The Lesson Plan

[Credits go to Gaby (Rosal '10) for all the pictures!]

To teach them how knowledge of one’s history can bridge people, we played The Line Game. This game shares the same spirit of Erin Gruwell’s game which helped students  realize what they have in common with one another.

It was very simple. The class was divided into two groups and then I would ask a series of questions. They would step on the line if their answer was in the affirmative. While they do so, they must remain silent, avoiding comments or judgments.

The game highlighted the social aspect of history — how the consciousness of a common past forms a bond between people. It was interesting to see which questions brought most of them to the center (see bolded questions in the list below). And the silence when just a handful stood at the center was precious.

Step on the line if…

…you have ever crammed a homework.
…you have ever commuted on your own.
…you have ever skipped meals or lost sleep to schoolwork.
…you have ever had a crush on someone. (in school, in your batch, etc.)
…you have ever spent money on something you don’t need or should not have.
…you have ever done something embarrassing in public.
…you have ever thought of leaving for another country. (your parents thought…)
…you have ever doubted your religion or do not consider yourself a religious person.
…you have ever been in trouble with your family.
…you have ever lost someone close to you.
…you have ever felt afraid for what is coming this 2nd year.
…you ever doubted your choice of entering Pisay.

I concluded the game by helping them think whether or not they had more in common or not as a class. It is safe to say that their experiences have made them more similar than they think, opening up more possibilities for them to work together and become friends. After all, they will be working together for an entire school year.

Then I ended the class by revealing their major activity for the year. They will be writing their own history, in my hopes that they get to learn more about themselves, their peers, and where they’re going. I will talk more about this soon, as it is really something that will set this year apart from all the rest.