APIEClass activity: Fennel Corner Pitch (Urban Design Game)
Urban design and public space
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Fennel Corner Pitch
Plan an empty square in the invented town of Fennelby for children, older people and people at night. You have only 10 tokens.
Section 1: Rules of the Game
Teacher Directives
- Make teams of 4 and give each person a job: Pitcher, Budget Keeper, Scribe, Timekeeper. Put two teams together: each pitches to the other, and the other team is the panel.
- Read out the brief: a team may spend up to 10 tokens, and the plan must help all three groups.
- Show the timer and keep to the five steps.
- Check the scoring: the panel team writes down the points fairly.
- Use the Teacher key to check the token sums and listen for mistakes.
Student Protocols
- Spend at most 10 tokens to plan a good public square at Fennel Corner.
- Help all three groups: children, older people and people at night.
- Prepare a 2-minute pitch that says why you chose each card and how you will deal with its watch-out.
- Use the phrases (Be that as it may, That said, To put it another way) and some unit words in your pitch.
- When you are the panel, give the other team 1 to 3 points for a clear pitch and write down all the points.
Section 2: Timed Plan (25 minutes in total)
Hand Out the Cards
Hand out the cards. Each person takes a job: Pitcher, Budget Keeper, Scribe, Timekeeper.
Choose Features
Choose features that add up to 10 tokens or fewer and help all three groups.
Prepare the Pitch
Write your pitch notes on the Plan Sheet with the phrases and unit words.
The Pitch Round
Each team pitches for 2 minutes to the other team, which is the panel.
Count the Points
Add up the points, name the best plan, and talk about the trade-offs.
Section 3: Feature Cards & Mission Brief
Project Mandate
"Fennel Corner is an empty square in the invented town of Fennelby. Your team has 10 tokens. The plan must help children, older people and people at night."
Shade trees
🪙 3 TokensOn the card: (1) Shade trees, 3, older people, slippery leaves.
Benches
🪙 2 TokensOn the card: (2) Benches, 2, older people, groups stay late.
Play fountain
🪙 4 TokensOn the card: (3) Play fountain, 4, children, wet and noisy.
Market stalls
🪙 3 TokensOn the card: (4) Market stalls, 3, shoppers, blocked walkways.
Cycle racks
🪙 1 TokenOn the card: (5) Cycle racks, 1, cyclists, clutter.
Open stage
🪙 4 TokensOn the card: (6) Open stage, 4, children and night, loud music.
Bright lamps
🪙 2 TokensOn the card: (7) Bright lamps, 2, night, light in the flats.
Drinking tap
🪙 1 TokenOn the card: (8) Drinking tap, 1, children, frozen pipes.
Chess tables
🪙 2 TokensOn the card: (9) Chess tables, 2, older people, only some join in.
Section 4: Master Plan & Budget Sheet
| Select | Feature Item | Cost | Primary Beneficiary | Mitigation for Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ____ | 🌳 Shade trees | 3 Tokens | Older people | Daily sweeping schedule against slippery leaves |
| ____ | 🪑 Benches | 2 Tokens | Older people | Anti-loiter ambient zoning & soft lighting curfew |
| ____ | ⛲ Play fountain | 4 Tokens | Children | Rubberized non-slip basin and timer shutdown at dusk |
| ____ | 🧺 Market stalls | 3 Tokens | Shoppers | Perimeter zoning to avoid blocking primary walkways |
| ____ | 🚲 Cycle racks | 1 Token | Cyclists | Organized stall boundary preventing pavement clutter |
| ____ | 🎤 Open stage | 4 Tokens | Children & Night | Strict decibel limiters & 9 PM acoustic cut-off |
| ____ | 💡 Bright lamps | 2 Tokens | Night users | Directional downward shields preventing glare into flats |
| ____ | 🚰 Drinking tap | 1 Token | Children | Insulated subterranean valves against frozen pipes |
| ____ | ♟️ Chess tables | 2 Tokens | Older people | Dual-purpose board tops for spectators and casual seating |
Write notes for your team's pitch. Use at least 2 of the phrases (Be that as it may, That said, To put it another way) and at least 3 unit words (landmark, facade, density, zoning, plaza, amenity, loiter, inclusive, vibrant, clutter).
____ (Pitch notes: which cards we chose, why, and the phrases we will use.)Section 5: Scoring
Plan is within the 10-token ceiling AND helps all three groups: children, older people and people at night.
Each correct use of a phrase in the pitch (Be that as it may, That said, To put it another way).
Bonus point for every unit word used correctly (landmark, facade, density, zoning, plaza, amenity, loiter, inclusive, vibrant, clutter).
Given by the panel team for a clear pitch that keeps to 2 minutes.
Section 6: Sentence Starters & Signposting Hub
"Be that as it may, adding this amenity ensures our plaza remains truly inclusive."
"That said, excessive retail density could create unwanted street clutter."
"To put it another way, these bright lamps transform the landmark into a vibrant hub after dark."
"Be that as it may, we must prevent groups from loitering outside the residential facade."
"That said, our zoning prioritizes green amenities without sacrificing open public space."
"To put it another way, this balanced design makes Fennel Corner an inclusive community anchor."
Section 7: Teacher Audit Key & Diagnostics
Sum of all 9 feature cards: 3 (Trees) + 2 (Benches) + 4 (Fountain) + 3 (Market) + 1 (Racks) + 4 (Stage) + 2 (Lamps) + 1 (Tap) + 2 (Chess) = 22 tokens.
- Bright lamps (2 tokens) → Night users
- Drinking tap (1 token) → Children
- Benches (2 tokens) → Older people
- Shade trees (3 tokens) → Older people & climate
✅ Valid: 8 tokens ≤ 10 budget AND helps all 3 groups.
Section 8: Variations
Expanded Budget
Budget expands to 12 tokens. Teams only need to help 2 of the 3 groups.
The Normal Game
Normal rules: a limit of 10 tokens, all three groups helped, and a 2-minute pitch.
Only 8 Tokens
The limit drops to 8 tokens. All three groups must still be helped, and the pitch must explain how the plan stops either loitering or clutter.
Make a Card
Design a 10th feature card costing exactly 2 tokens. Write a watch-out for it that mentions the building facades around the square.
Section 9: Closing Questions
Hard Choices
Which trade-off was the hardest when balancing community amenity against potential clutter?
Useful Phrases
How did signposting phrases help persuade the panel when defending your zoning choices?
Everyone Welcome?
Can a public square ever be right for everyone at the same time?
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