DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

Note, most times the differences are things we can see: hair/skin color, wearing glasses or not, different type shoe, one in pants, the other in skirt.

The similarities are often times things that the audience perceives: both are GS, both are enthusiastic, etc. Of course there may be some physical characteristics that are similar.

This can be used  in training for new Girl Scout leaders, and present it as a "game" they can take back to their troops. Besides being "fun", it is an excellent way to introduce the part of our training where we talk about accepting ALL girls into a troop and the leader's responsibility to WELCOME all girls in the same way.
 

With a large selection of each color of jelly bean, ask each person to take one, considering the color of the jelly bean.  (Gum drops may be used as well, but some colors may have to be eliminated.)  Tell the group to hold the jelly bean and not eat it.
The jelly bean color you have chosen tells us something about you as a personality.
WHITE OR BLACK:
                This individual is highly structured and organized
                Surrounds are neat
                If given an assignment, wants to know how many pages, exact requirements
                Always wants to know the rules
                Memorizes things well
                Can’t stand sloppy, unorganized people
                Deliberates before making decisions
YELLOW:
                Not usually outspoken
                Always in a state of transition, whether they are 8 or 80
                Usually smart and innovative, often artistic
                Sometimes confused in making decisions, unsure where they’re supposed to be
                Hard workers
                Exciting to be with – will try anything as long as it’s safe
                Spiritual aspects usually important to them
                They look at things with perspective and respect others’ opinions
ORANGE:
                Cheerful and good-natured
                Have the ability to get along well with almost anyone
                They are friendly and have a ready smile
                Usually have a quick wit
                Fluent, often eloquent and profound in speech
                Do not like to be left along
                Enjoy life and inspire others to reach their highest potential
RED AND PINK:
                Are courageous and their energy seems boundless
                Smile much of the time
                If they see someone not smiling, will ask what the problem is
                Genuinely care about people and become involved in others’ problems
                Highly influenced by others, share their sadness or grief
                Make their decisions with feelings, act on impulses of the heart
                Spend a great deal of time on the phone, usually listening to others
                Sensitive, enthusiastic friends and lovers
VIOLET:
                Flirty and passionate
                Highly creative and highly excitable
                Have new ideas and are visionaries
                Short attention spans – can’t stay put for long at a time
                Disorganized, often choosing to close doors rather than deal with the
                  organization
                Procrastinators who thrive on chaos, enjoy the challenges of different
                  problems
                Have a problem dealing with highly structured time
                Questioning – when given an assignment, asks why it must be done a certain
                  way, want to do it differently
                Set high standards for themselves and those who work for them

GREEN:  NEED TO STAND AND REMAIN STANDING WHILE TRAITS ARE READ
                We always ask green to stand because they love recognition
                These people are seen as leaders, usually in highly visible positions
                They are respecters of authority and tradition
                They are decisive, directed, and focused
                They love black and white jelly bean people to organize their projects for them

ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS OF THOSE WHO THINK THE COLOR DESCRIPTION OF THE JELLY BEAN/GUM DROP THEY CHOSE IS VALID FOR THEM AS THEY PERCEIVE THEMSELVES.  THIS IS STATISTICALLY 80% VALID.  (About ¾ of the participants should raise their hands.)

Emphasize the following:  No one is just “one color”, but one color is usually dominant.  All of us have some of the various traits associated with other colors.  This is important to realize when dealing with others.  We should be able to empathize with those who see things differently and deal with problems differently than we do.
 

I have always liked M & M’s.
The most diverse multicultural integrated candy in the world.
You have your red ones, your yellow ones, your orange ones,
your brown ones, and your green ones, (and the newest blue ones).
All in one package, all co-existing Together
One color doesn’t think that it is superior to the other.
One color doesn’t discriminate against the other.
All colors are the same size, shape, and weight.
All colors look different on the outside,
but have the same ingredients on the inside.
M & M’s all have the same flavor,
and they all taste G-o-o-o-d.
Not all M & M’s are perfect though, some have Nuts!!!
In the real world we call them racists, and bigots.
Would it be nice if like M & M’s our prejudices,
melted into the abyss like chocolate melts in our mouth?
And all people were judged by what was inside,
rather than the color you see on the outside???
If candy can be prejudice free WHY CAN’T WE???

 Dr. Marilyn Kern-Foxworth
 

If you were buying candy and you had to make only one choice among the following, which would you choose?
                BABY RUTH, 3 MUSKETEERS, BUTTERFINGER,
                SNICKERS, HERSHEY BAR, ALMOND JOY, CLARK BAR,
                GOOD 'N' PLENTY, ENERGY BAR, CHOCOLATE COATED RAISINS.

NO....you cannot change your answer once you decide!
Ready? (C'mon, choose one!)
Okay, now, let's see what the research says about you ......

BABY RUTH - Sweet, loving, cuddly. You love all warm fuzzy items. A little nutty. Sometimes you need a little treat like an ice cream cone at the end of the day.

3 MUSKETEERS - You are adventurous, love new ideas, are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons. When tempers flare up, you whip out your saber.

BUTTERFINGER - Smoothly articulate, you are an excellent after-dinner speaker and a good teacher. But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time.

SNICKERS - Fun-loving, sassy, humorous. Everyone enjoys being around you.  You are a practical joker-others should be cautious when shaking hands with you.

HERSHEY BAR - Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people and can be counted on in a pinch. You tend to melt and get gushy if held too close.

ALMOND JOY - Sexy, always ready to give and receive, very energetic, and really like to get into life. The opposite sex is always attracted to you.

CLARK BAR - You like sports, whether baseball, football, basketball, or soccer.  If you could, you would like to participate, but enjoy watching sports. You don't like to give up the remote control.

GOOD 'N PLENTY - You are a very fun loving person who likes to laugh.  You are fun to be with.  People like to go to the movies with you. Children find you amusing.

ENERGY BAR - You are very active. You are so active, life is passing you by.  Get a life!!!!

CHOCOLATE COATED RAISINS - You go to the bathroom, frequently.
 

Chat with the people in the room.  Find people who have had the following experience.  Have them sign their name or initials in the appropriate blank.  Try to talk to everyone in the room. 

__________  1.   Knows a folk dance.

__________  2.   Has been to an American Indian pow wow.

__________  3.   Has cooked or eaten ethnic food in the last week.

__________  4.   Can say, “hello” (or similar greeting) in four different languages.

__________  5.   Has sat under a palm tree.

__________  6.   Has attended a religious service of a religion other than their own.

__________  7.   Has attended a Kwanzaa celebration, or knows what Kwanzaa is.

__________  8.   Has relatives or ancestors who came through Ellis Island.

__________  9.   Plays a musical instrument.

__________  10. Has had to utilize crutches, a wheelchair, a cane, or has worn a cast

__________  11. Can name four different kinds of breads from other cultures.

__________  12. Has seen a Spike Lee movie.

__________  13. Is bilingual, or has relatives who speak a language other than English.

__________  14. Knows some American sign language.

__________  15. Likes to do jigsaw puzzles.

__________  16. Has studied a foreign language.

__________  17. Has had a pen pal.

__________  18. Has attended a Las Posadas celebration, or knows what Las Posadas is.

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