The Development Game
Why is development uneven?
Aim:
To be the first player to the finish line
Along the way:
You should start to understand the factors that lead to an uneven pattern of global development. As you
play make sure you ask yourself ‘why’ does this factor help or hinder development.
Game Instructions
1. Separate the cards into “human factors” and “physical factors” and place them face down on the
board.
2. The youngest player goes first, then move in a clockwise direction.
3. Roll the dice to determine how many spaces you move.
4. Each player selects a card from one of the piles and follows the instructions on the card.
5. Once you have read your card it is the group’s responsibility to tell you how they think the
factor described will impact development, and if it will have a ‘helping’ or ‘hindering’ impact
for that country.
6. The first player to reach the end of the game is the winner
7. *Locate – As you read each card try to find the matching country (or city or region) on the board
8. At the end of the game, take the human and physical cards and separate them into the following
categories;
Climate
Geographic location
(landlocked/coastal)
Tourism
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Natural hazards
Natural resources
Political
Aid
Trade
Education/Health
After the game:
Categorising
At the end of the game turn all the human and physical cards. Can you think of any other ways to
categorise these cards? What is the problem with categorising?
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Ranking:
Do you think some factors carry a heavier weighting than others? Can you rank the factors and give
reasons for your choices
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Stretch and challenge: ‘The factors that influence the global pattern development is complicated’– write
a response to this explaining why you either agree or disagree with this statement
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Human factor cards
(Print this and the following page as double-sided):
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
Human Factor
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Human factor cards
Brazil
Brazil
Syria
Sao Paulo has good access to
ports for trading, for example
The Port of Santos
The World Cup brings money
from many sponsors and
tourists. Companies like Sony
and Emirates have sponsored
between £8- £120 million.
Conflict and civil war is
ongoing in Syria
Move forward 1 space.
Move back 2 spaces.
Move forward 1 space.
India
Sierra Leone
UK
There are too many people for
the natural resources
available.
Ebola has infected the local
village. Many people cannot
go to work.
More people going onto higher
education and there is a rise in
quaternary sector jobs.
Move back 1 space.
Move back 1 space.
Move forward 1 space.
Pakistan
Mali
Somalia
The Taliban commit shootings
and executions at schools.
Children and in particular girls
are afraid to go to school.
The UK has cancelled all debt
for ‘tied aid’.
Trade is unstable due to
piracy.
Move forward 1 space.
Move back 1 space.
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Japan
The words 200 richest people
are donating 1% of their
wealth. All children across the
world can have primary
education.
A new school has opened.
This will improve future job
opportunities.
Heavy investment into the
education and skills
sector.
Move forward 1 space.
Move forward 2 spaces.
China
Senegal
Afghanistan
The One Child Policy has
significantly reduced the birth
rate. This will reduce demand
for resources although the
population is still increasing.
Healthcare is improving which
has reduced infant mortality
rate significantly.
Government money is being
spent on military weapons
rather than education.
Move forward 1 space.
Move back 1 space.
Move back 2 space.
Move forward 2 spaces.
Move forward 1 space.
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Physical factor cards
(Print this and the following page as double-sided):
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
Physical Factor
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Physical factor cards
Khazakstan
Haiti
Kenya
Landlocked country which
makes it difficult to trade.
Earthquake kills thousands.
Tropical climate (hot and
humid) so diseases like
Malaria thrive.
Move back 2 spaces.
Move back 1 space.
Move back 1 space.
Sri Lanka
Australia
Russia
Cyclone Nargis kills 138, 366
people.
Bush fires sweep across
Australia due to lack of rainfall.
You have the largest supply of
natural gas.
Move back 2 space.
Move back 1 space.
Move forward 1 space.
UK
Bangladesh
Ethiopia
Changing climate has led to a
bumper harvest of crops
including blackberries and
grapes.
The monsoon season has
flooded your crops. You earn
no money.
Drought has meant that there
are no crops. Many children
die from malnutrition.
Move back 1 space.
Move back 1 space.
Zambia
Philippines
Brazil
You have to travel 5 miles to
collect water so you cannot go
to school.
Typhoon Haiyan kills 6,340
people.
The north east of Brazil is
semi-arid so it is very
difficult to grow crops.
Move forward 1 space.
Move back 1 space.
Move back 2 spaces.
Move back 1 space.
Saudi Arabia
Mexico
USA
You have 20% of the world’s
oil resources.
Bird flu has infected poultry
and consequently impacted
international trade.
Timber and coal make up 89%
of the USAs total natural
resource value.
Move back 1 space.
Move forward 2 spaces.
Move forward 2 spaces.
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