Activity Two: Similar and Different 6

Activity 2

Similiar and Different – Potato game

Aim: To enable participants to recognise and appreciate that as human beings, we can be similar and different in many ways.

Age: 6 years+

Time: 1 hour

Goals:

Materials: A potato for each child. We recommend that you use different types, colours and shapes of potatoes to make this activity more interesting.

Step 1: Distribute a potato to each member of the group. Ask the group to examine their potato. They should touch it, smell it, and look at its shape and size – look at any bumps or lumps that might be on it.

Step 2: Gather all the potatoes and place them in a bag. Mix them up and pour them onto the floor/ desk. Invite participants to try and find their own potato and then return to their seats with their potato. Step 3 Ask participants how they were able to identify their own potato. Using flipchart/the board, write down participants answers to the following questions: • Was it difficult to identify their own potato? • Were all of the potatoes different? How were they different? • Were they the same in any way? How? You should point out at the end of the exercise that although each potato is very different in its own way, it still remained a potato inside. Step 4 Ask participants to discuss the following in small groups: • Do all people in your local area and in Ireland look the same, dress the same etc? If not, why is this the case? (Men/Women; different countries; hot and cold, small and tall, favourites colours, etc) • In what way are we different on the outside? • In what way are we the same on the inside? • Are we like potatoes? Step 5 Draw a picture/make a poster of what you have learned today and share publically.