Making Policy: No Vehicles in the Park!

Something you probably know that your students might not? Making rules is a lot harder than it looks! This take on a classic activity is a great ice breaker for a conversation on policy, and is a lasting and memorable activity that can be referenced back to as the year goes on.

Essentially, the city wants to pass a new law prohibiting vehicles in the park. Like often in policy, this simple rule gets far more complex when nuance is introduced. Students first learn about policy and law, and are then tasked with creating policy and law of their own. After they have created a no vehicles in the park policy, their policy is put to the test as exception after exception is put forth. What counts as a vehicle? What about non-motorized vehicles? Bikes? Ambulances? The list goes on! Students have the opportunity to dive into the complex world of policy creation as their policy is picked apart by exceptions.

Included in this product are:

• A well-made and professional class slide show to guide the class through the activity

• A guided notes sheet for students to follow the activity with

  • Slidedeck and notes cover the topics of law, public policy, the no vehicles in the park scenario, scenario exceptions, and reflection/discussion questions.

Enjoy taking your students out of the textbook and into the complex world of policy!