Activity 1.3
Community Necessities
Power is the possession of control, authority, or influence over others. Everybody has the ability to access power. Just as someone has the ability to control someone else, that same person has the ability to allow or deny that person to control them. We allow people to have power over us because we trust that they know what’s best for us and want to keep us safe.
Our individual power and control does have its limits. We do not have complete control over everything around us, even the things we depend on from the environment.
Materials
- Community Necessities worksheet
- Markers or Colored Pencils
- Timer
Instructions
- Group students into groups of four, and have them sit together.
- Each student should write their name at the top of their paper.
- When the timer starts, students have 30 seconds to draw the things they need from the environment - air, water, food, shelter - in the correct box.
- When the timer ends, students will switch papers with the person to the left of them in their group.
- Repeat steps 3-4 twice more. Everyone should end up back with their original paper.
Reflection Questions
- What did each square look like after you got it back? Did they match what you planned for each square? If not, how did it make you feel to get back your paper that has been colored by everyone else?
- How has what your neighbor drew affected your original plan?
- What effect does our neighbor have on our needs?