Synectics - SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook
Images that are from the local area, have cultural significance, or are particularly relevant to your group may generate even more energy and interest.
How to run it
- Reflect on the current contexts, demographics of participants, and the purpose of this engagement. Then select the image(s) that are a good fit.
- Images from nature (bodies of water, animals, geographic formations) can often be an effective neutral starting point. Images that are from the local area, have cultural significance, or are particularly relevant to your group may generate even more energy and interest.
- Share the image or set of images with the group. If offering a set of images, ask that each person select one image that resonates with them. Explain that the goal is to complete the sentence stem: “ is like because…”.
- Participants generate and record as many comparisons between the image and the topic as possible in two minutes, in small groups or individually.
- If brainstorming is done individually, participants review their lists and choose one to share and discuss with a partner.
- In the whole group, invite several people to share their similes aloud.
- Debrief the activity in the whole group with some or all of these questions:
- Share the image or set of images with the group. If offering a set of images, ask that each person select one image that resonates with them. Explain that the goal is to complete the sentence stem: “\ is like \ because…”.
Run this exercise live
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Materials:
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Prompts to use +
Reflect on the current contexts, demographics of participants, and the purpose of this engagement. Then select the image(s) that are a good fit.
Images from nature (bodies of water, animals, geographic formations) can often be an effective neutral starting point. Images that are from the local area, have cultural significance, or are particularly relevant to your group may generate even more energy and interest.
Share the image or set of images with the group. If offering a set of images, ask that each person select one image that resonates with them. Explain that the goal is to complete the sentence stem: “ is like because…”.
Participants generate and record as many comparisons between the image and the topic as possible in two minutes, in small groups or individually.
If brainstorming is done individually, participants review their lists and choose one to share and discuss with a partner.
In the whole group, invite several people to share their similes aloud.
Run this with your AI assistant +
Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.
Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Synectics - SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Reflect on the current contexts, demographics of participants, and the purpose of this engagement. Then select the image(s) that are a good fit.; Images from nature (bodies of water, animals, geographic formations) can often be an effective neutral starting point. Images that are from the local area, have cultural significance, or are particularly relevant to your group may generate even more energy and interest.; Share the image or set of images with the group. If offering a set of images, ask that each person select one image that resonates with them. Explain that the goal is to complete the sentence stem: “ is like because…”.; Participants generate and record as many comparisons between the image and the topic as possible in two minutes, in small groups or individually.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.
Origin unverified
- Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from CASEL; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including CASEL.)
- What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
- No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
- Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.