What do we have in common

Objectives

This activity asks people who do not know each other to share information about themselves to find out what they have in common with the others (first with each other and then with both others) and what makes them unique. This increases awareness about similarities and differences in a playful, easy way. It is one of those exercises that can serve as a first step in becoming aware that ‘us’ versus ‘them’ is not so black and white.

Material

You have to make the drawing available for all to see beforehand, which can be done on paper or by showing it on a screen.

Participants need to have a pen and paper (per group) to copy the drawing (unless the version on screen stays available for all to see) and to write down the findings.

Instructions

This activity (ice breaker) aims at participants getting to know each other – at least a bit.

Participants work in groups of three and have to look for ‘things’ they share, as described in this picture. Show them this picture before they start and ask them to copy it in draft, so they will remember what they are supposed to be looking for. To help them start their conversations you could ask them to focus on a theme (like family, background, interests, food)

They first have to each write their own name in one of the corners. Then they have to figure out what they have in common (in pairs) and what makes each of them unique and then they have to find out what the 3 of them have in common.

After about 10 minutes, ask them back into the group and ask each group to either share their findings by telling or mimicking them. If they choose to mimic, the other participants have to guess what they are mimicking.

Variant

1. You can choose to appoint a leader in each group of three, who will lead the discussions and be responsible for taking notes of the findings within each group. Especially when working with groups of people in which only a few can write and read, this can enhance the flow and impact of the activity.
2. You could make groups of 3 people who speak the same language to make the conversations easier and more fruitful for them, especially when they are not so fluent in the language of the new country. Presenting the results of each small group to the whole group should be done in the new language, but let them help each other find the right words.
3. Instead of writing on the paper with the triangle drawing, you can give each group a paper to write on (see template below).
4. This activity lends itself well to do online, with the use of breakout rooms.