1. Form pairs.
2. Invite each person to share their ideal superpower with their partner.
3. When ready, ask each person to identify a secret location or position within the room or playing space you are situated as their own.
4. Instruct one person at a time to verbally guide their partner to walk to their secret location by playing a game of “getting cooler/warmer” prompts.
5. Once both secret locations have been discovered, invite each pair to identify a spot that is positioned (and accessible) between these two locations.
6. Meeting at this spot, conclude by asking each person to share one of their strengths in real life, ie their candle.
7. Invite all pairs to consider using this familiar spot to meet and connect at other useful times during your program.

Disney has produced many wonderful films featuring powerful female leads, including the formidable Encanto. This fun partner activity is based on the story of Encanto, but it is not necessary for anyone to know or have watched the film to play.

Start by forming pairs, perhaps using a random splitting strategy such as those described in Getting Into Pairs.

After engaging in a fun introduction (take a look at some of the questions in Ice-Breaker Question Exchange,) ask each person to share one of their wishful-thinking, favourite superpowers, eg ability to fly, or see through walls, super-human strength, etc.

Next, invite each person to secretly identify a spot within the space you are situated as their own. For example, someone may choose a cosy corner of the room, a particular seat or tree, etc.

When both partners are ready, ask one person at a time to verbally guide their partner to their secret place using the golden-oldie “getting warmer/colder” game. As soon as one location is discovered, swap roles, and now the other person leads their partner to their secret place.

Now, with both of these locations in mind, ask each pair to identify a spot that is positioned somewhere between these two locations. It does not have to be a halfway point, but it does need to be accessible and easily identifiable for future reference.

Now, standing at this point, ask each person to share one of their strengths in real life.

Viewed from the context of the film, these strengths are the person’s candle. Naturally, what is shared are the actual or real strengths of each person, not their imagined or wishful-thinking superpowers.

Allow ample time for this sharing to occur. Watch for the body language of each pair to understand when it is time to regather your group together.

Note: having established these various meeting points, consider asking these pairs to meet and connect at other useful times during your program.

Ideally, you will introduce this exercise within a very large space, such as a gymnasium, outdoor field, or conference room.

Talking about one’s strengths is not something many of us do comfortably. To this end, consider your sequence of activities leading up to this exercise to squeeze the most value from it. That is to say, if you were to introduce it to a group of strangers, you may shortchange your group of its full value.

You could integrate Encanto as part of a well-designed SEL program to develop your group’s ability to understand the perspectives of and empathise with others including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Specifically, this activity offers ample opportunities to explore and practice the following social & interpersonal skills:

Self-Awareness

• Linking Feelings, Values & Thoughts
• Identifying Personal, Cultural & Linguistic Assets
• Recognising Strengths, Prejudices & Biases
• Demonstrating Self-Confidence, Honesty & Integrity
• Experiencing Self-Efficacy

Social Awareness

• Taking Other’s Perspectives
• Demonstrating Empathy & Compassion
• Appreciating Diversity
• Recognising Strengths In Others
• Respecting Others

Relationship Skills

• Communicate & Listen Effectively
• Build Positive Relationships
• Demonstrate Cultural Competency

Responsible Decision-Making

• Demonstrating Curiosity & Open-Mindedness
• Promoting Personal & Collective Well-Being

You can learn more about SEL and how it can support character education here.

This exercise is specifically designed to promote self-awareness and strengthen one’s well-being. In a small way, you could also argue that the focus required to consider one’s strengths speaks to the benefits of being mindful.

If you can think of more explicit ways in which Encanto could be purposefully integrated into a health and wellness program, please leave a comment at the base of this page.

• One Big Familia: Invite each pair join with another pair to find the location between all of their spaces (this is also the location between both candles.) Then, have each quad team up with another team of four to form a group of eight, and so on. Continue until the entire familia finds the one true spot for its candle.
• Super Duos: After everyone has shared their strengths, you can have them come up with a superhero duo name based on their responses. For example, if both people empower others, they could be the Empower Rangers.
• Open the Virtual Adaptation tab to learn how to present this activity online.

• Allocate pairs to their own (Zoom) breakout rooms.
• Invite each person to pick a (secret) location that can be viewed by their partner (via webcam.)
• The guiding person will use the warmer/colder prompts to guide their partner to the desired place or item. Each person will then share their strengths with their partner and then, if desired, with the larger group when they return to the primary Zoom room.

Who has seen the Disney movie Encanto? If not, no worries! We’ll all be on the same page in a moment. The idea of ‘place’ is very important to many of the central characters in the movie. And in this next activity, we’re going to explore that idea a little further…

Many indigenous communities throughout the world regard place or country as intimately connected to their identity and culture. Place is more than just a location someone may call home, it is inextricably woven into the fabric and well-being of these communities as if it was one with the land. We’re going to take this concept and apply it to us as individuals in terms of our strengths and powers…

Coupled with one or more reflection strategies, here are some sample questions you could use to process your group’s experience after playing this fun partner-sharing exercise:

• What are some of your favourite superpowers?
• Did you identify these strengths quickly, or did your partner (or others) help you on this journey?
• Is place important to you? Explain.
• What makes you super?
• How can you (or do you) use your ‘superpowers’ today?