Commonalities
A fun way to get to know others in your group
At A Glance
Small groups develop a long list of things they have in common with each other, and then share them with the larger group to earn points for each unique attribute.
What You Need
- Pen and paper for each small group
What To Do
This is one of those activities that somehow fell off the radar, and now, having just used it for the first time in 10 years, I’m all excited about it again.
Ask your group to divide into groups of 4 to 6 people – the size is not too critical, but any larger than 6 and the search for commonalities becomes more difficult.
Equip each group with a pen and paper, and then invite them to develop a list of attributes / things that everyone in their group has in common. Five minutes thinking time is normally long enough.
For example, after a quick discussion, a group may discover that they are all the eldest in their families, or they have all visited the Melbourne Zoo, or perhaps can sing the first line of a Beatles song. Whatever – “it” just has to be common to everyone in the group, and the group with the longest list of commonalities wins!
Now, at this point, some groups get a little too excited thinking that, given it’s a competition, they just list all of the really obvious things they have in common, such as “we’re all wearing clothes,” “we all have teeth,” “we all have mothers,” etc. Groups are welcome to add these very obvious attributes to their list, BUT…. (here’s the kicker), if at least one other group has the same attribute on their list, both groups must cross it off their tally.
Yep, not so easy anymore, and – purposefully – this rule encourages groups to look for the really interesting things they have in common. Such as “driven more than a kilometre with the hand-brake on” “all born by caesarean” and “been in an ambulance,” as just three worthy contenders I’ve actually heard.
Have FUNN…
Variations
- Do the opposite – ask your group to develop a list of things that no one has in common (altogether much more difficult) – that is, you are looking for “things” that only one person can lay claim to, eg “been struck by lightning,” “rolled an ambulance” and “never broken a bone.”
- Drop the “duplicate” rule, and inspire each small group to develop a really long list of things they have in common, allowing as many obvious attributes as possible. More a competition of quick thinking than creativity, perhaps.
Comments
One Comment on Commonalities
- Merryn Weekes on Wed, 2nd Mar 2011 10:54 am
I have been thinking that a modification of the commonalities game could be good for new topics at school. Getting groups to come up with a list of words to do with a certain new topic, and getting them to cross off the list what the other groups have thought of. Might get them thinking outside of the square a bit more, and also get them interested in the topic. Haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll let you know if it works!
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