Agreement and disagreement are an important aspect of communication, and in many cases, it’s crucial to express your thoughts and opinions on a topic. However, these discussions can sometimes be challenging and may even lead to conflicts. Therefore, it’s essential to have some agreement and disagreement activities that can help facilitate these discussions and make them more productive and positive.
1. “Agree or Disagree” Game
One of the most popular agreement and disagreement activities is the “Agree or Disagree” game. The game is simple- you make a statement, and the participants must either agree or disagree with the statement. This game is excellent for team-building activities or as a warm-up exercise for a discussion or debate.
To play the game, gather all the participants and explain the rules. Start by making statements that are simple, straightforward, and non-controversial. For instance, you could say, “I enjoy eating pizza” or “I think winter is a beautiful season.” Ask the participants to indicate whether they agree or disagree with the statement by raising their hands or standing up.
As you progress, make your statements more complex and provocative. You could say, “Social media is a waste of time” or “Climate change is a myth.” Allow the participants to elaborate on their reasoning and encourage them to respect each other’s opinions.
2. “Take a Stand” Exercise
Another agreement and disagreement activity is the “Take a Stand” exercise. This activity is suitable for a classroom setting, team-building workshops, or a debate.
To play this game, create a statement that requires participants to take a stand either for or against. For example, you could say, “People should be allowed to own guns” or “Marijuana should be legalized.”
Ask the participants to stand up and position themselves either on the agree side or the disagree side. Once everyone has taken a stand, ask them to explain their reasons for their position. Encourage participants to listen actively and respectfully to each other.
3. “Agreement Ladder” Exercise
The “Agreement Ladder” exercise is ideal for facilitating a discussion where there may be opposing views. This activity helps participants to find common ground and work their way up towards an agreement.
To play this game, write a contentious statement on a board, such as “The government should increase taxes on the wealthy.” Ask the participants to write down their position on a piece of paper, either “Agree,” “Disagree,” or “Neutral.”
Next, ask the participants to form groups or pairs with those who have chosen a different position. Ask them to discuss the issue and try to find common ground. Once they have identified some areas of agreement, allow them to work their way up the “Agreement Ladder” by refining their positions and finding more points of agreement.
Conclusion
Agreement and disagreement activities are an effective way to facilitate discussions, build rapport, and encourage critical thinking. These activities can be adapted to suit various settings, such as classrooms, team-building events, or debates. By using these activities, you can help participants to express their opinions respectfully, listen actively to each other, and find common ground.
