Guide students through a four-part simulation where they unknowingly reproduce redlining, uncover the bias, and then redesign the system themselves.
 
In this 2–3 day scaffolded simulation, students step into the roles of 1950s city planners and loan officers in the fictional town of Harmony Ridge to uncover how bias and de facto segregation impacted entire communities.  

Differentiation
This lesson is divided into 4 parts that can be taught independently to adjust for time or difficulty. 
 
In Part 1, they grade neighborhoods for “investment potential.”
In Part 2, they approve or deny home loans within a limited funding cap.
In Part 3, students examine real historical redlining practices and compare them to their own decisions.
Part 4, challenges students to design a fairer lending model and test it against the same applicants.

This lesson moves intentionally from reproducing bias → recognizing bias → reforming bias, helping students understand how systems that appear neutral can still generate inequality.

Download a Sample

What’s Included
Neighborhood Profile Sheets
Part 1: City Planner worksheet
Part 2: Loan Officer worksheet
Part 3: Historical Connection reflection
Part 4: Designing a Fairer System activity
Article: Redlining and Segregation in the North
Teacher guide with pacing and discussion prompts


What Students Will Learn
Evaluate how housing and lending decisions influence long-term economic opportunity
Identify patterns of discrimination in zoning and loan approval
Compare simulated decisions to historical redlining practices
Analyze how bias can emerge from seemingly neutral systems
Design and test a revised lending model that prioritizes fairness
Reflect on how inequality can compound over time

Grades: 9–12
Duration: 2–3 Class Periods
DOK Level: 2–4
Format: Printable Simulation + Article + Worksheets