This simulation develops Connectedness by giving students repeated practice in:

• Creating a sense of belonging (“I am included”) – Starts with safe, immediate belonging – kids notice similarities and begin seeing themselves as part of a group.
• Bridges beyond the classroom, showing that other groups are part of the larger school community and worth learning from.
• Makes the positions students as active participants and contributors of the classroom “life”.
• showing mutual respect (listening, appreciating, fair turn-taking),
• recognizing interdependence (how people and groups support each other),
• taking responsibility for social cohesion (small actions that strengthen community),
• and extending thinking from class → school → community → wider world.

The immersive setting makes social links visible and meaningful, while the shared artifact turns “connections” into something concrete and ongoing.