Materials:
Paper strips, pens
Activity:
Give everyone a strip of paper. Tell them they get to order someone to do a task tonight. Group members must think of a person in the group and decide a task for him or her to perform. The tasks should be:
- Fun
- Accomplished in 30 seconds or less
- Non-discriminating and non-offensive
When a person has decided on a person and task, he or she can fill out the order form. Instruct group members to use the following format:
To : __________ (Name of Ordered Person)
Please : __________ (sing/dance, etc.) for me.
From : __________ (Name of Requesting Person)
Give group members three minutes to fill out their order forms. Then gather all the order forms and mix them up. Announce to the group that this activity is called "Easier Said than Done." Tell group members they are going to receive what they have ordered, but they will have to do it themselves. Read out one order slip at a time, and have the requesting person perform the task. After reading all of the order slips, discuss the following questions.
Unpacking Questions:
- How did you decide the person and the task for your order form?
- How did you feel when told that you were going to perform the task you wanted another to do? Were you instantly willing to do the task you wanted someone else to perform?
- Can you think of real-life situations where you want others to do things you don't do yourself (i.e. telling your kids to make their beds when you don't make your own bed)?
- Do you think this is a good or bad thing? Why?
- How can we balance our actions with what we preach?
- What effect might this balance have on others? How might they view us differently?
