Pupils participate in a board game activity in which landing on a space called "Decision Card" presents them with a land-use situation to consider and decide how to act. In order to advance in Hydropoly, players must think critically and consider both benefits and consequences of their decisions. In addition to honing decision-making skills that they can apply to other situations in their lives, learners also discover how complex and intricate environmental decisions can be, often with long-lasting effects. They discuss land use practices, including economic factors, that affect the Great Lakes area.