Instructions

Set Up: Prepare for the Activity

Organize the participants into pairs or small groups (5-6 ppl).

Begin by introducing the learning goals of this activity.

Step One: Individually Design Identity Capsules (10 min)

Share the following prompt with participants:

Imagine that you have the opportunity to live on another planet with an alien population. The interview process requires that you pack 5 items into a capsule that best represent you as a person. You decide which 5 aspects of your identity are most important and how you might represent them as objects in the capsule. Write down your answers, being mindful that you will share this information in pairs or small groups. Do not write down something that you are uncomfortable sharing.

Step Two: Share Capsules (20 min)

In pairs or small groups, invite participants to share their capsule items. Discuss these prompts:

• Why did you include this item? What part of your identity does it represent?

• How might this part of your identity show up (or not show up) in larger group discussions?

• When are these identity traits most present and when are they invisible or held back in reserve

  
  

Step Three: Debrief as a Full Group (20 min)

Reconvene as a large group and ask participants to take inventory of their identity capsule contents. Prompts:

• What sort of items were in your identity capsules? Any similarities? Anything that stood out? Anything in possible tension?

• How do we know which parts of our identity we want to put forth in a collaborative discussion with others? Can we be intentional about this?

• Which parts of our identity do we hold back? What is the cost of holding back parts of ourselves? Under what circumstances do we feel safe to put forth a more authentic or whole self?