What do players learn?
While preparing for and playing Current Events, players learn about the major political and cultural events of the most recent calendar year. They learn to be aware of what is happening to them, their country, and their world. The knowledge gained from playing Current Events leads to more informed and responsible future citizens.
Elementary Division (grades 4-6) questions are composed with easier language than for the Middle Division (grades 7-8). At the Junior and Senior Divisions (grades 9-12) events referred to are more detailed.
How do you play?
Current Events is a question and response game. Students sit in groups of three or four for purposes of checking each other’s answers and keeping score. Many such groups may be playing simultaneously in the same room.
There are two rounds of play for Current Events, the Lightning Round and the Wager Round. Questions are read by a central reader. In the Lightning Round, in all of the 18 questions read, on the following six categories is covered: People in the News, Sports, Entertainment, Disasters, Science/Technology and Business/Economy. The point values of each question are determined ahead of time (2, 4 or 6). Players score the point value for a correct answer and zero (0) for an incorrect answer. Facts in the questions are not complex and players are expected to have studied the events and to know these answers from memory. No outside resources are allowed during the round.
In the Wager Round, four categories are covered in a 12-question round – National News, International News, National Politics and International Politics. Before each question is read, the players hear the topic of the question and are asked to wager either 6, 4 or 2 points depending on how confident they are in the category. If they answer correctly, they win the number of points wagered (6, 4 or 2). An incorrect answer will lose half the number of points wagered (-3, -2 or -1). All questions are multiple choice (A, B, C or D). Each player also has TWO abstentions that may be used out of the twelve questions in this round. A player may abstain and accept a score of zero on a question, even after hearing the question and choices. No outside resources are allowed during this round as well.
How do I get the game Current Events?
Check the links here to view and print the Official Tournament Rules. Since Current Events changes each year, there are no official study materials. The Social Studies Committee recommends www.infoplease.com, Time Magazine’s A Year in Review and the World Almanac as study guides. Players are encouraged to visit the their library and to research other sources to prepare for the competition.
Forms for use in tournaments may be printed from here.
The Official Tournament Rules are modified slightly every year based upon suggestions from member leagues and the national Social Studies Committee.