Tragedy of the Commons: A Game about Managing the Resources and the Environment

Why do individuals hoard supplies during natural disasters?  Why does pollution continue to befoul the environment, even when we know its harmful effects?  Why don't industrialized nations share food and technology with developing nations in need?  These questions are all very different but have a common answer - the tragedy of the commons.

In 1968, biologist Garrett Hardin proposed a thought experiment called "The Tragedy of the Commons."  The idea was simple: any time human beings shared a common resource, individuals would think more about their own needs than the larger group's needs.  He demonstrated this idea with a scenario involving ranchers grazing their herds on a common pasture.  The tragedy is that, without intervention, the pasture will typically become overgrazed and everyone suffers.  

In this lesson, students will learn about the tragedy of the commons before playing through Hardin's rancher scenario.  The rules are simple - each round, students will decide how many cows to graze on a common pasture.  After the cows are placed on the pasture, every rancher gains or loses money based on the health of the commons.  Can students solve the tragedy by creating and enforcing rules that are good for both the individual and community?

This lesson involves plenty of discussion both before and after the lesson as well as an interactive game as the core of the class.  

NOTE:  In order to make sure this class is fun, safe, and productive with everyone, parents and learners should familiarize themselves with the Outschool Community Standards before signing up for this class and follow them once class starts (https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/16039-community-standards).   I reserve the right to move students to the waiting room or remove them from class if they depart from the standards.