How I Use this Activity:
I use this activity to help
students understand that we each have individual character traits, preferences,
talents, and desires and that we are not all the same. This activity helps identify our similarities
and differences, and celebrate each! This is especially handy when preparing for a career.
After completing the
exercise, I divide students into groups, based on their results. I give them a mini size Air-Head or
Laffy-Taffy candy that matches their fruit.
For example, the Oranges get orange candy, etc. The original fruit test lists the fruits of
grapes, oranges, bananas and melons. I
adjusted the fruit choices in the document I used, based on the availability of
candy flavors. So, this document
contains two sets of the worksheet, both the original and the altered
versions. The altered versions include
the following fruits: blueberries,
oranges, apples, and watermelons.
When the students are
divided into their like-groups, they discuss whether or not they agree with the
results of their test, giving specific examples, such as, “I am definitely an
Orange because my mom has always told me that since the time I was small I was
always curious and getting into trouble.” Or, “I really don’t think I am a
Blueberry because I organize every drawer in the house.”
Then, students divide into
new different groups containing one member of each fruit category. The students then discuss how they feel that
the strengths of another fruit can help the weaknesses of other fruits.
After spending 7-10 minutes
in each group, students are assigned to write a three-paragraph paper.
Paragraph 1 – What did you
learn about yourself from this exercise?
Paragraph 2 – What did you
learn about others from this activity?
Paragraph 3 – How will you
change or improve your interactions with others based on this exercise?
