5 Scene 5: Digging
Linor David
ELAINE: I brought shovels and gloves for everyone.
SOHA: Is this going to work?
ELAINE: Get in the spirit. We don’t need to dig up that much dirt for the sculpture. And we will get extra points because we made it out of the actual earth of College.
CAS: I have bad knees.
MICHAEL: Me too! We have bad knees!
TRACEY: You two are like half my age and you’re complaining about your knees?
CAS: Whose idea was this again?
ELAINE: Come on, take your shovel!
CAS: Can’t you see this is a bad idea?
ELAINE: Well, why didn’t you say something before? We talked about it.
CAS: I don’t know. I don’t think I was really paying attention. (tries to dig) Elaine, this isn’t going to work. The earth here is basically just gravel and cigarette butts.
SOHA: Look, just dig, we need to show that we worked together to make the sculpture if we want to pass. (Soha takes out her phone) Everyone smile. Come on, I need photographic proof we were all here working together for the power point.
TRACEY: I was talking to someone from another group and she said they are all having the best time together doing this project. They are making their sculpture out of chocolate and she said they just get together and carve off chocolate bits and eat them.
MICHAEL: We could have fun too. It doesn’t have to be awful.
ELAINE: I thought digging up the dirt would be fun.
SOHA: I actually think it is a good idea Elaine. I think it will definitely get us extra marks. I just don’t want to get my pants dirty though.
ELAINE: That’s why I brought garbage bags! To put under our knees when we dig!
MICHAEL: I think it is cool too, we could use other stuff from around the campus too, like pine cones and little rocks to decorate it.
SOHA: Yes and we could clean the cigarette butts from the area and take a before and after picture for the presentation.
TRACEY: You are all amazing! I would have just built a cardboard model of the campus if I was on my own.
CAS: What about the lack of actual dirt?
TRACEY: Well, we could…
Instructions
Come up with ideas and then decide as a group whether they will work. Use as many confirming responses as possible, starting with ‘yes and’.
Discussion Questions
- In a defensive group climate members are afraid of sharing their ideas for fear they will be shut down, in a supportive group climate members feel safe and encouraged. Who is creating a defensive climate and who is creating a supportive climate in this scene? How?
- How does using “yes and,” statements work to respect and value the ideas or contributions of individuals? How does it increase one’s sense of belongingness?
Key Takeaways
- There are many different roles people can play in a group. Some roles are more about getting the tasks done- like notetakers and time keepers. There are other roles that are more about maintaining the climate of the group, like encouragers and harmonizers. A skilled group member will notice when one or more roles needs to be filled and either fill in it themselves or support others to fill it.
- Group dynamics are not static, you can have a terrible group dynamic to start and end up with a great one or vice versa. Each member of the group holds part of the responsibility to create a supportive group climate. By paying attention to some of the different elements of group dynamics we can shift our group climates for the better.
