At the end of Unit 5C, participants were in small rounds of chairs, with no tables. As this session begins, the training coordinator will ask participants to make a large circle with the chairs, and staff will add a small circle of 12 chairs in the center of the larger circle for the first activity, the closing play. There should be 2 easels in the front of the room.
At the end of the play and discussion, the training coordinator asks participants to move their chairs so they are facing the front of the room.
The facilitator should to prepare the newsprint sheets listed in the section above titled "Prepared Newsprint." Roles will need to be chosen for the skit. This will include asking some of the participants to participate as actors. If a rehearsal has not been held on Thursday, a brief practice session should be held Friday morning before the community meeting begins.
The facilitator reviews the following with the actors:
If actors feel comfortable, it is helpful to "ad lib" and change the wording to make it more natural. The last line or cue line should be left the same, so the next speaker knows when to start.
It is important to speak clearly and loudly. The "fishbowl" format will make it hard for persons sitting behind the speakers to hear.
Remember to bring necessary props and to respond to staging directions.
Directions (TSupp-1: Script for Anytown Closing Skit)
A. As soon as participants finish the reentry plan sharing session, ask participants to move their chairs into a large circle. The actors will move their chairs into a small circle inside the larger circle.
B. The narrator introduces the actors by role and name, and introduces the scene. The skit will take 10 minutes (PN-1 and HO-1: Roles).
C. After the skit is complete, lead a 10-minute discussion using the following questions as a guide:
Discussion Questions
How is the partnership different from the group we saw at the beginning of the Institute?
How do you feel about this partnership's future?
How do you think this skit relates to the concepts that your partnership has been working with this week?
Directions
D. At the end of the discussion, thank the actors and ask them to return their role signs. Tell the group that you are symbolically taking the roles away and returning the players to their real lives.
E. Ask the participants to turn their chairs towards the front of the room.
Trainer Note: No discussion points are provided for the presentation, because this depends on the training coordinator's style and the dynamics of each Institute.
A. The training coordinator provides brief closing comments or a summary of the key concepts presented during the Institute.
B. Review the expectations that participants provided at the beginning of the Institute, and ask for feedback from participants on how well they were met.
C. Ask for announcements from trainers, logistics staff, and participants.
A. Ask staff and participants to form a large circle. Depending on the dynamics and comfort level of the groups, ask participants to hold hands or put their arms around each others' shoulders.
B. Lead the participants in a closing activity. One option for this activity is an "affirmations circle," which asks people to share with the group something that they appreciated about someone who was part of the Institute.
Invite people to volunteer to speak. Continue until 20 minutes are up or the responses stop coming.
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