Teaching toolkit
Simulation game
A complex system becomes tangible through play: roles with their own interests negotiate over several rounds. Decisions have consequences. You understand how the system works because you’re part of it.
How the method works
- 1
Introduce the scenario, role profiles and rules; assign roles and read them through.
- 2
Round 1: Stakeholders analyze their situation and make initial decisions/negotiate.
- 3
Interim review: the game facilitator reports back on the consequences of the decisions.
- 4
More rounds with increasing complexity or event cards.
- 5
In-depth debrief: de-role, analyse what happened, and relate it to real life.
Material
- Role profiles
- Scenario
- Event cards
- Assessment sheet
You can find free, ready-made worksheets for the work phase in the TeachPie Marketplace , sorted by subject and grade, in three levels.
Common pitfalls in practice
- Clearly separate the simulation from the subject-specific evaluation in terms of timing
Variants
- Conference role-play (e.g. climate summit) with a closing declaration to negotiate.
- Digitally supported: simulate and visualize round results in a table.
In TeachPie, the planning AI suggests Simulation game automatically when it fits the phase, timing, and class, including ready-to-use materials.