We Belong to Many Groups

Adapted from A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute

Kids will identify groups to which they belong in an active sharing game.

Before the afterschool period begins, generate a list of groups to which the children in your program belong. Use the box above as a starting point and make sure not to choose groups that single any individual kids out.
Have students stand in a large circle in an open area. The game will start with all kids walking around the circle.
Tell the kids that you are going to say the names of several groups. If kids see themselves as part of the group named, they should run to the center of the circle and run back to their place; if they don't see themselves as part of the group, they should continue walking around the circle.
Call several groups one by one. Some of the groups should include all the kids (e.g. people who attend afterschool) and some groups should be ones that involve fewer students. Again, try not to choose a group that will single out individual kids. Make sure to incorporate physical activity related groups! Examples might be kids who walk to school, play a team sport, like to dance etc.
Finish by asking students what they observed (i.e., sometimes everyone belonged to a group; sometimes only some people did). The objective of this game should be for kids to share parts of their identity and see how they are similar and different from one another.

After you've played the game a few times, have kids make the list of groups before the game begins. Start brainstorming with ideas for groups listed above.
Try the game with other movements. Have kids hop to the center and back or skip to the center and crab walk back.
Have kids create a drawing showing the groups they belong to after the game.