Talking · Movement
Agree or disagree line
Stand on a line from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" for statements built from sayings, then explain where you stood.
- 20 minutes
- Small group, Whole class
- Ages 9–12, Ages 12+
- Classroom
- Printable: wall signs
What to do
- Clear a strip of floor and put a sign at each end. The middle of the line means "not sure".
- Read one saying and its meaning aloud. Check everyone understands it.
- Read a statement that tests the saying, for example: "Nobody is perfect, so it is fine to make mistakes." Everyone walks to the spot on the line that matches their view.
- Ask two or three people from different places on the line to say why they stood there. Anyone may pass.
- After hearing others, anyone who has changed their mind can move. Ask one person who moved what changed it.
- Repeat with the other sayings. Good statements: "If you hear nothing, everything is probably fine." "If people are talking about something, there must be some truth in it." "No amount of training can turn someone into something they are not."
Questions to talk about
- Which statement split the line the most? Why?
- Is a saying always true, or only true some of the time?
- Did anyone say something that made you see it differently?
You will need
- A clear strip of floor, wall to wall
- The two printed signs: "Strongly agree" and "Strongly disagree"
Make it fit
Simpler: Use only "agree" and "disagree" ends with no middle, and one saying.
More of a stretch: Ask people to make the best case for the end of the line they did not choose.
Sayings used
Printables
The instructions card is for the adult running the activity; the worksheet is for the children. Prints on A4 or US Letter at 100% / actual size; colour is optional.
The wall signs
Cut along the dashed line. Put one sign at each end of the line.
The instructions card
How to run it · Talking · Movement
Agree or disagree line
Stand on a line from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" for statements built from sayings, then explain where you stood.
20 minutesSmall group, Whole classAges 9–12, Ages 12+
What to do
- Clear a strip of floor and put a sign at each end. The middle of the line means "not sure".
- Read one saying and its meaning aloud. Check everyone understands it.
- Read a statement that tests the saying, for example: "Nobody is perfect, so it is fine to make mistakes." Everyone walks to the spot on the line that matches their view.
- Ask two or three people from different places on the line to say why they stood there. Anyone may pass.
- After hearing others, anyone who has changed their mind can move. Ask one person who moved what changed it.
- Repeat with the other sayings. Good statements: "If you hear nothing, everything is probably fine." "If people are talking about something, there must be some truth in it." "No amount of training can turn someone into something they are not."
You will need
- A clear strip of floor, wall to wall
- The two printed signs: "Strongly agree" and "Strongly disagree"
Talk about
- Which statement split the line the most? Why?
- Is a saying always true, or only true some of the time?
- Did anyone say something that made you see it differently?
Make it fit
Simpler: Use only "agree" and "disagree" ends with no middle, and one saying.
Stretch: Ask people to make the best case for the end of the line they did not choose.
Goes with the printable wall signs.