Our 7th grade Humanities students stepped into a powerful simulation designed to help them better understand apartheid in South Africa — not just as segregation, but as a system of unequal power, resources, and rights.

Each class section was divided into two groups. Two students were selected to play the role of Wizards, while the rest of the class became Muggles. The Wizards represented a small but powerful minority, while the Muggles represented the majority of people who were denied access to land, money, and freedom. To ensure a thoughtful and respectful experience, clear boundaries and expectations were set before the activity began.

Using taped-off areas of the classroom, Wizards were given freedom of movement and control over resources (represented by beads), while Muggles were restricted to smaller spaces and had to work for Wizards in order to earn enough “money” to support their families. Every few minutes, the class paused to simulate taxes and trade, reinforcing how systems of power often prevent the majority from accumulating wealth — even when they are doing the most labor.

While challenging at times, the activity was also a ton of fun! Students threw themselves into all sorts of creative “jobs” — from standing guard in the classroom prison, to writing poems praising the Wizards, doing push-ups on command, cleaning the room, drawing portraits of their magical overlords, and more. Between the laughter, friendly chaos, negotiations, and even some rebellion, everyone got a hands-on lesson in power, fairness, and what it really feels like when rules aren’t equal for everyone.

After the activity, students reflected in writing on how the Wizards and Muggles behaved, what the resources represented, and how the simulation mirrored real-life apartheid in South Africa. This experience sparked meaningful discussion and deepened students’ understanding of how unjust systems operate, and why people living under them may eventually resist. It was a memorable and thought-provoking way to connect historical study with empathy and critical thinking.