John and Rhonda Davidson created BORDERLINE USA in 1986 to teach their kids geography.
This simple card game is played something like "Uno" or "Crazy Eights", and, instead of testing childrens existing knowledge, it truly teaches them which states border one another. Players can bluff and challenge each other, adding to the educational value as well as to the excitement!
When the game was received with enthusiasm by the Davidson's family and friends, they were inspired to begin introducing BORDERLINE USA to school children across the country. They did initial testing of the game with a fifth grade class in Los Angeles. The Davidsons spent two classroom sessions teaching and playing the game with the children, re-testing them after they had played the game three times. They found that the students knowledge of U.S. geography improved by an average of 27%.
These results, along with the discouraging statistics from the National Geographic Society regarding Americans lack of knowledge of geography, were enough to send John and Rhonda on a tour of the midwest. They were welcomed by students and educators alike at schools in several cities, where they taught and donated BORDERLINE USA games. The reaction, in all cases, was unparalleled enthusiasm!
BORDERLINE USA consists of 50 state cards, 16 wild cards, 4 water cards, 2 country cards and 1 rules card.
A new version of "BORDERLINE USA", The Greatest Geography Card Game on Earth will be available in stores March 1, 2000.