Step 5 - Raising Voices

Trust Circle5.1eGoal• To develop trust between studentsActivityDivide students into groups so that there are no more than eight people pergroup. Have everyone stand in a circle, very close together, so that theirshoulders are touching. Ask one person to stand in the middle of the circle.Ask that person to close their eyes and cross their hands over their chest.The person should also stay very stiff and should not bend their knees.All of the members of the circle should hold their hands up, palms facingoutwards. Check to be sure everyone is ready. When everyone is ready, theperson in the middle will allow themselves to fall backwards. Participantsin the circle will gently catch the person and very gently pass the personaround the circle. Change places and allow each person in the group toexperience being the person in the middle.After everyone has had a turn, lead a discussion. How did it feel to bethe person in the middle? Did you trust that the circle would catch youand keep you safe? How did it feel to be in the circle? How did it feel tosupport the person in the middle? Ask students what they learned fromthe exercise.33