6i Project: Bringing Generations Together Through Board Games - Steinmühle

As part of the “Global Perspectives (GP)” course, a class for international students, girls and boys in Grade 6 of our International High School track (6i) carried out a social project. They developed a board game to bring different generations together and visited a senior living facility with it.

Each group had complete freedom and creativity in designing the game format, the rules, and the layout. But they always had the same goal: to break the ice and bring young and old together, reported English and Spanish teacher Victoria Pérez. The games included questions about history, life experiences, and personal stories.

“We actually launched the project last school year,” the teacher explains. However, they have only just begun to put it into practice.

In the end, nothing but smiling faces

“At first, we had to overcome some initial hesitation and get the conversations started,” recalls Victoria Pérez. “Some students were enthusiastic from the start, while others weren’t quite as enthusiastic at first. But by the end of the day, all I could see were smiling faces and a keen interest in sharing experiences with older people.”

Many have never been to a nursing home

The teacher continued: “It really helped show the students the reality of life for many older people in our city, since most of them had never been to a nursing home before and some had a negative image of these facilities. It was also one of my goals to show them that there are wonderful people living in these facilities from whom we still have a lot to learn.”

Victoria Pérez was accompanied on the field trip to the senior living facility by Björn Wagner, a teacher of religion and ethics at Steinühle. He also currently teaches GP in class 6i. Björn Wagner helped with the entire organization. Theresa Großer, head of the International High School Program, had established contact with the retirement home.

“The lives of many older people are being forgotten”

Victoria Pérez believes that social projects like these are important for young people: “I think this kind of project deserves more attention, because younger generations must not forget those who created the world we live in today. And it’s very sad that the lives of many older people are being forgotten because the world is moving so fast that there seems to be no room left for the joy of being an older person.”