fortune cookie
stretch your thinking with playful roles
at a glance
type
playful reflections
duration
15 min
ages
adults
format
in-person, online, pairs, small groups
skills developed
creative thinking, generating diverse ideas, self-directed learning, openness, curiosity, collaboration, perspective taking & empathic concern, communication
tier
free (PRME)
activity guide
objective:
use role-play and imaginative thinking to explore each other’s real questions with empathy and fresh perspectives.
instructions:
- ask each participant to write down a real question they’re genuinely curious about. it can be deep, silly, or strange. here are some examples:
- why do we dream?
- what would the moon taste like?
- how do we know we’re not in someone else’s story?
- fold the paper like a fortune cookie and swap with a partner.
- each person opens their “cookie” and chooses a role to respond from:
- option 1 (playful): a dream interpreter, an alien researcher, a talking animal
- option 2 (semi-serious): a teacher, a policymaker, an engineer, a philosopher
- respond to your partner’s question from that role—playful, poetic, or professional is welcome.
- take turns and invite light discussion about how the perspective shaped the answer.
debrief:
reflect on what it felt like to stretch your mindset. what new possibilities emerged?
optional:
share one favorite response or unexpected insight with the full group.
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