Fun with Character: The Carrot, the Egg, and the Coffee Bean

For this exercise, you will need an egg (hard-boiled is safer), a raw carrot, and a can/bag of coffee (it can be empty). You can also use pictures of these items. Show these items to the class, then place them in three different spots in the classroom. Have the students count off 1 -3. Assign a number to each item or picture. Have them stand in the area near where you placed each item. Explain that problems are like boiling water and that different people react to problems differently. Ask each group how their item reacts to boiling water. (The egg becomes hardened, the carrots become soft, and the coffee changes the water into coffee.) Relate these reactions to the responses that people have to problems. Explain that the groups they are in do not indicate how they react to problems. Ask each group to give examples of how each type of person would react to problems such as: forgot to bring home the textbook for homework, or not making a sports team. The carrot went into the water strong and hard. After being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. Carrot answers are the give up/do nothing kind of responses. The egg had been fragile before it was boiled. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. Egg answers will take action, but the wrong kind, such as hurting or making fun of others. The coffee was unique, however. After it was in the boiling water, it had changed the water. Coffee answers will endure and solve the problem.

To process this activity, ask these questions:

• What did you think the activity was going to be when you heard the three items?

• Do you think those are good examples to demonstrate each type of response?

• Which of the three do you think most people are?

• Which of the three do you want to be?

• The next time you face a problem, do you think you will be like the coffee?