Dirt or Dessert

You’ve seen the numerous desserts that look like dirt or kitty litter.  Chocolate cookie crumbs in a clay pot are easy to mistake for potting soil.  For this activity, you will use one of these desserts to demonstrate trust.  Present the dessert to the class and ask them what it is.  Offer a taste to one of them.  If they refuse, honor the response.  If no one volunteers, then ask them to dare you to do it then take a nice big bite.  You can choose to play it as if you are eating dirt by making faces or you can enjoy it and eat it happily.  Now ask again for tasters.  Once a student has tried it and realizes it is cookies then you can portion it out for everyone to try.  While they are enjoying the treat, ask about trust.  They either trusted you enough to try it or they didn’t.

 

To process this activity, ask these questions:

• How many thought it was really dirt?
• How many have a had a similar dessert that looked like something else?
• What kinds of things do people do to gain the trust of others?  (keep promises, do nice things, don’t do bad things, they are helpful, kind, they listen)
• What kinds of things do people do that cause them to not be trusted? (opposites of above)
• How long does it take to trust someone?  Can you trust someone you just met or someone you don’t know very well?
• Do you ever get a gut feeling about someone – to trust or not to trust?
• Do you want people to trust you?