Understanding How EU Decisions Are Made
The Toilet Game is an interactive classroom activity designed for 3rd and 4th Class pupils to understand how decisions are made at the European level. Through matching cards, storytelling and role-play, pupils explore the roles of the European Council, European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the EU in a simple and memorable way.
Using the example of reducing toilet flush water levels across the EU, children follow a proposal from big idea to final decision.
What’s the difference between Activities and Instructions?
Activities are the interactive games or exercises your pupils will complete in class. Instructions are the teacher materials that help you prepare : background notes, printable sheets, or instructions.
Learning objective
This activity helps pupils to:
- Identify the four main EU institutions
- Understand the role of each institution in decision-making
- Explain who comes up with the big idea
- Recognise who writes the proposal
- Identify who discusses and votes on the proposal
- Understand that a decision is made only if institutions agree
- Develop sequencing and reasoning skills
- Work collaboratively in groups
- Use discussion and justification skills
Introducing EU institutions through a game
The activity begins by explaining what an institution is:
a large organised group that has an important job in society.
Pupils are introduced to the four institutions:
- European Council – comes up with the big ideas
- European Commission – puts the idea into words
- European Parliament – discusses and votes on the proposal
- Council of the EU – represents countries and discusses the proposal
A visual diagram helps pupils match each institution to its role.
Following the story: From idea to proposal
The game uses a simple and relatable example:
Big idea: Water conservation.
The European Council suggests that something should be done.
The European Commission then turns the idea into a proposal:
“All toilets sold in the EU should not use more than 2 litres of water when flushed.”
Pupils explore how this proposal moves forward and how other institutions react.
Discussion and negotiation
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU examine the proposal.
In the story, both institutions discuss the wording and suggest changes.
For example, they propose using 3 litres instead of 2 litres, showing that compromise can happen.
Pupils learn that:
- Institutions must work together
- Words can be changed
- Agreement is necessary
Decision time
At the final stage, pupils decide:
- Was there agreement?
- Which institutions agreed?
- Was the decision adopted?
They discover that a decision is made only if the European Parliament and the Council of the EU agree on the same words.
This reinforces the idea that EU laws require cooperation.
Why this activity works
- Designed specifically for 3rd and 4th Class
- Uses a concrete, humorous example to explain complex processes
- Encourages sequencing and logical thinking
- Reinforces the idea of cooperation and compromise
- Develops teamwork and discussion skills
- Makes EU institutions understandable and memorable
- Supports SESE, SPHE and citizenship education
