Discussion Strategy: Exploding Atom (Quick Tip)

What is it and Why Use It?: Exploding Atom is an out-of-your-seat strategy in which participants stand in a circle with the facilitator at the center. The facilitator makes a statement and participants move closer to or farther from the facilitator to show their agreement with the statement. This strategy allows participants to see the range of opinions in their group about a topic while embodying their own opinion.

Directions:

• Before the activity, create a series of statements on a topic that will evoke a range of opinions from participants. For example: “Everyone is equal in America.”
• Have the full group stand in a large, open space and form a circle with the facilitator standing in the  middle.  
• Introduce the Activity: Explain that a statement will be read. If the participant agrees with the statement they should come as close to the center of the circle as possible. (It can be helpful to model this action.) If the participant disagrees with the statement they should stand as far away from the center as possible within a set boundary. (It can be helpful to model this action). Show how each participant is on his/her own continuum between “agree” and “disagree” in their response to each statement. Take any questions.
• Read the first statement and ask participants to vote with their bodies by moving to the place that best expresses their response between Yes, I agree (close the center) and No, I disagree (farther from center). When desired stop and unpack or process the participants responses to the statements. Ask for a volunteer from those who are standing closer to “I agree” to share why. Then, ask for a volunteer from those who are standing in the “I disagree” space farther from the center to share why. Alternatively, you may ask participants to share their opinion with someone standing close to them.
• Re-set the group to a neutral circle between statements to prepare for the next prompt.

Adapted from University of Texas’s Drama-Based Pedagogy program strategies.