Participatory Methods

Who Are We?

Who Are We? is a participatory activity that combines icebreaking with team formation. Participants must identify their teammates by finding others who share an element from the same category, encouraging interaction and communication. It’s ideal for events, workshops, or sessions where the goal is to create teams in a fun and dynamic way.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Encourage interaction and help participants get to know each other.
    • Create teams in a dynamic and random way.
    • Break the ice in a group session or event.
  2. Prepare the materials:
    • Small cards or slips of paper, one for each participant.
    • A pen or marker.
    • Optional: a list of category themes for inspiration (e.g., parts of a boat, fruits, colors).
  3. Prepare the cards:
    • Create a set of cards for each team, making sure each set has the number of cards needed per team.
    • Write the name of an item related to a theme on each card (e.g., for “parts of a boat”: sail, rudder, hull).
    • Fold the cards and place them in a container for participants to draw at random.
  4. Set up the space:
    • Make sure you have a large enough area where participants can move freely while searching for their team members.
  5. To run the activity virtually:
    • Use platforms like Questiory or Miro to assign virtual cards to each participant.
    • Allow participants to interact in breakout rooms or through chat to identify their teammates.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Distribute the cards:
    • Ask each participant to draw a card from the container without looking at it right away.
  2. Explain the activity:
    • Tell the group they must find others who belong to the same category of items.
    • For example, if the theme is “parts of a boat,” participants with cards like “sail,” “rudder,” and “hull” should group together.
  3. Initial interaction:
    • Each participant introduces themselves to others by saying: “I’m [name] the [card element]” after checking their card.
    • If they believe they are in the same group, they pair up and continue looking for the rest of their team.
  4. Form the teams:
    • Participants keep interacting until they believe they’ve found all their team members.
    • Once together, they review their item theme to confirm if they belong together.
  5. Final confirmation:
    • The facilitator checks if the formed teams are correct.
    • These teams will work together during the upcoming event or activity.
Recommendations
  1. Vary the categories: Use fun and diverse themes like fruits, animals, body parts, colors, etc.
  2. Adjust team size: Change the number of cards per category depending on the group size.
  3. Encourage interaction: Motivate participants to talk to several people before deciding who’s on their team.
  4. Add a competitive twist: Reward the team that forms the fastest to keep the energy high.
  5. Provide examples: Give an initial example to ensure participants understand the activity.
Inspiration

Card category ideas

  • Fruits (apple, banana, grape).
  • Body parts (arm, leg, eye).
  • Jungle animals (lion, monkey, elephant).
  • Rainbow colors (red, blue, green).
  • Parts of a boat (sail, hull, rudder).
  • Professions (doctor, engineer, teacher).
  • Countries (Mexico, Spain, Argentina).
  • Musical instruments (guitar, piano, violin).
  • Traditional foods (taco, sushi, pizza).
  • Weather elements (sun, rain, wind).
  • Vehicles (car, bicycle, airplane).
  • Sports (soccer, tennis, swimming).
  • Flowers (rose, daisy, tulip).
  • Emotions (joy, sadness, anger).
  • Tools (hammer, saw, screwdriver).
  • Planets in the solar system (Mars, Jupiter, Venus).
  • Types of drinks (water, coffee, tea).
  • Parts of a computer (screen, keyboard, mouse).
  • Ice cream flavors (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry).
  • Famous historical figures (Napoleon, Frida Kahlo, Einstein).
Materials
  • Small cards or slips of paper.
  • Pen or marker.
  • A container to mix the cards.
Online platforms
Purpose

The purpose of Who Are We? is to encourage group interaction and dynamic team formation, using creative communication and cooperation to identify similarities among participants.

Type of activity
Participatory InteractionParticipatory Learning
Level of participation
Inquiry, Collaboration
Target audience
Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Urban and rural planning, Health and social well-being, Art, culture, and creativity, Sustainability and environment, Public policies and governance, Innovation and design, Research and evaluation, Conflict resolution, Technology and digital environments, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
10-15 minutes.
Ideal number of participants
10-30 people.
Topics related to this activity
Active CollaborationCollaborative GameCreative CommunicationCreative Problem SolvingGamificationGroup EnergizerGroup StrengtheningIcebreaker ActivityInclusive ParticipationParticipatory InteractionPositive CommunicationTeam BuildingTeam-Building ActivitiesTeamwork
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