Life Map

What: A simple but disarming get-to-know-you activity for the beginning of a workshop.

Group Size: Unlimited.

Space: The training space should be set "classroom," not "theater" style.  Tables aren't required but are most definitely helpful.

Time Required: 10 minutes for individual drawing, 3 minutes per participant for "reporting out" afterwards.

Props Required: scratch paper and marker(s) or crayon(s), at least one per person.

Process: 

1. Distribute materials.
2. Instruct participants to draw a map of their life, noting whatever events, people, or places they think important.
3. Start the clock; signal a stop at the end of 10 minutes.
4. Go around the room, each person "reporting out" on their creations.

Facilitator Notes:

1. This activity is much quieter and less physically engaging than most activities on this site; also, I haven't actually facilitated this one.  I've included it here because I recently experienced it in a day-long training.  At first blush, it seemed no more than a visual version of the standard introduction (i.e., please state your name, your organization, and one thing you'd like to get out of the workshop ...).  I judged it too quickly and harshly.  I was surprised to see how easily complete strangers opened up to one another about significant life events, the depth of the conversation, and the warm atmosphere that this exercise engendered for the rest of the day.
2. And even though I haven't facilitated this yet, I would offer two pieces of advice: 1) Allow enough time: this one took our group of 15 about 45 minutes total; and 2) be ready and willing to question, explore and/or celebrate as significant life events are shared.  Our group did this automatically, but I've been in other groups where, at the start of the day, the participants didn't "know the rules" yet and would have remained "respectfully" quiet throughout.  I think that the friendly give-and-take contributed greatly to the overall effect of camaraderie and trust, and you may have to deliberately facilitate that with your group.