2+2=5 Team*WORKS

Hear it, Tell it Activity

            This activity is a variation of the children’s game “telephone.” However, this activity provides the opportunity to observe the changes from generation to generation. Ask for 5 volunteers. The first volunteer remains in the room while the other four exit the room. The facilitator reads an excerpt to the first volunteer and the remaining observers. The 2+2=5 program uses the following excerpt; however any detailed excerpt would suffice.

            Derek Johnson was having a terrible day, only twelve days before his eighth birthday. He was in the second grade at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School. His class had a spelling bee and he lost on the last word, “banana”. He spelt it with one too many n’s. Then he got his geography quiz back; he only got a C when he was hoping to get at least a B. On his way home, he got in a fight with his best friend, Curtis, who he had an argument with over Pokemon. Then, after the fight, he ran into Billy the Bully who stole his Sponge Bob lunch box. Finally, when he got home, his day had improved. He opened the door to find is new puppy waiting at the door for him. He instantly ran outside to the backyard to play catch with his new puppy, Spots.

            The first volunteer must retell the story, with as much detail as possible to the second volunteer. The second volunteer enters the room and hears the story for the first time. Then the second volunteer retells the story to the third volunteer with as much detail as possible. The observers carefully note changes and omissions in the story.

 

Reflection Questions: Please note that the following questions can be used by the facilitator to help lead the reflection discussion after the activity is completed. Facilitators can use these questions or other questions generated as a result of the observations from the activity.

1. Which details were easiest to remember? Were the details at the beginning or the end easier to remember; in the middle?
2. When thinking about what details were easiest to remember, what does that tell us about how to be effective communicators?
3. What does that tell us about effective communication?
4. How did emotion play a role in the changes of the story?
5. What specific listening techniques did you observe that were helpful?
6. How will our observations impact the way we communicate verbally, in writing, on the phone, in person, and/or non-verbally?