DEMOCRACY LAB · FICTIONAL COMMUNITY DECISION: A public space has one budget and several legitimate needs. Your job is not to find a magic answer. Open the evidence, test what the survey and petition can actually prove, then make a recommendation that explains the trade-offs.
ACTIVE OBJECTIVEDEMOCRACY LAB · FICTIONAL COMMUNITY DECISION: A public space has one budget and several legitimate needs. Your job is not to find a magic answer. Open the evidence, test what the survey and petition can actually prove, then make a recommendation that explains the trade-offs.
WORLDWHENUA & POWER
SEQUENCE01 / 08
REWARDGAME BREAK
BEFORE YOU START
Get set for this mission.
You can complete the essential lesson on this page. You do not need to print anything.
YOU NEED
Required: a device with this page open.
Optional: headphones for video or read-aloud.
Optional: pen + paper for rough working if that helps you think.
HOW TO DO IT
Read or listen to the Briefing + Learn.
Do the interactive mission.
Use the reading and maths/data evidence.
Make your decision and add the Project HQ step.
Play the weekly game if you want, then complete Check-in.
WORK YOUR WAY
Short bursts are fine. Use Learning Tools for easier reading, read-aloud, less on screen, stronger contrast, no-rush and quieter-screen options.
If a question feels hard, go back to the worked teaching, use the hint/feedback, and try one step at a time.
MISSION BRIEFING
DEMOCRACY LAB · FICTIONAL COMMUNITY DECISION: A public space has one budget and several legitimate needs. Your job is not to find a magic answer. Open the evidence, test what the survey and petition can actually prove, then make a recommendation that explains the trade-offs.
✓Explain several ways people can participate in democratic and civic decision-making, including submissions, petitions, peaceful protest and contacting representatives.
✓Interpret percentages and costs without assuming a self-selected survey represents an entire community.
✓Distinguish evidence of support from proof of majority opinion.
✓Write a recommendation that names who benefits, what remains unresolved and what further evidence would improve the decision.
MISSION MEDIA · New Zealand Parliament
How Parliament Works
Use the overview to locate civic participation inside the wider parliamentary process.
Captions are controlled inside the YouTube player. If the embed is unavailable, use the YouTube link.
LEARN
PARTICIPATE → SAMPLE → TRADE-OFF → RECOMMEND
Democratic participation is broader than voting. People can make submissions, organise petitions, take part in peaceful protest, attend meetings and contact representatives. These forms of participation can provide important evidence about views and impacts, but they do not automatically measure the opinion of everyone. A petition shows organised support among its signers; a self-selected survey describes its respondents unless the sampling method justifies a broader claim. Good civic reasoning therefore asks WHO PARTICIPATED → WHAT EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED → WHO MAY BE MISSING → WHAT TRADE-OFFS EXIST → WHAT CAN WE RESPONSIBLY CONCLUDE.
Democratic participation is broader than voting. People can make submissions, organise petitions, take part in peaceful protest, attend meetings and contact representatives. These forms of participation can provide important evidence about views and impacts, but they do not automatically measure the opinion of everyone. A petition shows organised support among its signers; a self-selected survey describes its respondents unless the sampling method justifies a broader claim. Good civic reasoning therefore asks WHO PARTICIPATED → WHAT EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED → WHO MAY BE MISSING → WHAT TRADE-OFFS EXIST → WHAT CAN WE RESPONSIBLY CONCLUDE.
LEARNING BUILD
Refresh → Teach → Worked example → We do → You try
Build the idea before you enter the specialist lab. The point is to understand the reasoning, not just get through the buttons.
PREREQUISITE REFRESH
Reasoning lens:SOURCE → CONTEXT → CHANGE / POWER / PLACE → LIMIT → CONCLUSION
Bring these prerequisite tools back online.
English / communication:Argument, evidence, speaking and recommendation writing.
Maths / data:Survey interpretation, percentages, budget trade-offs and sample limitations.
Topic knowledge:Government, petitions, peaceful protest, civic participation, submissions and competing community needs.
This week’s first target:Explain several ways people can participate in democratic and civic decision-making, including submissions, petitions, peaceful protest and contacting representatives.
Quick evidence refresh: which source is a defensible starting point?
Choose a source that can directly support part of the investigation. More than one source may be useful, but start with evidence that does not outrun its support.
TEACH 1 · CORE MODEL
Democratic participation is broader than voting. People can make submissions, organise petitions, take part in peaceful protest, attend meetings and contact representatives. These forms of participation can provide important evidence about views and impacts, but they do not automatically measure the opinion of everyone. A petition shows organised support among its signers; a self-selected survey describes its respondents unless the sampling method justifies a broader claim. Good civic reasoning therefore asks WHO PARTICIPATED → WHAT EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED → WHO MAY BE MISSING → WHAT TRADE-OFFS EXIST → WHAT CAN WE RESPONSIBLY CONCLUDE.
TEACH 2 · WHAT TO NOTICE
Explain several ways people can participate in democratic and civic decision-making, including submissions, petitions, peaceful protest and contacting representatives.Interpret percentages and costs without assuming a self-selected survey represents an entire community.
TEACH 3 · CONNECT + TRANSFER
Distinguish evidence of support from proof of majority opinion. Write a recommendation that names who benefits, what remains unresolved and what further evidence would improve the decision.
WORKED EXAMPLE · EVIDENCE
PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS
Submissions allow people and groups to explain how a proposal may affect them and to provide reasons, evidence or alternatives. The number of submissions alone does not prove which view is held by the whole population.
Reasoning: Start with exactly what the source establishes. Connect it to the relevant concept, then stop before the claim becomes broader than the evidence. Now compare it with SURVEY LIMIT: A fictional online survey with voluntary responses can be useful for understanding respondents, but selection bias may limit claims about the whole community.
Why caution still matters:This item is useful context, but context is not the same as direct proof. Combine it with stronger evidence before making a broad conclusion.
WORKED EXAMPLE · MATHS / DATA ROUTE
In the fictional survey, 44 of 80 respondents chose the half-court option. What percentage is that?
This week’s maths/data focus:Survey interpretation, percentages, budget trade-offs and sample limitations.
Identify the dates, quantities, denominator or map scale first. Calculate carefully, then return the number to its historical or geographic context. A correct number does not explain the whole story by itself.
Worked solution:Use part ÷ whole × 100: 44 ÷ 80 × 100 = 55%. So 55% of the fictional respondents chose the half-court option.Answer check:55%. Now return the result to the question and state what it means in context.
WE DO · GUIDED PRACTICE
Which source needs the most caution before it is used to support a broad conclusion?
Choose a source that mainly supplies context rather than direct proof of the whole conclusion.
YOU TRY · INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
For Democracy Lab, explain one core idea in your own words. Use one named source or observation from this page, then add one sentence saying what that evidence does NOT prove.
Write at least 18 words. Name the evidence or data you are using and keep the claim inside what it can support.
MISCONCEPTION CHECK
SURVEY LIMIT:A fictional online survey with voluntary responses can be useful for understanding respondents, but selection bias may limit claims about the whole community.
This item is useful context, but context is not the same as direct proof. Combine it with stronger evidence before making a broad conclusion.
HELP
Try: “The source shows ___. In this context, that matters because ___. It does not prove ___. My conclusion is ___.”
STRETCH · OPTIONAL
Add a second source, data point or test. Explain whether it strengthens, weakens or qualifies your first conclusion.
DEMOCRACY LAB
A community has competing needs. How do you decide fairly?
Work through a fictional public-space decision. Open the submissions, test the survey, check the budget and make a recommendation that explains whose evidence you used and what is still uncertain.
FICTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY · 80 RESPONSES
44half-court + social space
28garden + shade area
8leave the site unchanged
What can this survey responsibly tell us?
FICTIONAL BUILD BUDGET · $180,000
$92khalf-court + lighting
$54kshade + seating
$31kaccessible paths
$18kgarden planting
Which plan best demonstrates evidence-based trade-offs?
CIVIC PARTICIPATION
A petition has 620 signatures. What does that prove?
Open all four community files, then solve the survey, budget and participation checks.
OPEN THE SOURCE NOTES
SOURCE 1
PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS
Submissions allow people and groups to explain how a proposal may affect them and to provide reasons, evidence or alternatives. The number of submissions alone does not prove which view is held by the whole population.
SOURCE 2
PETITIONS
A petition can show organised support for a request and can bring an issue to decision-makers. Its signatures are evidence of support among the people who signed, not automatically a representative poll.
SOURCE 3
PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY
Freedom of peaceful assembly is affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Peaceful protest can be a form of civic participation.
SOURCE 4
SURVEY LIMIT
A fictional online survey with voluntary responses can be useful for understanding respondents, but selection bias may limit claims about the whole community.
INVESTIGATE + ENGLISH · EVIDENCE CASE
Participation is evidence — but representation must be checked
A fictional community is deciding how to upgrade a public space. Rangatahi ask for a half-court and social area. An accessibility advocate asks for step-free paths and usable seating. Nearby residents raise concerns about late-night noise, while another group wants more planting and shade. An online survey receives 80 voluntary responses and a petition gathers 620 signatures. All of this is useful evidence, but the sources answer different questions. A petition shows organised support among signers. A self-selected survey describes its respondents. A submission can explain an impact in depth even if only one person raises it. A fair recommendation should therefore compare reasons, costs, affected groups and missing voices rather than treating the biggest number as an automatic decision.
MAKE THE CALL
Choose a combination of features that stays within the fictional $180,000 budget. Explain why your recommendation is evidence-based without claiming the survey or petition represents every person in the community.
BUILD YOUR CASE CONCLUSION1. Make the call. 2. Use at least two relevant pieces of evidence. 3. Explain one limitation or uncertainty. 4. Finish with what can responsibly be concluded.Strong structure: My judgement is… The strongest evidence is… However, we still do not know… Therefore…
CASE CONCLUSION: Write 180–240 words recommending a fictional public-space plan. Use at least three evidence files, include one percentage or cost, explain one sample or representation limitation, identify one group whose needs are addressed and one need that remains unresolved, and name one further piece of evidence you would seek.
0/180 words minimum for this writing mission.
CLAIMEVIDENCELIMITATIONCONCLUSION
MATHS + DATA LAB
Check the numbers.
HOW TO SUCCEEDRead the situation first. Estimate what a sensible answer should look like, choose an efficient calculation, then use the feedback to check your reasoning.For data questions, explain what the number shows — and what it does not prove.
In the fictional survey, 44 of 80 respondents chose the half-court option. What percentage is that?
Estimate first, then choose the answer.
MISSION 05 · MATHS + DATA LAB
DATA TRAINING
RATIO + RATE · YEAR 7 CORE
6 PROBLEMS
QUICK METHODRATIO + RATE
Find one part or one unit first, then scale up.
GUIDED · Q01–Q03Use the quick method, then check the explanation.
Q01
A 2:3 ratio has 10 in the first part. What is the second part?
2 parts become 10, so each part is 5. Three parts = 15.
Q02
180 km in 3 hours is what average speed?
Rate = distance ÷ time = 180 ÷ 3 = 60 km/h.
Q03
4 notebooks cost $12. Cost per notebook?
$12 ÷ 4 = $3 each.
INDEPENDENT · Q04
Scale 1:100 means 2 cm represents…
2 cm × 100 = 200 cm = 2 m.
INDEPENDENT · Q05
A recipe for 4 uses 300 g. For 8 people?
The number of people doubles, so the quantity doubles to 600 g.
INDEPENDENT · Q06
Which is the better unit rate?
$3 each is the lowest unit price.
OPTIONAL CHALLENGE · OPEN RESPONSE
Invent a ratio or unit-rate problem from everyday life and solve it.
0 words · optional
KEEP YOUR SKILLS SHARP
YOUR WEEKLY TRAINING
Four short sessions to spread across your week. Each has six problems and a reasoning mission. Allow about 10–15 minutes per session, and take longer when you need it.
Use paper for working. Enter numbers only; units are shown beside each answer. These are fictional practice scenarios.
0 / 24 correctSESSION 1 · NUMBER CHECK0 / 6
LEARN THE METHOD
Use brackets first, then powers, multiplication/division, and addition/subtraction. For fractions, use a common denominator.
WORKED EXAMPLE
18 + 4 × 3 = 18 + 12 = 30. But (18 + 4) × 3 = 66.
Use a hint
Multiply first: 6 × 3 = 18; add 65 to get 83.
Use a hint
Brackets first: 71 × 3 = 213.
Check the method after trying
6² = 36; subtract 3.
Check the method after trying
One quarter is 62; multiply by 3.
Check the method after trying
1/2 = 2/4, so 2/4 + 1/4 = 3/4 = 0.75.
Check the method after trying
(393 − 3) ÷ 6 = 65.
Compare your reasoning after trying
Multiplication is done before addition unless brackets change the order. For example, 2 + 3 × 4 = 14, but (2 + 3) × 4 = 20.
Your example may differ. Check your calculations and whether you explained why.
SESSION 2 · BUDGET BUILDER0 / 6
LEARN THE METHOD
Revenue is money received. Profit = revenue − all costs; a negative result is a loss. For a fair price comparison, calculate cost per item. Use dollars and cents consistently.
WORKED EXAMPLE
Making 10 items costs $2.50 each plus a $5 fee: total cost $30. Selling them at $4 each brings $40 revenue and $10 profit.
dollars
Use a hint
Total price ÷ item count = 21 ÷ 7.
dollars
Use a hint
7 × 2.50 = 17.50.
dollars
Check the method after trying
Quantity × selling price = 462.
dollars
Check the method after trying
Revenue − costs = 12.
dollars
Check the method after trying
Revenue − costs = −8, an $8 loss.
dollars
Check the method after trying
Revenue 264 minus costs 172 = 92.
Compare your reasoning after trying
No. If you need 3 items, a $4 pack of 4 can suit the budget better than a $9 pack of 12, even though the larger pack is cheaper per item. Consider waste and total spending.
Your example may differ. Check your calculations and whether you explained why.
SESSION 3 · DATA INVESTIGATOR0 / 6
LEARN THE METHOD
Mean = total ÷ count. Median is the middle ordered value (average the middle pair if needed). Mode is most frequent. Range = maximum − minimum.
WORKED EXAMPLE
For 2, 4, 4, 6, 9: mean = 25 ÷ 5 = 5; median = 4; mode = 4; range = 9 − 2 = 7.
Use a hint
Total 280 ÷ 4 = 70.
Use a hint
Ordered: 67, 69, 70, 71, 76; take the middle.
Check the method after trying
75 − 65 = 10.
Check the method after trying
68 occurs three times.
Check the method after trying
Average the middle two: (69 + 73) ÷ 2 = 71.
Check the method after trying
Old total = 268; new total = 355; divide by 5.
Compare your reasoning after trying
A large outlier raises the total and mean. A larger sample can still be biased if it only includes one kind of respondent; selection matters as well as size.
Your example may differ. Check your calculations and whether you explained why.
SESSION 4 · BUILD + MEASURE0 / 6
LEARN THE METHOD
Rectangle area = length × width; perimeter = 2 × (length + width). Triangle area = base × perpendicular height ÷ 2. Cuboid volume = length × width × height.
WORKED EXAMPLE
For an 8 m × 3 m rectangle: area = 24 m² and perimeter = 22 m. A 6 m × 4 m rectangle has the same area but perimeter 20 m.
m²
Use a hint
Length × width = 68 × 3.
m
Use a hint
2 × (68 + 3) = 142.
cm²
Check the method after trying
Base × height ÷ 2 = 136 × 3 ÷ 2.
cm³
Check the method after trying
Multiply the three dimensions.
°
Check the method after trying
180 − 43 − 62 = 75.
m²
Check the method after trying
Whole area 204 minus uncovered area 4.
Compare your reasoning after trying
For example 12 × 2 and 6 × 4 both have area 24 square units. Their perimeters are 28 and 20 units. Area and perimeter measure different things.
Your example may differ. Check your calculations and whether you explained why.
Answers and reasoning save on this device when browser storage is available.
PROJECT HQ · TERM 2
PROJECT HQ · PROJECT FILE 06
BUILD — start the project.
Start something real. Build an idea, test it, improve it, and share it. Make your move.
Our Place / Our Story begins now. Choose an Aotearoa or rohe inquiry that can be investigated with more than one source. You can refine the question as the evidence grows.
PROJECT HQ · PROJECT FILE 06
BUILD
Make your move.
PROJECT JOURNEYWEEK 6 / 9BUILD
Start something real. Build an idea, test it, improve it, and share it.
Build the first coherent version of the argument or exhibition.
THIS WEEKBUILD
Complete only this project step today. Your saved work carries forward, so you do not need to finish the whole project at once.
A STRONG STEPSpecific · useful · achievable
Use evidence from this week's mission, name a real audience or purpose, and make the idea small enough to test and improve.
BEFORE YOU SAVE, CHECK:✓ I answered every field clearly✓ I used evidence or reasoning from this week✓ My next step is realistic
Complete each field with enough detail to carry this work into the next week. This step saves on this device as you type.
IDEA→RESEARCH→PLAN→BUILD→TEST→IMPROVE→PRESENT
Project sharing will be optional. A future upload system must keep private submission separate from public-showcase/marketing permission.
CHECK-IN
What changed in your thinking?
15ICONIC GAMES
YOUR WEEKLY GAME · TERM 2 / WEEK 6
Drift Racing
Hold controlled slides around three laps. Drift builds your score.
01BRIEF
02LEARN
03INVESTIGATE
05DECIDE
07PROJECT
08CHECK-IN