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Our Group Identity/What We Have In Common

Suggested Group(s): Young*/Middle/Teen

Purpose: To facilitate group building through sharing, and identifying similarities.

Task/need: Group building & acknowledging the reality of the death

Activity Setup Ideas:

  • Ask, "What do you think that the members of this group have in common?" (If answers not provided, guide to the issue of loss as well as school, age and other commonalities.)
  • Ask if they think that there are other commonalities in the group.
  • Begin to talk about all of the experiences, talent and knowledge that the group contains as a whole — as a sum of all of the individuals in the group.

Materials:

  • Copies of "Our Group" or "What Our Group Has in Common" questions
  • Paper
  • Pencils or Pens
  • Measuring Tape or Yard Stick

Description: This write-up describes two very similar activities, "Our Group Identity" and "What We Have in Common." Introduce either of the activities with a discussion of the group similarities and differences. You may want to start with the obvious fact that everybody in the group has lost someone special, but indicate that they may have more in common than the obvious.

Supply each group member with the question list entitled "Our Group" or "What Our Group Has in Common" questions or develop other questions yourself. Have group members "interview" each other to find the answers to the group identity questions. Emphasize the group similarities and discuss.

*If using this activity with younger children you may need a "scribe" to help them write down and read the responses. Therefore, you need plenty of time and volunteers to do this with younger children.

Activity Wrap Up Ideas:

  • Ask if the group members were surprised by the similarities that were found in the group? Why?
  • Point out that both our similarities and differences are part of what makes our group.
  • Also, acknowledge that the whole group’s experiences, knowledge and talent may be greater than could be achieved as individuals.
  • Point out the characteristics that they have as a group.

OUR GROUP

  • How tall is our group in inches?
  • How many years of life have been lived by our group (add ages of group members)?
  • How many different states has our group traveled to? (Don’t count states more than once)
  • How many years of school has our group had all together?
  • How many times in the past year has our group been to a:
    • Football game?
    • Hockey game?
    • Concert?
    • Movie?
  • How many Big Macs has our group eaten since the beginning of September?
  • How many pets do we own as a group?
  • How many types and number of do we own as a group?

WHAT OUR GROUP HAS IN COMMON

  • Find someone in the group who is the same birth order as you (e.g.. oldest, youngest, or in the middle)
  • Is anyone in the group born in the same month as you?
  • Did anyone in the group see the same movie as you did this past summer?
  • Does anyone in the group have the same favorite sports team as you?
  • Does anyone in the group share your feelings about the first day of school?

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