Making the Future Thinking Routine and Facilitator Tips

Making the Future is a thinking routine designed to help learners explore civic topics by imagining possible futures and expressing their ideas through making. The routine guides participants through three phases: imagining how current conditions might continue and what futures they would prefer, creating a symbolic representation of a desired future, and sharing reflections on both the product and the process. By encouraging thinking through making, the routine supports learners in clarifying values, examining who benefits or is harmed by different futures, and articulating civic perspectives in ways that extend beyond verbal discussion. Designed for flexible use across classrooms and learning settings, the routine emphasizes process over product and supports thoughtful engagement with complex civic issues.