this standard and how it can help you evaluate your students’ learning at gblxapi.org.

Platform Support

Explore The Complete EXCAVATE! Series

Six World Civilizations

Mesopotamia – Egypt – Greece – Rome – MesoAmerica – Byzantine


Game Reviews

We are studying different civilizations this year and it’s a FANTASTIC resource to help them make connections.
5th Grade Gifted Computer and Technology, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Excavating was great, and my favorite aspect of the game.
7th Grade Student, Ridley, PA
I LOVED the analysis questions because it assisted the kids in seeing the “big” picture and make connections.
5th Grade Social Studies, Canfield, OH

Questions regarding how to use in the classroom?

Contact Us.


Match 3 Game – Silk Road Adventure

Welcome to the Silk Road, traveler!

Say goodbye to jelly and candy and hello to the dusty Silk Road trail with your sassy camel Matthais.  Ancient coins are your new match 3 game tile matching activity as your trade your way across distant lands.  Join your friends and become one of the thousands playing our game across iOS, Android, adn Facebook. Find out more on the official site.

Are you ready to grab your camel and travel the ancient trade route from Rome to China during the 1st century AD? Trade coins, visit important cities and build your reputation as a master trader. The 6,000km Silk Road will take you from the sunny Mediterranean, through arid deserts, over high mountains and across the Asiatic Steppes. There’s a great fortune to be made here for a skilled trader! Find out why thousands of match 3 players have switched from candy to coins.  The game is free to play with in-app purchases for boosts and lives.

Match Coins Across Empires

Building upon Dig-It! Games past work with historically influenced games, players embark on an effort to trade in the Roman, Parthian, Kushan and Han Empires.  Players will pack their camel and start solving match 3 puzzles with ancient coins while visiting trading posts, villages and cities along the trail.  Did we mention guards! At each new empire our camel and the player will be greeted by a guard requiring credentials to cross into the next empire.  Players must have accrued enough stars to be enter the next set of match 3 puzzle levels. Silk Road Match 3 Guards in casual mobile game

New Year, New Match 3 Game 

Kick the candy habit and get your legs stepping down the Silk Road in this fun new match 3 game! Matthias is packed and ready for you so what is stopping you from starting the adventure to becoming a famous trader?  Visit our official game page for updates and additional information. 

Official Game Page and News

Explore Now

Match 3 Game | Silk Road Download App Store

For iOS iPads & iPhone

New Match 3 Game Silk Road Available on Google Play

Android Tablets & Phones

Match 3 Game Silk Road Download on Amazon App Store

Android Tablets & Phones

Windows Desktop Play


Excavate! Mesopotamia

Excavate! Mesopotamia

Apply C3 skills in this social studies game that brings the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Assyria, and Babylon to life through archaeology. Suitable for Grades 4-7

For Online Play

iOS iPad & Phone

For Android Tablet Play

Amazon Fire Tablet Play

Curriculum Materials
LEARNING STANDARDS
Reviews & Comments

Game Overview

Piece together the daily life of ancient Mesopotamia in this immersive social studies educational game!  Use archaeological thinking to apply C3 skills of Inquiry and Evaluation of Evidence to aspects of Mesopotamian daily life not covered in textbooks.

Excavate and analyze three significant locations to make connections and deduct facts about the people who lived, worked and played there. Explore the city of Ur from ancient Sumer and discuss how humans went from farming to complicated societies. Discover Hammurabi’s code in Babylon and learn about the oldest rule of law. Allow your students to discover that the Assyrians were fierce warriors. Visit the sites in any order; your progress will be recorded in journals that log collected artifacts, field notes and achievements.  At each location, make meaning of how artifacts were used through a series of analysis questions and reports that help you consider the historical context of the primary source artifacts to make connections.

Finally, players see each site come alive as artifacts populate an historically accurate image of Mesopotamian life.

Featured Learning Goals:

  • Explore the significance of Sumerian art
  • Gain a new perspective on the role of the military in ancient Assyria
  • Describe the role of gods in Babylonian society
  • Distinguish the roles of women and men in Mesopotamian societies
  • Compare and contrast the lifestyles of the Babylonians, Assyrians and Sumerians
  • Piece together daily life
  • Explain architectural innovations that were used to build temples and palaces

Game Purchase Options

This world history educational product is available for online browser play at our store and for tablets and phones at one of the app stores below.  iOS and Android tablets are supported.

Price: 3.99 (Limited Time)   (stores may vary in price)

For Online Play

iOS iPad & Phone

For Android Tablet Play

Amazon Fire Tablet Play

Curriculum Materials

  • Teacher’s Guide – a step-by-step guide for game-play as well as a resource containing all content and answers. (2 Files – Excavate Overview & Mesopotamia Content Guide)
  • Inquiry-Based Analysis Lesson (D-I-E) – Activate student interest before playing Excavate! Mesopotamia by inviting students to describe artifacts and hypothesize their use in ancient Mesopotamia.  Use the D-I-E lessons to record observations during game-play and to check their hypotheses for accuracy.  It is a fun way to prepare and engage with content while playing Excavate! Mesopotamia. (Answer sheet included)
  • Artifact-Based Question Prompt (ABQ) – Each location in Excavate! Mesopotamia culminates with a beautifully rendered scene that incorporates all excavated artifacts in an historically accurate scene.  Use this scene combined with artifacts from the game to have your students answer a DBQ assignment that will demonstrate their learning. (rubric included)

C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards:

  • D2.Civ.1.3-5. Distinguish the responsibilities and powers of government officials at various levels and branches of government and in different times and places.
  • D2.Civ.4.3-5. Explain how groups of people make rules to create responsibilities and protect freedoms
  • D2.Civ.6.6-8. Describe the roles of political, civil, and economic organizations in shaping people’s lives.
  • D2.Civ.10.3-5. Identify the beliefs, experiences, perspectives, and values that underlie their own and others’ points of view about civic issues.
  • D2.Civ.12.3-5. Explain how rules and laws change society and how people change rules and laws.
  • D2.Eco.3.3-5. Identify examples of the variety of resources (human capital, physical capital, and natural resources) that are used to produce goods and services.
  • D2.Eco.4.3-5. Explain why individuals and businesses specialize and trade.
  • D2.Eco.13.3-5. Describe ways people can increase productivity by using improved capital goods and improving their human capital.
  • D2.Geo.4.6-8. Explain how cultural patterns and economic decisions influence environments and the daily lives of people in both nearby and distant places.
  • D2.Geo.5.6-8. Analyze the combinations of cultural and environmental characteristics that make places both similar to and different from other places.
  • D2.Geo.8.6-8. Analyze how relationships between humans and environments extend or contract spatial patterns of settlement and movement.

GBLxAPI

The Excavate! Mesopotamia educational game includes the new GBLxAPI standard developed through the support of the National Science Foundation. GBLxAPI creates a common standard for analytics collection across game-based learning and other digital educational products. In the Excavate! Mesopotamia game, GBLxAPI is used to track student progress against C3 and ELA education standards in an easy to read format. Learn more about this standard and how it can help you evaluate your students’ learning at gblxapi.org.


Platform Support

Explore The Complete EXCAVATE! Series

Six World Civilizations

Mesopotamia – Egypt – Greece – Rome – MesoAmerica – Byzantine


Game Reviews

I LOVED the analysis questions because it assisted the kids in seeing the “big” picture and mak[ing] connections.
5th Grade Social Studies, OH, USA
Many great tools in the curriculum materials.  The standards and information for a teacher at any level in their career are there to help them.  I found it very user friendly.
7th Grade Social Studies, MD, USA
These (analysis questions) helped the student connect history and meaning to the objects!
High School Special Education, AR, USA

Mesopotamia archaeology

Questions regarding how to use in the classroom?

Contact Us.


Excavate! Mesoamerica

Excavate! Mesoamerica

Apply C3 skills in this elementary and middle school social studies game that brings the ancient civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca to life through archaeology.

Recent Review: Excavate! Mesoamerica: cómo ser arqueólogo sin moverse de casa, By El Octavo Historiador

Full Review Here

MesoAmerica Educational Social Studies Game
Curriculum Materials
LEARNING STANDARDS
REVIEWS & COMMENTS

Game Overview

Piece together the daily life of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations in this immersive social studies educational game!  Using archaeological thinking, apply C3 skills of Inquiry and Evaluation of Evidence to aspects of Mayan, Incan, and Aztec daily life not covered in textbooks.

Excavate and analyze three significant locations to make connections and deduce facts about the people who lived, worked and played there. Visit the sites in any order; your progress will be recorded in journals that log collected artifacts, field notes and achievements.  At each location, make meaning of how artifacts were used through a series of analysis questions and reports. In this way, you consider the historical context of the primary source artifacts and make connections.

Finally, players see each site come alive as artifacts populate a historically accurate image of Mesoamerican life.

Featured Learning Goals:

  • Explore the significance of jade and obsidian for the Maya
  • Gain a new perspective on Aztec engineering accomplishments
  • Describe the role of gods in Incan society
  • Distinguish the roles of women and men in Mesoamerican societies
  • Compare and contrast the lifestyles of the Maya, Aztec and Inca
  • Piece together daily life
  • Explain architectural innovations that were used to build temples and palaces

Game Purchase Options

This world history educational product is available for online browser play at our store and for tablets and phones at one of the app stores below. In addition to being playable online, the game supports iOS and Android tablets.

Free to Play Online

Price: $4.99(store may vary in price)

Buy social studies game for Chromebook

For Online Play

For iOS iPad & Phone play

For Android Tablet Play

Amazon Fire Tablet Play

Spanish Language Option Now Available!

Curriculum Materials

  • Teacher’s Guide – a step-by-step guide for game-play as well as a resource containing all content and answers. (2 Files – Excavate Overview & Mesoamerica Content Guide)
  • Inquiry-Based Analysis Lesson (D-I-E) – Activate student interest before playing Excavate! Mesoamerica by inviting students to describe artifacts and hypothesize their use in ancient Mesoamerica.  Use the D-I-E lessons to record observations during game-play and to check their hypotheses for accuracy.  It is a fun way to prepare and engage with content while playing Excavate! Mesoamerica. (Answer sheet included)
  • Artifact-Based Question Prompt (ABQ) – Each location in Excavate! Mesoamerica culminates with a beautifully rendered scene that incorporates all excavated artifacts in an historically accurate scene.  Use this scene combined with artifacts from the game to have your students answer a DBQ assignment that will demonstrate their learning. (rubric included)

C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards

  • D2.Civ.1.6-8.  Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a variety of governmental and nongovernmental contexts.
  • D2.Civ.2.6-8. Explain specific roles played by citizens (such as voters, jurors, taxpayers, members of the armed forces, petitioners, protesters, and office-holders).
  • D2.Eco.1.6-8. Explain how economic decisions affect the well-being of individuals, businesses, and society.
  • D2.Eco.4.3-5. Explain why individuals and businesses specialize and trade.
  • D2.Geo.6.6-8. Explain how the physical and human characteristics of places and regions are connected to human identities and cultures.
  • D2.Geo.7.3-5. Explain how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the distribution and movement of people, goods, and ideas.
  • D2.His.9.3-5. Summarize how different kinds of historical sources are used to explain events in the past.
  • D2.His.3.6-8.Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.

GBLxAPI

The Excavate! Rome educational game includes the new GBLxAPI standard developed through the support of the National Science Foundation. GBLxAPI creates a common standard for analytics collection across game-based learning and other digital educational products. In the Excavate! Rome game, GBLxAPI is used to track student progress against C3 and ELA education standards in an easy to read format. Learn more about this standard and how it can help you evaluate your students’ learning at gblxapi.org.

Platform Support

Explore The Complete EXCAVATE! Series

Six World Civilizations

Mesopotamia – Egypt – Greece – Rome – MesoAmerica – Byzantine


Game Reviews

We are studying different civilizations this year and it’s a FANTASTIC resource to help them make connections.
5th Grade Gifted Computer and Technology, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Excavating was great, and my favorite aspect of the game.
7th Grade Student, Ridley, PA
I LOVED the analysis questions because it assisted the kids in seeing the “big” picture and make connections.
5th Grade Social Studies, Canfield, OH

Excavate! Mesoamerica: cómo ser arqueólogo sin moverse de casa.

 El Octavo Historiador
El Octavo Historiador

Archaeologists from the game MesoAmerica social studies

Questions regarding how to use in the classroom?

Contact Us.


Excavate! Egypt

Excavate! Egypt

Free to Play Online Now

Apply C3 skills in this middle school social studies game that brings the ancient civilization of Egypt to life through archaeology.

For Online Play

For iOS iPad & Phone play

Android Tablet & Phone Play

Amazon Fire Tablet Play

Curriculum Materials
LEARNING STANDARDS
REVIEWS & COMMENTS

Game Overview

Piece together the daily life of ancient Egypt in this immersive social studies educational game!  Use archaeological thinking to apply C3 skills of Inquiry and Evaluation of Evidence to aspects of Egyptian daily life not covered in textbooks.

Excavate and analyze four significant locations to make connections and deduce facts about the people who lived, worked and played there. Explore a worker’s village in Giza and the temple of Karnak, that highlight very different lifestyles and illustrate social class differences. Investigate the Valley of the Kings, where past Pharaohs are mummified. Examine the library at Alexandria to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of learning and studying. Visit the sites in any order; your progress will be recorded in journals that log collected artifacts, field notes and achievements.  At each location, make meaning of how artifacts were used through a series of analysis questions and reports that help you consider the historical context of the primary source artifacts to make connections.

Finally, players see each site come alive as artifacts populate a historically accurate image of Egyptian life.

Featured Learning Goals:

  • Explore the significance of mummification in the Valley of the Kings
  • Gain a new perspective on the temple at Karnak
  • Distinguish the roles of men, women, and children in ancient Egypt
  • Piece together daily life of the Pyramid workers in Giza
  • Describe the lifestyle and role of scribes and students at the library in Alexandria
  • Explain the rule and symbols of the Pharaohs

Game Download Options

This world history educational product is available for online browser play at our store and for tablets and phones at one of the app stores below.  iOS and Android tablets are supported.

Price: Free

For Online Play

For iOS iPad & Phone play

Android Tablet & Phone Play

Amazon Fire Tablet Play

Curriculum Materials


  • Teacher’s Guide – a step-by-step guide for game-play as well as a resource containing all content and answers. (2 Files – Excavate Overview & Egypt Content Guide)
  • Inquiry-Based Analysis Lesson (D-I-E) – Activate student interest before playing Excavate! Egypt by inviting students to describe artifacts and hypothesize their use in ancient Egypt.  Use the D-I-E lessons to record observations during game-play and to check their hypotheses for accuracy.  It is a fun way to prepare and engage with content while playing Excavate! Egypt. (Answer sheet included)
  • Artifact-Based Question Prompt (ABQ) – Each location in Excavate! Egypt culminates with a beautifully rendered scene that incorporates all excavated artifacts in an historically accurate scene.  Use this scene combined with artifacts from the game to have your students answer a DBQ assignment that will demonstrate their learning. (rubric included)
  • Excavate! Egypt Card Game – Check for student understanding from our video game by having students play a card game cooperatively!  Students will make connections between artifacts, locations and people in this divergent thinking game.  (printable pdf)

C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards

  • D2.Civ.1.6-8.  Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a variety of governmental and nongovernmental contexts.
  • D2.Civ.2.6-8. Explain specific roles played by citizens (such as voters, jurors, taxpayers, members of the armed forces, petitioners, protesters, and office-holders).
  • D2.Eco.1.6-8. Explain how economic decisions affect the well-being of individuals, businesses, and society.
  • D2.Eco.4.3-5. Explain why individuals and businesses specialize and trade.
  • D2.Geo.6.6-8. Explain how the physical and human characteristics of places and regions are connected to human identities and cultures.
  • D2.Geo.7.3-5. Explain how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the distribution and movement of people, goods, and ideas.
  • D2.His.9.3-5. Summarize how different kinds of historical sources are used to explain events in the past.
  • D2.His.3.6-8.Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.

GBLxAPI

The Excavate! Rome educational game includes the new GBLxAPI standard developed through the support of the National Science Foundation. GBLxAPI creates a common standard for analytics collection across game-based learning and other digital educational products. In the Excavate! Rome game, GBLxAPI is used to track student progress against C3 and ELA education standards in an easy to read format. Learn more about this standard and how it can help you evaluate your students’ learning at gblxapi.org.

Educational Game Archaeologists

Platform Support

Explore The Complete EXCAVATE! Series

Six World Civilizations

Mesopotamia – Egypt – Greece – Rome – MesoAmerica – Byzantine


Game Reviews

We are studying different civilizations this year and it’s a FANTASTIC resource to help them make connections.
5th Grade Gifted Computer and Technology, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Excavating was great, and my favorite aspect of the game.
7th Grade Student, Ridley, PA
I LOVED the analysis questions because it assisted the kids in seeing the “big” picture and make connections.
5th Grade Social Studies, Canfield, OH

Questions regarding how to use in the classroom?

Contact Us.


Excavate! Greece

Excavate! Greece

Apply C3 skills in this middle school social studies game that brings the ancient civilization of Greece to life through Archaeology.

Curriculum Materials
LEARNING STANDARDS
REVIEWS & COMMENTS

Game Overview

Piece together the daily life of ancient Greece in this immersive social studies educational game!  Use archaeological thinking to apply C3 skills of Inquiry and Evaluation of Evidence to aspects of Greek daily life not covered in textbooks. Excavate and analyze four significant locations to make connections and deduct facts about the people who lived, worked and played there.

Explore Athens and Sparta, city-states that highlight very different lifestyles and social differences. Investigate Delphi, a religious temple to the god Apollo. Examine the stadium in Olympia to gain a deeper understanding of the ancient Olympic games. Visit the sites in any order; your progress will be recorded in journals that log collected artifacts, field notes and achievements.  At each location, make meaning of how artifacts were used through a series of analysis questions and reports that help you consider the historical context of the primary source artifacts to make connections.

Finally, players see each site come alive as artifacts populate an historically accurate image of Greek life.

Featured Learning Goals:

  • Explore the significance of Apollo’s Temple in Delphi
  • Gain a new perspective on the Olympic Games
  • Distinguish the roles of women and men in ancient Greek society
  • Compare and contrast the lifestyles of Athens and Sparta
  • Piece together daily life
  • Describe the lifestyle and role of gods and goddesses in Roman society
  • Explain architectural innovations that were used to build temples and stadiums

Game Purchase Options

This world history educational product is available for HTML5 browser play at our store and for tablets at one of the app stores below.  iOS and Android tablets are supported.

Price: $3.99 US  (store may vary in price)

For Online Play

Apple App Store education social studie game

For iOS iPad & Phone play

Google Play badge educational social studies greece game

For Android tablet play

Amazon get social studies greece game

Amazon Fire tablet play

Curriculum Materials

  • Teacher’s Guide – a step-by-step guide for game-play as well as a resource containing all content and answers. (2 Files – Excavate Overview & Greece Content Guide)
  • Inquiry-Based Analysis Lesson (D-I-E) – Activate student interest before playing Excavate! Greece by inviting students to describe artifacts and hypothesize their use in ancient Greece.  Use the D-I-E lessons to record observations during game-play and to check their hypotheses for accuracy.  It is a fun way to prepare and engage with content while playing Excavate! Greece. (Answer sheet included)
  • Artifact-Based Question Prompt (ABQ) – Each location in Excavate! Greece culminates with a beautifully rendered scene that incorporates all excavated artifacts in an historically accurate scene.  Use this scene combined with artifacts from the game to have your students answer a DBQ assignment that will demonstrate their learning. (rubric included)

C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards

  • D2.Civ.1.6-8.  Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a variety of governmental and nongovernmental contexts.
  • D2.Civ.2.6-8. Explain specific roles played by citizens (such as voters, jurors, taxpayers, members of the armed forces, petitioners, protesters, and office-holders).
  • D2.Eco.1.6-8. Explain how economic decisions affect the well-being of individuals, businesses, and society.
  • D2.Eco.4.3-5. Explain why individuals and businesses specialize and trade.
  • D2.Geo.6.6-8. Explain how the physical and human characteristics of places and regions are connected to human identities and cultures.
  • D2.Geo.7.3-5. Explain how cultural and environmental characteristics affect the distribution and movement of people, goods, and ideas.
  • D2.His.9.3-5. Summarize how different kinds of historical sources are used to explain events in the past.
  • D2.His.3.6-8.Use questions generated about individuals and groups to analyze why they, and the developments they shaped, are seen as historically significant.

Common Core Standards

  • RI.6.10 – By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
  • RI.6.7 – Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
  • RH.6-8.1 – Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
  • RH.6-8.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
  • RH.6-8.7 – Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
  • CCRA.R.1 – Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
  • CCRA.R.5 – Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
  • CCRA.R.10 – Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

GBLxAPI

The Excavate! Rome educational game includes the new GBLxAPI standard developed through the support of the National Science Foundation. GBLxAPI creates a common standard for analytics collection across game-based learning and other digital educational products. In the Excavate! Rome game, GBLxAPI is used to track student progress against C3 and ELA education standards in an easy to read format. Learn more about this standard and how it can help you evaluate your students’ learning at gblxapi.org.

Platform Support

Explore The Complete EXCAVATE! Series

Six World Civilizations

Mesopotamia – Egypt – Greece – Rome – MesoAmerica – Byzantine


Game Reviews

We are studying different civilizations this year and it’s a FANTASTIC resource to help them make connections.
5th Grade Gifted Computer and Technology, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Excavating was great, and my favorite aspect of the game.
7th Grade Student, Ridley, PA
I LOVED the analysis questions because it assisted the kids in seeing the “big” picture and make connections.
5th Grade Social Studies, Canfield, OH
It teaches us about ancient artifacts, it teaches us about how the cultures lived, and it teaches us what they had in their time.
6th Grade Student, MD

Questions regarding how to use in the classroom?  

Contact Us.


Excavate Card Game

Excavate! Card Game

A new way to introduce social studies civilizations to your middle school classroom. Keep the learning going off the screen with a fun, interactive, discussion-based activity for students!

Buy Egypt Cards
Buy Rome cards

Excavate! Egypt Card Game

54 Cards Included

Game Overview

Each card deck allows 3-5 players for an average activity time of 30 minutes per session.

Each Excavate! Card Game Features:

8 People cards that highlight social roles

8 Place cards showing historically significant locations

32 Artifact Cards: primary source items excavated in the digital game

Sample card descriptions include:

“This type of helmet protected the head but made it difficult to see.”
“Some Roman floors were decorated with mosaics, images made out of tiny tiles cemented onto the floor.”
“A brazier was used for burning wood or charcoal.”
“This fibula is a pin that was used to secure togas and cloaks.”
“This amphora vase features an intricate design that showcases detailed images of men, women, gods, and nature.”
“Stacked pottery tiles created passageways under the floor to heat air and water as part of the hypocaust system.”
This game is designed for middle school grades 6, 7 and 8 but can be used in earlier and later grade.

Excavate! Rome Card Game

54 Cards Included

Excavate Card Game Rules

Participants (3-5 players)

Setup: Shuffle cards and lay out a 3×5 array of face up cards. Place additional cards in a draw pile nearby.

Play: Play is turn-based. Game continues until no cards are left in array.

Turn: Player selects 3 cards from array and explains how they are connected to the civilization. Other players listen and vote on whether explanation is historically correct or plausible: Thumbs up, player

keeps the cards and earns 1 point; Thumbs down, cards are discarded, no points are earned. Fill holes in array from draw pile.

Card Combinations: combinations must include either a person or location card. Combinations may not include more than 1 person and/or 1 location card. Acceptable combinations are: Person, Location, Artifact; Person, Artifact, Artifact; Location, Artifact, Artifact.

Sample Gameplay: Player selects Doctor (Person Card), Colosseum (Location Card), Surgeon’s Tools (Artifact Card). 

Explanation is: “Gladiators were treated by doctors with surgical tools after fights to preserve them for future fights.”

The Excavate! Card Game is a review game that allows students to showcase what they have learned while playing Excavate!   Students can showcase their knowledge by connecting people, places and artifacts with historically accurate explanations.  Increase the difficulty by challenging students to use divergent thinking and connect items that don’t seem to have a connection at first glance.  You’ll be amazed at how your students connect a gladiator sword to lead pipes or a set of marbles with an fresco wall painting.  A perfect way to review content while playing a creative game!

Printed Card Decks

The Excavate! Card Game is a companion curriculum learning activity that we developed for teachers to expand the Excavate! experience beyond the screen.  Originally a free printable download for a DIY card deck, the game was so popular we decided to publish printed card decks for the Rome and Egypt civilizations.  These are now available in limited numbers for a nominal fee to cover our production and shipping costs.

This middle school social studies activity is a great way to break into the discussion of a new civilization or review content throughout the school year. Get this educational card game and begin getting students engaged to ancient civilizations!

Excavate! Card Game World History Lesson Plan

Make Your Own Card Game - Always Free

Coming Soon


DiG-iT! Games
DIG-IT! Games Production Studios

A creative game studio that builds award-winning games users really dig!

Creating Games Everyday

Contact Us

Game Support

4833 Bethesda Ave Suite 204
Bethesda, MD 20814

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