The Tree

Estelle Brochard

Audience

Teens

Attendees

15

Number of facilitators

1

Level

Preparation

15 minutes

Activity

1 hour 30 minutes

Objectives

Know how to identify problems
Know how to identify the roots of a problem
Know how to identify the consequences of a problem

Worked skills

Expected short term outcomes:
Developed critical thinking
Enhanced problem solving capabilities
Strengthened teamwork (finding solutions, reaching a consensus)
Improved communication (listening and expressing oneself)
Increased interaction and exchange

Connection with the long-term outcomes:
Promoted learning
Increased PSS status (communication, expression)

Prerequisites for the audience

This is an activity where participants need to take their time to reflect and generate ideas. Do not give solutions but stimulate their capacity to think and reflect. Your role is to facilitate their reflection.

Equipment

Flip chart
Felt pens
Post-its
Pens

Content used

Methodology

1. Preparation

  • Organize the space.
  • Prepare a flip chart, design a tree with clear roots and branches, post-it and pens.

2. Implementation

  • Welcome the participants.
  • Ask for volunteers to write in the journal and eventually take pictures (to be used for reporting).
  • Ask the participants what do they do to solve a problem (hint: do theyknow how to identify their problem?).
  • Explain to the participants the activity: they will be introduced to a method used to identify problems, their origins and consequences.

Do the activity:

  • Show the drawing of the tree.
  • Ask the participants if they have an idea what we are going to do with it mentioning that we will be talking about problems and how to analyze them.
  • Explain to them how to use it (problem should be written on the trunk, reasons for the problems on the roots and consequences on the branches).
  • Talk about what we mean by “origins/reasons of the problem” and “consequences of the problem”.
  • Divide the participants into groups of three.
  • Give each one the drawing of a tree or ask them to draw the tree themselves (use big sheets of paper).
  • Ask each group to identify a problem and write it on the tree.
  • Ask each group then to identify the reasons and the consequences of the problem and to write them on the tree (using post-its).
  • Ask each group to present their tree to the others.
  • Discuss

Conclusion

  • Discuss with the children the activity, what they have learned, if they enjoyed it.
  • Ask the two volunteers to write in the journal.