Back to Activities Scouts talking about the SDGs

What is your stand on...

This activity explores people’s attitudes, values and perspectives on sustainability and nature. Also, to enable young people to respectfully challenge different positions and encourage them to communicate their opinions positively.

Develop these Key Competencies

  • System Thinking
  • Self Awareness
  • Critical Thinking

Materials Needed

  • Printed or cut images related to environmental issues
  • Duct tape, a rope or chalk to mark the line on the floor
Activity development

This activity works better with groups of 5 or more people. 

  1. Make a long line on the floor or ground with duct tape or a rope. Indicate the numbers 1 to 6 along the line to use it as a scale. 
  2. Give one A4 size piece of paper to each participant and different coloured markers where they can write their thoughts during the activity.
  3. Whoever is facilitating will have a list of statements or images to present to the rest of the group.
  4. Team members can show how much they AGREE or DISAGREE with the statement or image presented to them using the scale made on the floor. explains that a series of statements or images will be presented to them. You can also use the scale to ask them whether they think the image represents a situation that is SUSTAINABLE or NOT SUSTAINABLE. Using a scale 1 (agree) or number 6 (disagree),
  5. Participants will do it for each statement. (see some examples below)
  6. Once on the line and their stand express they will observe where others are standing. You can invite them to share ideas with those in the same position or beside them.
  7. The facilitator asks some participants to share their views with the group.
  8. You can also ask if anybody wants to add their statement.
     

 Some examples for your list

  • Nature precedes humans
  • Everybody should cut down on their use of energy!
  • Everyone is accountable for environmental conservation
  • We must not cut down trees
  • Native common sense helped conserve our environment better than those things we learn at school today
  • People wash their hands after visiting the bathroom and before eating.
  • Cutting down trees and cultivating wetlands
  • Burning bushes
  • Buying products or recycling, reuse and repair


 

Variant of the Activity

You can use pictures from newspapers.  Ask participants to indicate how much they agree/disagree or think it is sustainable. Then ask them how they think a non-sustainable action can be turned into a sustainable one.
 

Relevant information if you are facilitating

Before starting the activity, prepare the participants to be ready to hear many different perspectives on sensible issues. Some perspectives might differ from those they have, but it is essential to listen to and respect other people's opinions. Similarly, everybody needs to express their views in "I" or first person. Measure the group; no one will be judged for their opinions, and agreeing or disagreeing is okay. 

You can use the 10 principles of Dialogue for better facilitation.

After hearing the arguments advanced by others, some people may want to change groups. As a follow-up later, you can ask the same questions again and see whether people have transformed their views about a specific topic. 

Time needed

40 minutes

Age range

  • 15 and above

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Time needed

40 minutes

Age range

  • 15 and above