Orange Sweeties

Purpose:

The purpose of this exercise is to help the students understand that although each individual has outward characteristics that make him/her different, like oranges, underneath we are basically the same.

Procedures:

1. Ask the students to break up into small groups, as racially mixed as possible.
2. Ask a student from each group to select an orange from the table.
3. Ask each person in the group to examine the selected orange very carefully, pointing any distinguishing marks.
4. Ask the group to name the orange and adopt the orange as part of the group.
5. Ask each group representative to return their orange.
6. Lead a discussion by asking:

• What did the group name their orange?
• Was it a team effort?
• Why was the name selected?

7. Mix up the oranges. Each group representative will identify and retrieve their orange.
8. When each group representative has found the right orange, ask them to return to their group and have the group members confirm that the orange is theirs.
9. Lead a discussion about the exercise, recording answers on a flip chart.

• Ask what the group thinks is the purpose of the exercise.
• Ask the groups to peel their oranges.
• Explain how the peeling away of the oranges' outward skins reveals basically that they are the same underneath the skins.
• Stress the importance of making a conscious effort to know people for their character content and not their outward appearance.

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