Stop AIDS now game

Objective:
· To review basic information about AIDS and for students to decide what are socially appropriate behaviors in this age of AIDS.

Target Group:
· Primary and secondary school students

Group Size:
· 4-6 students per board

Materials:
· Game boards, a playing die (4, 5, 6 = lose a turn)

Preparation:
· Students should already know some basic information about AIDS. This game can be used together with other resources, such as AIDS Answers for Teens or may be used on its own. The teacher should "walk" the students through the game the first time around to explain all of the pictures and the phrases which go with them. Perhaps all of the students and the teacher will play one round together. It is important for the students to understand each square of the game as each square deals with a different aspect of AIDS. The squares are both positive and negative.

Directions:
· After the students understand/have received some information about AIDS, there are different ways to proceed:

1) Have the students in a playing group decide whether there will be some sort of penalty for landing on a negative square (e.g. move two spaces backwards) or, if some sort of bonus will be given for landing on a positive square (e.g. move forward two spaces). Students must be encouraged to explain why they feel that the square they have landed on is positive or negative. It will lead to a lot of repetition but will reinforce the information that the students received earlier. The teacher may also assign penalties or bonuses.

2) When a student lands on a negative square, the teacher or the students may decide that the player automatically becomes HIV+. To emphasize the seriousness of being HIV+, the player may have to start the game over every time they land on a negative square or, must automatically move two spaces backwards every time they land on a negative square (or any square), giving a distinct advantage to the players who have avoided "questionable behavior". However, the player who becomes HIV+ should by no means be punished to the extent that they are placed in a holding or detention space or not be allowed to continue the game. The teacher should emphasize the important roll the HIV+ persons have played in educating others about AIDS and about the risks of contacting HIV.

3) To emphasize the seriousness of the spread of AIDS, the teacher may have students play one quick round in which all of the players who contact HIV are out of the game. This will show the students that a large percentage of the population will become infected and that only a few lucky persons will escape infection.

4) Picture squares may be "free spaces" or may play a more active role in the game.

5) Feel free to experiment and create your own rules for the game.

By Greg Carl, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer

Stop AIDS now