Activity:
- Have each person choose a small item from what they brought with them, such as lip balm, a quarter, or a pen from a pocket or purse.
- Have group members pass their objects to the person on their left (or otherwise trade objects so that everyone has a new object).
- Take turns allowing each group member to describe how he or she is similar to and different from the new object. Avoid obvious statements like "This is a pen. I am not a pen."
- Be creative. It's amazing how much you can find in common with something completely different from you if you try.
Leader note: Another variation is to have people shout out random words to write on a board and challenge the group to find a common thread between two completely unrelated things. For example: "Marker" and "mother" is a tough one, but it can be said that both are permanent.
Conversation Starters:
- Did you have difficulty finding similarities with your object? What was that like?
- Which did you notice first: how the object was different from you or how it was similar to you? Why do you think that is?
- When have you had difficulty finding similarities with another person? How did you handle the situation?
- What do you think our response should be when we encounter someone seemingly very different from us?
- How would you want to be treated by others who feel you are very different from them?
