Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash
Skill Level
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Learner Outcomes
- Explore thoughts and expressions of others.
- Interpret meaning of quotes and ideas.
- Provide examples to support opinions and ideas in persuasive ways.
Life Skills
Decision making, critical thinking, communications, social skills, sharing, contribution to group, teamwork, self-responsibility, character, managing feelings
Time
15 minutes
Materials
Space
Indoor or outdoor activity, comfortable place for youth to reflect and group discussion
Introduction
In this activity, the group will learn about and read quotes from leaders in different justice movements. Youth will use critical thinking skills and work in groups to explore thoughts and expressions of others, and make connections to self-awareness, ideas, and actions they take.
Before the Activity
Read through the list of quotes and choose ones that are appropriate for your group. Get to know the people behind the quotes, learn their story. Print out selected quotes.
Activity
Opening Questions
Choose one that is appropriate for your group.
- Share the name of an activist or someone that inspires you.
- Is there a famous quote that you like, and how does it make you feel? What does this quote mean to you?
Experience
- Have each person pick a quote. Give them time to read it over with the option to pick a different one.
- Once everyone has settled on a quote, split the group into smaller groups of 3-4 people.
- In groups, have each person read their quote aloud. After a quote is read, allow 30 seconds for reflection. Stress the importance of this time as silence can be uncomfortable and the tendency in groups can be to immediately start talking.
- Group discussion questions: Did you like the quote? Why or why not? How did the quote make you feel? What do you think the person trying to say?
- Each group should choose one quote to share with the whole group. This can be their favorite quote, their least favorite quote, the quote that was most thought provoking, etc.
- Come back together as a whole group and have each group share the quote they chose.
Reflection Questions (choose one or a few that work best for your group)
- What did you appreciate about this quote? What didn’t land so well with you?
- What was most inspiring about the quote you chose or about the quotes other people shared?
- What do you imagine the person was thinking about when they said or wrote their words?
Variations
As a whole group, stand in a circle. Pass around a container full of quotes on slips of paper. Ask each youth to pull out an inspirational quote and read their quote out loud to the rest of the group. Ask them to hold onto this quote and bring them to their groups for the next small group activity, modeling questions for small group discussion:
- What did you like about this quote? What didn’t you like about this quote?
- What did your quote most inspire, in terms of your own way of thinking or doing?
- What quote inspired you the most? Why?
Extensions
- Learn about the people behind the quotes. When you provide the quote, include the context of the quote, the background of person behind the quote, and/or a photo of the person behind the quote.
Acknowledgements
This activity has been modified from Inspirational Quotes: The Power of Change activity in the Gardening in Our Warming World: Youth Grow curriculum from Cornell Garden-Based Learning.
