My choice
You’ll need
- Sticky notes or paper
- Pens or pencils
- A rope or string (for opinion line)
- Pebbles or counters (for voting)
- Ballot papers (optional)
- Whiteboard or wall space
Before you begin
- Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Take a look at our guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
- Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
- Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.
Planning and setting up this activity
- You could read up on the Democracy Challenge document to prepare for the session.
Running this activity
- Gather everyone together and explain that today they will learn about opinions and voting. Voting is a way for a group to make a decision together. Everyone gets to share their opinion, and then we choose what most people think. Ask them if they have voted for something before and to share with the group. Also, what might people vote for?
- Create an opinion line using a rope, tape, line on whiteboard or stick up pieces of paper with the words on one wall of the hall, without any furniture obstructing.
One end = strongly agree,
Half way= agree
middle = neutral (don’t agree or disagree)
halfway= disagree
other end= strongly disagree
3. Read out some simple statements for example:
- We shouldn’t go to school on Fridays.
- School uniforms should be banned.
- The school day should start at 7am.
- Summer holidays should be shorter.
- Sweets should be limited to weekends only.
4. Beavers stand along the line to show their opinion (or place a sticky note with their name).
5. Ask a few Beavers: Why did you stand there? Did anyone think something different?
Remind everyone about respectful listening.
6. Gather everyone back and tell them that they will now debate one topic and then they will vote on it. The topic idea with the most votes will be done by the beavers in a future session.
Topics for debate could be:
- Which game to play next week
- Which biscuit is best
- Which activity to do at the next meeting
7. Allow Beavers to:
- Suggest ideas
- Say why they like their choice
- Listen to others
- Keep discussion simple and positive.
8. Once the discussion has finished choose a voting method.
- Show of hands
- Secret ballot with an “X”
- Pebbles placed next to symbols
- Sticky notes on board
9. Count the votes together and announce the result and celebrate participation.
Explain: “Because we voted, we will now follow the Colony’s decision.”
Confirm when the chosen activity will happen.
This helps Beavers understand that voting leads to real action.
Reflection
We all enjoyed sharing our opinions and taking part in a making a decision. Everyone showed good listening skills during the discussion and were excited to take part in the vote. The opinion line helped them understand that people can have different views, and the voting process helped them see how decisions can be made fairly. Following through with the majority choice helped reinforce the importance of everyone having a voice.
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.
- Contact games and activities
Make sure everyone understands what contact is acceptable, and monitor contact throughout the activity.
Make it accessible
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
