Light, Medium, or Heavy

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Share personal perspective and practice calibrated self-disclosure in small groups.

Use it when: Use when an established group needs to explore risk-taking, vulnerability, or diverse viewpoints around a common theme.

Skip it when: Skip with brand-new groups, low-trust settings, or when participants cannot freely pass without social penalty.

Group arrangement: Parallel tables of 3 to 6 participants

Timing: Matches the 15 to 20 minute duration in the source text.

Materials and tools

• One deck of 20 stimulus cards per table (see participant_materials)
• One score sheet and pencil per participant
• One countdown timer visible to all tables

Before participants arrive

1. Print and cut one deck of 20 stimulus cards for each table.
2. Set out paper and pencils at each seat.
3. Divide chairs into small circles or tables of 3 to 6 people.

Say this to open

In this exercise, you will draw a card and make a brief personal statement connected to that word. Your group will rate your statement as light (one point), medium (two points), or heavy (three points). You always have full control over what you share, and you may pass at any time.

How to run it

1. Explain rules and scoring 3 minutes

   Introduce the mechanic. A player draws the top card, reads it aloud, and shares a personal statement or story in under one minute. Listeners then simultaneously hold up fingers to rate the statement: 1 finger for light or flippant, 2 fingers for medium or thoughtful, 3 fingers for heavy, emotional, or revealing. The speaker tallies the fingers and records the score. Reiterate that passing is completely valid.

2. Run round one 5 minutes

   Designate the person with the nearest birthday to draw first at each table. The player reads the card and speaks for up to one minute. Listeners vote on the count of three. The speaker logs the points. Play rotates clockwise so every person takes one turn. If someone passes, the next player may use the skipped card or draw a new one.

3. Run round two 5 minutes

   Players continue in clockwise order for a second complete round so everyone speaks or passes once more. Keep turns strictly to one minute per person.

4. Run round three and total scores 4 minutes

   Conduct a third complete round. At the end of round three, ensure all participants have had an equal number of turns. Have each person sum their total points.

5. Debrief whole room 3 minutes

   Gather attention to the whole room. Call on two or three volunteers to answer one of the debrief questions.

Debrief questions

• What influenced your choice between sharing a light, medium, or heavy story?
• How did the scoring dynamic affect your willingness to take a social risk?
• Did your group's ratings match what you thought you were sharing?

Finished output: Completed score sheets reflecting individual disclosure points across three rounds.

Remote

Place 3 to 6 participants in breakout rooms. Use a digital deck or shared document with hidden prompt cards. When a card is revealed, the speaker takes one minute. Listeners type their score (1, 2, or 3) into the breakout chat simultaneously on a facilitator countdown, or show fingers on camera. Each participant records their own total.

Hybrid

Keep remote participants in an all-remote breakout room with digital cards. Keep in-person participants in physical small groups with card decks. Conduct the final three-minute debrief in the unified room.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may pass on any card with no explanation, simply taking zero points for that turn.
• Participants can choose light, humorous, or impersonal statements to stay fully within their comfort zone.
• Listeners who prefer not to hold up fingers can write 1, 2, or 3 on paper and show it.

If the session gets stuck

A participant overshares details that cause visible distress to others.

Remind groups that statements should be short and that listeners can rate whatever feels appropriate; step in gently if professional boundaries are crossed.

One person takes three minutes for a single card.

Designate a timekeeper at each table with a watch or phone set to 60 seconds per turn.

Terms used here

• Stimulus card: A small slip of paper printed with a single word or short phrase used to prompt a personal statement.