Assignment:
Students move freely around the classroom. The teacher reads out instructions one at a time. In each case, students must find someone in the class with whom they share something in common based on the instruction. This helps students understand that they have many things in common, even if it is not always apparent. This enhances their sense of worth and belonging.
When students find a partner, they stop and confirm what they share in common and discuss it until everyone has found a partner. If someone cannot find a partner, they can step aside or join an existing pair.
At the teacher’s signal, students begin moving around again and find a new partner according to the next instruction. The teacher encourages students to find a different partner each time so that they discover commonalities with as many other students as possible. If there is time, the students can come up with more similarities. To maintain an atmosphere of equality, similarities should not be based on appearance, for example.
The teacher reads out instructions one at a time:
- Find a partner who has socks the same colour as yours.
- Find a partner who has the same favourite colour as you.
- Find a partner who enjoys the same hobby as you.
- Find a partner who has the same favourite school subject as you.
- Find a partner who was born in the same month as you.
- Find a partner who has the same favourite season as you.
- Find a partner who has visited the same place as you.
- Find a partner who likes the same kind of music as you.
- Find a partner who likes the same kind of films as you.
