We used this to help the children understand the role of sharing for our lesson "B is for Brotherhood." This year was focused on CORD (Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development) and how each child (regardless of age) can truly make a difference in the world!
Materials Needed:
One envelope for each child
One small chocolate for each child
Directions:
Divide the envelopes equally into groups of three.
• For the first group of envelopes: put in one chocolate and then seal.
• For the second group of envelopes: put two chocolates and then seal.
• For the third group of envelopes: leave them empty and seal.
It is a good idea to mark the envelopes for easy identification. We put stickers on each group. For example: the envelopes with one chocolate had a smiley face sticker, the envelope with the two chocolates had a fish sticker, and so on.
When you are ready to do the activity divide the children into three equal groups. Hand out one envelope category to each group of children. Once everyone has an envelope, ask them to open it and place the contents down on the table. Don't eat the chocolates yet! Here's where it gets interesting ... :-)
Discuss how everyone feels about the contents of their envelopes. Write down all the responses on the chalkboard. Some children may be very excited that they got 2 chocolates, while others may feel cheated that they did not get any. Those with one chocolate may feel that it is unfair that some got 2 while they only got one .... etc.
After exploring all the different feelings and thoughts, tell the children that our goal was for each child to have one chocolate. What should we do? How will we be able to change this situation — the aunties don't have any more chocolates to give out ... this is all we have.
Guide the children with 2 chocolates into sharing with those who have none. Once everyone has one chocolate, ask them how they feel now. How do those who shared feel? How do those who received feel? And how do those who did nothing feel?
(Note: if the class cannot be divided equally into three groups, make sure that the remaining envelopes which get distributed contain 1 chocolate.)
