Mafia Game, no printing - logical reasoning + argument structure lesson

Mafia (sometimes known as One Night Werewolf) game is a great and fun way to get students thinking logically and giving rationals for their argument. It can teach them to provide and weigh up evidence, the importance of bias and reliability and also enjoy learning at the same time.

All you need is a deck of cards and this PowerPoint and off you go. The rules seem hard at first but the whole class will understand within the first round.

I have played this game with students in middle-high schools and it is loved by grades 7-12 but could easily be played by younger grades. I recommend at least 15 minutes the first time you play but rounds can last as little as 10 minutes once they know the rules.

For drama, I encourage dramatic deaths and faster rounds, for English/Language Arts I focus on different areas of their arguments, including structure, rationale, bias, reliability of sources etc. The students respond well and can then apply this structure in drafting assessment.