In this episode, we explore the “Origami Hearts Inc.” simulation, a hands-on activity designed by Nic Dinato for Rethinking Normal. It delves into the core mechanisms of wage labor and profit accumulation.
If this is a topic you are interested in exploring with your students, listen to the podcast and download all of the facilitator resources!
What is “Origami Hearts Inc.”?
In a nutshell, this simulation turns your classroom into Origami Hearts Inc., a new factory that is staffed by the students. Across three different shifts, the students-turned-workers make paper hearts, which are then sold to a wholesaler “WallyMart”.
Each shift pays workers one unit (represented by a penny), while the hearts are sold for four units each to WallyMart. The critical element lies in the disparity between what the workers earn and the value generated for the investor. The bulk of the surplus value does not “trickle down” to the workers, and students see that the investor is left with a far greater share of the profit (even after reinvesting some money into company costs).
This gap becomes increasingly evident as the simulation progresses. Throughout the shifts, working conditions degrade, mirroring real-world measures to maximize profit. For workers, this includes increased production targets, fewer amenities, layoffs, and an added unpaid task to show the company is “environmentally friendly.” The downward pressure on wages and the greenwashing strategies employed by Origami Hearts Inc. illustrate common methods that corporations employ to survive in a capitalist marketplace.
Wrap-up
The debrief following the simulation is very important, and should serve as a springboard for discussions about the structural inevitability of poverty and worker exploitation within our competitive capitalist system.
The facilitator guide offers detailed instructions to ensure the simulation is not just a game but a powerful lesson for the students. If you download the Origami Hearts resources, you will also receive an activity to help students imagine alternatives economic models for the factory.
On the whole, this activity brilliantly shows some of the contradictions of capitalism and will be a paradigm-shifting learning experience for many of your students. I can’t wait for you to try it!!!