ROUND ONE (10 MIN)
Say ‘Go’ and set a timer for 1 minute. When the timer rings tell everyone to stop and hold up their soup pots so everyone can see how they managed.
Praise everyone for their effort and ask them:
- How did you solve the task?
- How did it feel not to have scissors?
- How did it feel to be the one with the scissors?
- Did anyone think of borrowing or lending the scissors? Why/why not?
Explain the following:
The exercise illustrates that people around the world and in our community are born with very different starting points in life. Many factors determine how our lives will be – not least the social and economic status of our parents. Some people are lucky to be born with different kinds of privilege, with ‘scissors’. Many people are not.
Sometimes people who lack privileges think they have to accept the role and place they are given, without trying to borrow a pair of scissors or change things. And privileged people don’t always think of allowing others access to the “scissors”.
Human rights are about a life of dignity. Being more aware about human rights can help us to think differently. We don’t have to accept injustice and be defeated by the fact that we don’t have the scissors. We can ask for the ‘scissors’! Human rights can also help people with privileges to be inspired to stand up for the rights of those who are not privileged.
ROUND TWO (OPTIONAL) (5 MIN)
Explain that they have a second chance to try the exercise again. This time they can spend 1 minute discussing how to collaborate before spending 1 minute doing it again. Say ‘Go’ and set a timer for 1 minute. When the timer rings tell everyone to stop discussing and get ready to play. Set the timer for another minute.
Praise everyone for their collaboration and ask: How did it feel to work together this time?
