MOOT City Educator Pack

Transforming Classrooms Into Civic Laboratories

MOOT Lab is an innovation in civic education that transforms classrooms into spaces of exploration, dialogue, and imagination. At its core is MOOT City, a board game that brings urban decision-making to life.

We are currently inviting select schools to partner with us in piloting MOOT City. Pilots give your students the opportunity to experience civic learning in a hands-on, engaging way — and give us valuable feedback to refine the tool for classrooms like yours.

Educational Objectives

  • Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving — weighing trade-offs and consequences.

  • Collaboration & Communication — debating, negotiating, and building consensus.

  • Systems Thinking — connecting housing, policy, economics, and environment.

  • Civic Literacy — understanding governance structures and decision-making.

  • Empathy & Perspective-Taking — stepping into diverse stakeholder roles.

Curriculum Fit

  • MOOT City integrates seamlessly into the following subject areas:

  • Urban Studies and Geography

  • Economics and Social Sciences

  • Civic Education and Government

  • Policy and Leadership Training

How It Works in the Classroom

  • One-Class Module (45–60 minutes): Introduces core civic concepts.

  • Multi-Class Series (2–3 sessions): Deep dives into economics, urban studies, or social sciences.

  • Workshop (half-day): Immersive, project-based learning experience.

Sample Scenario Cards

Upper Middle School

  • The Empty Lot — A vacant piece of city land is available for development.
    Choices:
    - Government zones it as a park → +Community Satisfaction, –Revenue
    - Developers propose housing → +Revenue, –Green Space
    - Citizens demand mixed-use → requires negotiation and compromise
    Learning Focus: Trade-offs between quality of life and development.

High School

  • Affordable Housing vs. Luxury Condos — Developers want luxury condos in a prime area. Citizens demand affordable housing instead.
    Choices:
    - Approve luxury project → +Revenue, –Equity
    - Approve affordable housing → +Equity, –Revenue
    - Approve mixed development → smaller gains in both, higher negotiation time
    Learning Focus: Equity, economics, and governance in urban planning.

  • Transit Upgrade — The city considers a new train line to reduce traffic and pollution.
    Choices:
    - Tax increase funds transit → +Sustainability, –Citizen Wealth
    - Delay project → +Short-Term Stability, –Long-Term Sustainability
    - Seek bank funding → +Debt, +Transit
    Learning Focus: Sustainability, taxation, and shared responsibility.

Support for Educators

  • Teacher guides and lesson plans aligned with learning outcomes.

  • Facilitator training (in person or online).

  • Ongoing support to help you adapt scenarios to your curriculum.

Next Steps

Join us in piloting MOOT City and help shape the future of civic education. Together, we can create classrooms where students don’t just learn about policy — they practice it.

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