Add@Me Learning Methods Database (EN)

The facilitator tells the participants that they are going on a picnic and in order to come to the picnic, they need to go through the green glass door. To get through the green glass door each participant must bring something to the picnic. What they can bring to the picnic depends on the first letter of their first name. Each person may only bring objects to the picnic that start with the first letter of their first name.

For example: The facilitator (whose name is Sam) would start by saying. "I am going through the green glass door and I'm bringing Sandwiches, but I am not bringing the watermelon. What are you bringing Larry?" Larry might respond by saying I'm going to bring the potato salad, but I am not going to bring the juice. In which case the facilitator is saying, I'm sorry Larry, you can't bring the potato salad, but Patty, you could bring the potato salad. Continue doing this until everyone catches on to the rule.

Variations: If everyone catches onto the rule quickly, the facilitator can create more difficult rules. Suggestions are: Participants may only bring items that have double letters in them, (i.e. balloons, food, berries, cheese, etc.), participants may only bring items that start with the first letter of their last name, etc. In order to create an atmosphere for the picnic, the vi facilitator can organise this exercise near the door of the room, where particiapnts can use it as an imaginary Green Glass Door.

The group will become more united.

No materials are needed but when played with younger participants a task before the actual exercise can be for participants to draw the objects they bring to the picnic and than show the drawing by the door when they go though it.

The steps and rules of the exercise are explained in the summary section.

This exercise does not need any reflection at the end.

No risk factors were identifyed for this activity.

When organising this exercise with very young participants than before the task, participants can be asked to draw the objects they bring to the picinic and show the drawing when they go through the door. This twist will give very young participants something more to look forward to.