Trading Card Activity
Suggested Group(s): Young/Middle/Teen
Purpose: To help the group get to know each other, appreciate unique qualities in one another
Task/need: Group building, group structure
Activity Setup Ideas:
- Explain that the group will be making trading cards to learn more about each other and determine if they have things in common with other members of the group.
- Put group members in pairs and have them sit across from each other.
Materials:
- Construction paper cut in playing card sizes (all different colors)
- Markers
- Pens, pencils
Description: Give each child 7-10 construction paper cards. Instruct them to write their first name on every card in any corner. Then they write something they really like on each card (only one thing). Some examples are favorite food, color, TV show, sports, movies, songs, pet, hobby, vacation spot, etc. Then have the kids sit across from each other at the table in pairs of two. Each group member will lay their cards down so the other person can see them. Next, each group member will take the cards they like from the other person (as many as they want). After the first trade, have the kids take turns trading with everyone else in the room. Once everyone finishes trading cards, they return the cards to the person who wrote them. Volunteers discuss what cards were traded the most by each person and discuss which cards were not traded at all (those cards make that person unique).
Activity Wrap-Up Ideas:
- Talk about what cards were traded the most and which ones made that person unique.
- Ask what they learned about other group members.
- Was the activity fun? Helpful?
- What was it like to learn that others liked some of the same things?
- How did it feel to have some unique cards.
Suggestions:
- The cards can be collected to help the volunteers plan future activities.
- Activity can be repeated more than once if they like it since kids can add different things on their cards.
