Internet News:
Kids, Saga, TCS, and Medieval

Dispatch News

by Dick Bryant

Historical Miniatures with Children Web Site

If you’re interested in using Historical Miniatures with kids please check out: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~pgfritz/index.html.

Here you’ll find “History in Miniature” whose stated goal is to promote the use of historical miniatures (toy soldiers) as a tool for teaching history. Scenarios: The scenarios are designed for use with Junior High School students (grades 6-8). Each battle has been playtested twice with students at this grade level, and many more times with veteran wargamers from SJCW (South Jersey Confederation of Wargamers). The battles can be completed in less than two hours (this includes the time needed to set up, clean up, explain the rules, and discuss the battle afterwards). Every battle puts a lot of miniature toy soldiers on the battlefield so that every student can have some men to command. The rules are designed for 1/72 scale plastic figures which are cheap ($4-$6 for a box of 50) and easily available from your local hobby store. There is no need to buy a lot of expensive specialized equipment for these battles, basic supplies needed are a bunch of dice (6 sided), some rulers or measuring sticks, and a green table cloth. All the scenarios are deliberately kept very simple and focus on a real historical battle. The Battle of Marathon is a good starter scenario.

The site is operated by a teacher who is using htese ideas in his classroom.Some of the scenarios are:

The Revolutionary War: The Battle of Saratoga: Benedict Arnold is the hero as the Americans defeat the British, leading to the surrender of an entire British army and encouraging France to enter the war.

The Alamo: Santa Anna won the battle, but the Texans won the war. The Civil War - The Battle of Gettysburg: This scenario focuses on the Rebel attacks on Devil’s Den and Little Round Top. Battle of Little Bighorn - The Sioux and Cheyenne team up to count coup on Custer and the 7th Cavalry.

Spanish American War: Battle of San Juan Hill: The battle that made Teddy Roosevelt’s reputation, go behind the myth and find out what really happened (54 mm figures are used). World War II: D-Day: Join the first wave as they begin the liberation of France by assaulting Bloody Omaha Beach.

World War II: Battle of Midway: This carrier duel was the turning point in the war in the Pacific. This battle is designed as a board game with counters to represent the airplanes. Ancient & Medieval History: Battle of Marathon - The plucky Athenians drive the Persians into the sea. A good scenario for beginners.

Battle of Zama: The legendary Hannibal meets his match in Scipio. A spectacular battle. Battle of Adrianople: - The Visigoths score an upset against the Romans. An important step in the decline of the Roman Empire.

Saga Web Site SAGA has a new web site. They are expanding out into publishing and have a number of rules sets, army list booklets, scenario booklets and historical texts in the research and development phases. See their new website at: http://www.saga-publishing.com/

TCS E-Mail Address

The new TCS email now leowalsh@aol.com

Medieval Period Scenarios Web Site Al Karasa, a contributing editor of The Courier for many years has set up a web site posting Medieval period scenarios for miniatures. Check it out http://belgate.tripod.com

Courier Dispatch News About the Hobby.

Back to Table of Contents -- Courier #84
To Courier List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 2002 by The Courier Publishing Company.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com