Involving the Future Division in your discussion meeting
Here are some creative activities and ideas to support you to engage the Future Division in your discussion meeting!
Themes
- What does hope / happiness / kosen-rufu mean to me?
Choose one topic. This activity also ties in to ‘many in body, one in mind’.
- Activity
Paper Bunting: Cut equal sized triangles out of paper and encourage everyone to draw/write/paint on their triangle answering the question, “What does *** mean to me?”. Gather the triangles at the end and glue/staple on to a length of ribbon. Allow time for individuals to explain their triangle if they want to. See if there is a common word or focus that crops up. Bunting can be put up at every meeting and can be added to at any time.
- Materials
Paper, scissors, crayons/pencils/paints, ribbon, glue or staples.
- Peace – for ourselves, for family, for friends, for the world
- Activity
Peace Tree: On a large piece of paper draw a tree trunk and branches. Ask everyone to create their own leaves/flowers/fruit for the tree and write on each one words/ideas/thoughts about peace. Stick them on the branches creating a beautiful, big Peace Tree.
- Materials
1 large piece of paper, smaller sheets of paper, scissors crayons/pencils/pens, glue or tape.
- The Treasure Tower
- Activity
Build a Tower: Encourage everyone to work together or in small groups to build their version of The Treasure Tower. This activity can be done indoors with Lego/Duplo/building blocks etc. or can be taken outdoors using natural materials like branches, stones, leaves.
- Materials
Depends what is available!
- Being a good friend
- Activity
Friendship Bracelet: Everyone makes a friendship bracelet to give to a good friend, they can be very simple or more complex. Can discuss what it means to be a good friend to someone while making the bracelet. There are a lot of good instructions available online on how to make these.
- Materials
Friendship bracelet kit or selection of embroidery threads. You can add beads too if you would like to.
- Treasuring the person in front of you
- Activity
Medals/Badges: Make medals/badges out of paper and ribbon, encourage everyone to write one good thing about the person next to them, or make multiple medals and encourage everyone to write one good thing about everyone in the meeting! Allow time for the medals to be presented. This could be done one at a time in front of the group, or everyone can give their medals to each other at the same time.
- Materials
Paper, scissors, ribbon, tape, pens/pencils/crayons (could use post-it notes instead of cutting shapes).
- The Environment or Making a Difference
- Activity
The Run Around Game: Think up a list of words around caring for The Environment/Making a Difference. Encourage the children in the group to suggest words/ideas too, i.e. Plastic or Bamboo, Recycle or Re-use, Litter Pick or Litter Drop, Plant flowers or Pick Flowers. (There might not be a definitive right or wrong answer). Allocate one end of the space to each word. Call out the choices and allow everyone to run to their chosen word. Give people a chance to explain why they chose that word if they want to. Keep going until you run out words (or everyone runs out of steam!)
- Materials
This activity needs a large room or to be done outdoors. No other materials are needed.
- Multiple themes
- Making cupcakes
Give everyone a cupcake to ice. Your theme for the meeting can be the basis for the design. Depending on space and number of members in meeting, baking the cupcakes could be part of the activity too. Using this time to discuss the theme or how to work together with others, share with others, likes and dislikes etc.
- Materials
Plain cupcakes (or cupcake ingredients), icing pens, sprinkles
- Materials
Plain cupcakes (or cupcake ingredients), icing pens, sprinkles.
- Origami
Can share the story of “Sadako & 1000 Paper Cranes” and make Peace Cranes. Here is the link to the book.
Other options are to make Fish/Stars/Flowers/Hearts
- Materials
Origami paper, origami instructions (perhaps a member has this specific skill, many origami books in book shops and charity shops, instructions also available online)
- Materials
Origami paper, origami instructions (perhaps a member has this specific skill, many origami books in book shops and charity shops, instructions also available online).
- Stories
One person could read a story to the group or ask everyone to read a page or even act out the story as you go along
- Materials
There are a wealth of Buddhist stories available which help to explain concepts and ideas. These books are available at Taplow Court or online.
- Materials
There are a wealth of Buddhist stories available which help to explain concepts and ideas. These books are available at Taplow Court or online.
The following considerations, skills and qualities are helpful when engaging children in activities:
- Considerations
Introducing everyone at the meeting, adapting the space for young people, i.e. correct size chairs, able to sit on a warm floor with a rug or cushions.
- Skills
Active listening, facilitation, problem solving, communication and able to relate to children, observation, being reflective.
- Qualities
A sense of humour, energy, enthusiasm, understanding, flexibility. Moderators who are enthusiastic about children’s involvement in activities set the stage for joyful participation.
