This activity is one of a series of 17 teacher-developed instructional activities for geography at the secondary-grade level described in SO 009 140. Through a simulation, students develop an understanding of subsistence agriculture in Central America and how it is influenced by cultural and physical factors. During four 50-minute class periods, students "live" for ten years on a subsistence-level farm, make informed decisions on crops they would plant, calculate profits and losses, and discover some reasons for resulting differences in profits and losses over the ten years. Drawing a "chance" card adds an element of uncertainty to each farmer's success. During the simulation students read maps of topography, climate and soil and use tables to calculate crop yields and prices. A postgame evaluation session facilitates verbal input by students. (DB)