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IF I WERE A KING OR QUEEN: CREATING YOUR OWN COUNTRY

by J. Rya n Str a da l a nd Robert Jury

session, hours All children live in their own

worldalbeit, one restrained by the mores and demands of unfair, illogical adultsand the rules, wishes, and parameters of this world are often only expressed piecemeal, as in a desire to stay up until midnight, or a secret wish for a horse in the garage. This exercise lets students transcend all that. When we explain to the students that theyll be creating their own country from scratch, many start working before were even done explaining the guidelines. Fortunately, the setup is short and simple; we go over the aspects of what makes a country, we spend a couple hours creating our ideal nation, and then we share it, United Nationsstyle, with our fellow world leaders. Weve found that the students need little guidance beyond the introduction, although they do request an audience for their cartographical innovations (more on this shortly). The first things we explain are a countrys components, which the students then invent for themselves in whichever order they choose. They are: Name of Country: The naming of ones country, though difficult, should be tackled first because it suggests boundaries that make the infinite scope of nation building seem less daunting. Weve found that the students opt for simple, declarative names that suggest a theme (for example, Jungle World, Red and Blue Land) or hybrids with actual places (for example, Boston D.C. or Kittyville, California). Whos in Charge: Nows a good time to engage your class in a brief lesson about different kinds of government: monarchies, dictatorships, democracies, republics, empires, parliaments, and so on. What kind of government will they choose for their country? What will they call its leaders? Supreme Queen, Tribal Chief, King Awesome, Dude/ Dudette in Charge, Duchess, Prime Minister, and El Presidente are all great choices. No students have ever chosen someone other than themselves to head their fictional country. Real-life authority figures rarely figure at all in these worlds, and when they do, theyre usually demoted to a menial position. Try not to let it get to you. Map of Country: After showing the students a quick example of a fictional map on a dry-erase or chalk board, this portion of the exercise is tackled with alarming alacrity and impressive imagination. Certain patterns will 147

emerge: public repositories of money (usually in the form of rivers or lakes), buildings constructed from highly perishable comestibles, and sprawling personal estates (one students eight-bed, six-bath mansion ultimately proved to be on the modest side and needed to be revised). We go over the fictional map, and naturally, we see many variations on its themes. We blend the political, the topographical, and the edible, disregarding scale, mold, and zoning ordinances. The students often explore beyond these suggestions, inventing spectacular landmarks (a Tree of Life losing a war of attrition with a tornado) and unique urban centers (many students create cities populated exclusively by their favorite animal). Flag of Country: Many students immediately gravitate towards creating their flag design, utilizing a palette that would cause accidents at the U.N.s carport. We need few to no examples; the students often generate flags as if they were waiting their whole lives to do so. Description of Country: This is the World Almanac entry. What is the population? What languages are spoken? What do people wear? Who is the most popular writer or musician? We explain that this is where the students can express their tastes and make their country truly ascribe to their own desired logic. We do not consider any pet-tohuman ratio too outlandish.

Decree of Absolute Laws: We tell the students that for once they can make all the rules, and for many, this is as least as fun as drawing the map. Harsh tax codes are not unheard of, and parents, teachers, and siblings often experience a severe curtailment of civil liberties. However, many students also eliminate the insulting practice of charging money for food, so life for adults in these countries isnt a complete downer. Whats Next: Once weve guided the class through an explanation of each component, with examples, the next few hours are primarily comprised of one-on-one consultation with students who are either stuck on a detail or have an exciting innovation to share. In a project like this with few parameters, it can sometimes take the students a while to adjust to the idea that the aspects of this fictional country can be as far-flung as they wish them to be. We answer many questions pertaining to logic and boundary, such as: Can one trillion people fit on an island shaped like a teddy bear? (Of course.) If Matthews map has a black hole, can Emilys have a white hole? (Why not?) At the end of class, we ask the students who are so inclined to do a short presentation on their country for the edification of the other heads of state. This often emboldens some of the kings, queens, princesses, and lords who were initially hesitant to do so. Then we place the completed work in a royal binder for safekeeping and easy transport. They are now ready to make their new country a part of the world.

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Dont Forget to Write for the Elementary Grades

Copyright 2011 by 826 National

FIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR COUNTRY-BUILDERS

1. If youre having trouble with your map, ask yourself: What is your favorite food or beverage? Name anything you would like to have in close proximity or in great quantities, like a root beer lake, or an ice cream iceberg.

2. Are there any laws you currently consider to be unfair? Now is your chance to set the world straight. You can also decide how many school days you have a year, what is taught in school, and, naturally, if there even is school.

3. Consider dividing your country into different states or territories if you cant fit everything into just one nation. You can also banish or assign certain things to islands, like vegetables, snow, homework, pizza, or chores.

4. Take a look at the student sitting next to you. Does your country have relations to theirs? Are they peaceful or problematic? Will Puppy Town and the Snowcone Island renew their peace talks this year? At last, its your call.

5. Design a coat of arms, logo, or symbol to put upon your flag. Consider a representation of your favorite animal or pet. Nothing gets the point across at a border crossing better than a giant hamster.