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Supply-Chain Crisis Simulation

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Grades 9-1290 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Teens run a small manufacturing company through a simulated supply-chain crisis, juggling inventory, shipping delays, and risk tradeoffs as things go wrong in real time. It's a lively, numbers-driven look at why store shelves sometimes go empty.

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Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Prep: 10 minActivity: 30 min1 session~$2/groupOne table for the Supply-Chain Crisis Simulation evidence and prototypeBeginner-friendly

Setup

Print or handwrite the four Supply-Chain Crisis Simulation challenge steps and place common paper supplies on one table. Prepare one small sample, dataset, scenario, or recycled-material model drawn directly from the project description; no device, paid tool, room decoration, or purchased kit is required.

Activity

  1. Read the Supply-Chain Crisis Simulation challenge aloud, then set up a simple supply chain—raw material, factory, warehouse, store—and predict where a delay would hurt the most.
  2. Use paper, index cards, recycled objects, or facilitator-provided sample data to run several rounds of normal operation, tracking inventory levels at each stage.
  3. Run one tabletop trial and roll for a random crisis—a port closure or a factory shutdown—and adjust orders and stock to keep the shelves as full as possible.
  4. Finish by report on how the crisis was handled, what it cost, and what change would have made the system more resilient; record the evidence that supports the decision.

Done when: The group completes a defensible Supply-Chain Crisis Simulation solution, records at least one test result or comparison, changes one claim or design in response, and supports its final decision with that evidence.

Materials

colored beads or tokens, dice, printed inventory sheets, poster board, markers

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Disclosure: Materials links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Steps

  1. Set up a simple supply chain—raw material, factory, warehouse, store—and predict where a delay would hurt the most.
  2. Run several rounds of normal operation, tracking inventory levels at each stage.
  3. Roll for a random crisis—a port closure or a factory shutdown—and adjust orders and stock to keep the shelves as full as possible.
  4. Report on how the crisis was handled, what it cost, and what change would have made the system more resilient.