Energizer: My string partner

Energizer steps

Step 1

Take a piece of string, fold it in half and cut it in the middle. You will have two pieces of string that are the same length. Repeat with different lengths of string, cutting enough pairs of string so that each person in the circle gets one piece of string. The pairs should be different lengths, some short, some long.

Step 2

Explain: The facilitator will mix up the strings and give each person one. Participants must find the person with the matching length of string, who will be their partner for the activity.

Step 3

Facilitator says to each pair of partners: “You may be meeting for the first time now, but you share at least one thing in common – you are both holding pieces of string that are the same length! Now, try to find out two more things that you have in common (for example a brother or sister, a favourite colour, a favourite food).”

Step 4

If any of the partners seem shy or silent, give them ideas of things they share in common (e.g. they both have a nose on their face or they can both look up and see the sky).

Step 5

Once the partners have had a chance to talk, bring the adolescents back together in a circle. Each adolescent should be standing next to his or her partner. Ask each of the pairs to explain what they have in common and then discuss:

• Was it hard to find things you share in common? Why?
• Did you learn something that surprised you?

Step 6

Facilitator says: “As you work together in your circle in the coming days, I hope that you all have a chance learn more about each person in the circle.”