1. Distribute one random We Engage Card (image facing down) to each person in your group.
2. Ask everyone to not look at the image on their card (as they receive or collect it.)
3. Form pairs, perhaps using a random method.
4. Without looking at their card, invite one person (in each pair) to start by showing the image on their card to their partner.
5. In response, their partner is invited to share a quick story that is inspired by the image.
6. Help your group understand that this exercise is not a test, but rather an opportunity to share, ie you can’t get this wrong.
7. When ready, the person who just shared then shows the image on their card to their partner and invites them to respond with a story.
8. Swap partners, or try a variation.

This is another wonderful way in which you can use the versatile We Engage Cards to promote fun, interaction and sharing.

Shuffle your deck of We Engage Cards (or other equivalent) and distribute one card to each person on the proviso that they do not look at the image, nor show it to anyone else.

Use a random method to split your group into pairs (or not,) such as a strategy described in Getting Into Pairs.

Suggest a random way to determine which partner will go first, eg whoever’s birthday is closer to today. Then invite these people to show their partner the image on their card.

Facing this image, these people are now invited to spontaneously share a story that is inspired by this image. For example, if the image features a lion, the story might be of a time when the person recalled that their local zoo has to suddenly close because one of the lions has escaped its enclosure.

When ready, it’s time to swap roles. The person who just shared will show their partner the image on their card and invite the latter to share a story.

Allow ample time for all partners to share, and then consider swapping partners (after exchanging cards with their current partner) and/or try something new from the Variations tab.

Got no We Engage Cards? No issue, just gather any available deck of image cards or photographs you can get your hands on that could inspire conversations. A good example is the photographs used in Photo Language.

In case it’s not obvious, no one can get this activity wrong. There are no right or wrong responses to any of the images. The image or photograph is simply a tool being used to trigger and inspire story-telling and conversations.

I am grateful to Chad Littlefield for (a) creating the We Engage Cards and (b) sharing this engaging video of him explaining how it can be used.

You could integrate Story Swap as part of a well-designed SEL program to develop your group’s ability to understand their emotions, thoughts and values and how these influence behaviour in different situations.

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

Self-Awareness

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

Social Awareness

• Taking Other’s Perspectives
• Demonstrating Empathy & Compassion
• Understanding & Expressing Gratitude
• Appreciating Diversity
• Respecting Others

Relationship Skills

• Communicate & Listen Effectively
• Build Positive Relationships

Responsible Decision-Making

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

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

There is no specific health & wellness perspective to this activity other than promoting the benefits to one’s well-being of engaging in a little self-reflection. In a small way, you could argue that the focus required to successfully share a story may speak to the benefits of being mindful, but this would not be considered the primary purpose of the exercise.

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

• Guessing Game: After everyone has shared (and no one has looked at their cards,) invite each person to guess what image is depicted on their card. If you adopt this variation, perhaps ask each person to carefully craft the story they share without identifying the specifics of the image on their partner’s card.
• Reverse Cards: After the initial sharing is complete, swap cards and invite the other person to share a story about the image they are holding.
• Pick-A-Story: Lay all cards (image facing up) on a table and ask everyone to take a card featuring an image that inspires a story in their minds. Form pairs, continue as above.
• Smartphone Gallery: Invite each person to choose any image on their smartphone to share with their partner. Continue as above.
• Captured In Time: Frame the story-telling from the perspective of a specific moment in time, such as in the past 24 hours. In this case, each person is describing an experience that evokes a vivid image in their mind, rather than a physical image on a card.
• Who You Were: Each person frames their story-telling experience from the perspective of who they were when they were X years of age that is still true today, eg 10 years old. This exchange need not involve any images, but it can if you would like each person to select one that most closely captures the essence of what they describe.
• Take a look at Panic Picture to enjoy another fun activity using We Engage Cards.

• Allocate random pairs into unique breakout rooms, and then instruct them to visit the digital We Engage Cards site. When ready, ask the first person to click the play button and share a story based on the (random) image that is presented to them.
• Continue as above, perhaps choosing to invite each pair to share multiple stories.
• Or, invite all sharing to occur in one virtual (Zoom) room.

Did you know that our brains think in pictures, not in words? So when we are presented with an image, our brain goes into overdrive quickly collating any memories and images that relate directly to that image. So, for example, if you see an image of a Ferris Wheel, your mind may immediately be transported to a time in which you rode your first, best or last Ferris Wheel. If you enjoy this form of reminiscing, you’re going to love what we’re about to do…

You’ve all heard the saying, a picture tells a thousand words, right? So, if I was to show you a particular image [ maybe show one of your We Engage Cards ] I could expect to receive dozens of different responses to it, and all of them would be right. Keep this in mind as we go on a journey together down memory lane…

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 story-telling game:

• How were you feeling before your partner showed you the image on their card?
• How quickly did a story or experience jump into your mind when you saw the image?
• How easy was it to share your story based on one image?
• Why do you think pictures so evocative?
• Did you discover something about your partner that you didn’t know before they told their story?
• How is sharing correlated to the building of trust in a group?