Participatory Methods

Stars

Starsis a participatory activity that invites participants to reflect on their strengths, skills, and contributions within a group, symbolically representing them as “stars” in a collective sky. Through this activity, self-awareness, mutual appreciation, and a sense of community are fostered.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Encourage recognition of individual and collective strengths.
    • Promote a sense of belonging within the group.
    • Generate an atmosphere of trust and mutual appreciation.
  2. Prepare the materials:
    • Black or blue poster boards (to simulate a starry sky).
    • Cut-out stars (made of paper, cardstock, or stickers).
    • Markers, pens, or colored pencils.
    • Optional: glue, adhesive tape, or push pins.
  3. Set up the space:
    • Arrange an area where all participants can work comfortably and access the “collective sky” to place their stars.
    • Ensure there is enough space on the poster board or mural for everyone to contribute.
  4. To conduct the activity virtually:
    • Use a collaborative tool where participants can add virtual stars to a shared canvas.
    • Provide digital star templates for participants to personalize with text or colors.
    • Facilitate a discussion to reflect on the final collective sky.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduction to the purpose
    • Explain that the activity consists of building a collective sky of stars representing the strengths and contributions of each participant.
    • Mention that the goal is to reflect on individual and collective value within the group.
  2. Individual reflection
    • Give each participant a star (physical or virtual) and ask them to write on it a personal strength or a meaningful contribution they bring to the group.
  3. Building the starry sky
    • Each participant places their star on the mural or collective canvas.
    • Invite participants to share what they wrote on their stars if they feel comfortable.
  4. Collective exploration
    • Reflect on the collective sky:
      • What patterns or similarities can be identified?
      • How do individual strengths contribute to the group’s success?
      • What did they learn about their teammates and themselves?
  5. Symbolic closing
    • Leave the mural displayed as a visual reminder of the group’s collective strengths.
    • If virtual, take a screenshot of the starry sky to share with participants.
Recommendations
  • Provide visual examples of a starry sky for inspiration.
  • If participants struggle to identify strengths, offer guiding questions such as: “What skill do you have that helps the group?”
  • Encourage a trusting environment where participants can share without pressure.
  • Introduce a theme, such as “our unique contributions” or “how we shine together.”
  • Reflect on how individual strengths complement each other.
Inspiration

Ideas for making the Stars activity meaningful

  • Invite participants to decorate their stars with colors, symbols, or personal drawings.
  • Introduce prompts such as “What makes you shine in this group?” or “What strength would you like to develop more?”
  • Reflect on how the collective sky changes as more stars are added.
  • Offer symbolic roles, such as a “narrator” who explains the meaning of the starry sky.
  • Relate the activity to values like unity, diversity, and interdependence.
  • Include a closing moment where each participant highlights another teammate’s star.
  • Reflect on how each star represents an essential contribution to the group.
  • Use the stars as an ongoing symbol, allowing participants to add new strengths as they continue working together.
  • Create a symbolic constellation representing a group value, such as collaboration or trust.
  • Introduce gamification elements, such as awarding the most creative or meaningful star.
  • Design a collaborative mural where the stars form an inspiring phrase.
  • Encourage discussion on how this activity can be applied to projects or group initiatives.
  • Keep the starry sky as a visual reminder to reinforce the sense of community.
  • Relate the activity to problem-solving dynamics, highlighting how each strength supports the group.
  • Design a symbolic closing activity where participants share how they plan to apply their strengths to future challenges.
Materials
  • Black or blue poster boards.
  • Cut-out stars or stickers.
  • Markers or colored pencils.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of Stars is to promote the recognition and appreciation of individual strengths within a group, creating a visual representation of their diversity and unity. This activity strengthens the sense of belonging, encourages reflection on individual and collective impact, and highlights the importance of each person's unique contributions to the group's success.
Type of activity
Participatory InteractionParticipatory Learning
Level of participation
Collaboration, Knowledge generation, Exchange of perspectives
Target audience
Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams
Fields of application
Education and training, Organizational and business management, Art, culture, and creativity, Innovation and design, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
30-45 minutes
Ideal number of participants
5-30 participants
Topics related to this activity
Active CollaborationCollective ConstructionCollective ReflectionCommunity and SustainabilityConexión humanaCreative CommunicationCreative ReflectionExperiential LearningGratitude ActivityGratitude DynamicGroup RecognitionGroup StrengtheningHuman ConnectionKnowledge GenerationPersonal DevelopmentStrategic ReflectionTeam CreativityTeamwork
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