Ever since I watched Dale Sidebottom keynote on the PE Institute in North Carolina I’ve needed to weave in some dice-based actions with my courses. I discovered this nice deal on-line for 100 cube, however they sat in a drawer unaccompanied by an exercise, till now.
We return from break on a shortened schedule, and I meet my new second-semester college students for simply 20 minutes on day one. This easy exercise creates a straightforward, low-pressure manner for them to (re)acquaint themselves with classmates.
On the floor, it’s easy. Two cube are rolled, a sq. on a 6×6 grid is chosen, and the immediate in that sq. turns into the dialog starter. Every immediate is written to information dialog with out forcing depth or private disclosure.
College students work in pairs and take turns rolling and responding. They’re informed from the beginning that they’ll go or reply in a lighter manner if a query doesn’t match them that day. That permission issues. It lowers nervousness and permits college students to have interaction actually, at their very own consolation degree. Each immediate might be answered merely or explored extra deeply, and college students get to resolve which course the dialog goes.
The construction of the grid additionally does some quiet work within the background. Prompts related to a roll involving the primary are forward-looking, serving to college students take into consideration the second half of the 12 months and the brand new semester forward. Prompts involving a six are loosely associated to well being expertise. Reflection on winter break is framed round noticing moderately than judging, with sensitivity to the truth that not each pupil could have had a optimistic expertise away from college.
One row of the grid is deliberately aligned with our college initiative that encourages bravery, pleasure, and kindness. The emphasis all through is on listening, curiosity, and connection. I remind college students that it’s okay to ask follow-up questions and that they’re not there to judge one another, simply strengthen connections with one another.
The Dicebreaker Grid isn’t loud or sophisticated. It doesn’t demand vulnerability or performative sharing. It merely creates house. In a brief period of time, college students discuss, pay attention, snicker slightly, and start to really feel extra related to the individuals round them. For me, that’s precisely how a brand new semester ought to start.
Obtain the 8×11.5″ printable Dicebreaker sheet.
Comparable, however very totally different, right here is one other grid-based exercise that builds class neighborhood with out the necessity for cube!
*I’ve a screenshot of a model of a dicebreaker exercise on my cellphone. I don’t know the place I noticed it. If this was you, please let me know in order that I may give you a shout out.
Should you loved this weblog put up, you may additionally get pleasure from:
Utilizing Cube within the Well being Classroom by Jessica Matheson
