Participants will:
- Consider how small actions can have far reaching consequences
- Discuss the importance of taking responsibility for actions by planning
- Consider what they might like to achieve in the future
Participants will develop
- Understanding of the consequences of their actions
- Responsibility when it comes to taking action
Materials
- Pens
- Paper
- Props (if necessary)
Before you start
Prepare some pens, paper, and props to use for drama/skits.
What to do:
Ask the Pioneers if they are familiar with chaos theory or the butterfly effect? In simple terms this means that everything is interconnected and interdependent and that tiny actions can have a huge impact. A scientist called Lorenz once delivered a lecture whose title was Predictability: Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? In other words, could the tiny atmospheric changes set off by the tiny movement of a butterfly’s wings set off a chain of events leading to a tornado?
Introduce the idea of a story where a character resolves to make a small but permanent change in their life. Brainstorm ideas for ‘changes’, but some ideas are: talk to a new person everyday, join a conservation project, do not exclude others, find out about the rights of the child and exercise those rights.
After the stories have unfolded discuss the consequences for the characters:
- Could anyone think of other consequences?
- Were these consequences realistic?
- Do you think that you will always know the consequences of all of your actions?
- Has anyone ever experienced a small change which led to a big difference?
- Are there any changes within the context of the group that have had far reaching consequences?
- In a world where something as random as the beating of a butterfly’s wings can have such far reaching consequences, is it worth making plans?
- Why is it worth making plans? (It is worth making plans – play devil’s advocate if you need to!).
- Does it matter if things don’t go according to plan?
- Are there any changes that the group would like to make, to try and bring about some changes?