Kewanna Cigales

Cigales' project, "Playing Attention: Civics & Economics FUNdamentals," teaches students about American government and economics while participating in a series of fun competitions. Students have the opportunity to play educational board games and card games and take part in an Internet stock market simulation, all of which are designed to improve understanding of the American economic and political systems. The games, which vary from simulated stock trading to an exercise in government and electoral trivia, incorporate a variety of academic disciplines including history, geography, math, current events and writing. Students also participate in the North Carolina Stock Market Simulation, a statewide competition where students invest a hypothetical $100,000 in the stock market over a 10-week time period. The program's goal is to help students learn about the connections between supply and demand, capital and labor, and business and government, and to gain an understanding of how economic principles relate to their personal lives and the world around them.