50 Activities to Kickstart Your Meetings

23REMEMBER THE RULES

Here's an activity that dramatically demonstrates the importance of checking our assumptions.

Synopsis

The players are divided into two groups to practice playing a two-person game using a sheet of scoring rules. Later, players from each group compete with players from the other group. Unknown to the players, the scoring rules given to the two groups are slightly different from each other, creating chaos and confusion.

Purpose

To experience the consequences of making assumptions that everyone is playing by the same rules

Participants

Minimum: 4

Maximum: Any number

Best: 12–20

Time

10–20 minutes

Supplies and Equipment

• Playing cards

Handout

Scoring Rules, two versions

Room Setup

Provide seating arrangements for pairs of players.

Preparation

Make copies of the two different versions of the Scoring Rules.

Version 1:

Scoring Rules

• If both cards are red, nobody gets any points.
• If both cards are black, each player gets 1 point.
• If one card is red and the other card is black, the player who played the red card gets 5 points. The player who played the black gets no points.

Summary:

• Red and Red: Both players get 0.
• Black and Black: Both players get 1 point.
• Red and Black: Red player gets 5 points; Black player gets 0 points.

Version 2:

Scoring Rules

• If both cards are red, nobody gets any points.
• If both cards are black, each player gets 1 point.
• If one card is red and the other card is black, the player who played the red card gets no ...