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Scenario match up

Explore how actions affect feelings and relationships.

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You’ll need

  • Scissors
  • Scenario Match Up cards (one set per group)
Guidance for volunteers (Healthy Relationships research)
PDF – 61.7KB
Download Guidance for volunteers (Healthy Relationships research)
Scenario Match Up Cards
PDF – 3.8MB
Download Scenario Match Up Cards

Before you begin

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more 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.

Healthy Relationships research

This activity is part of our Healthy Relationships research. Please read the attached guidance for volunteers before running the activity.

Make sure you've got consent from the parents or carers of all young people taking part, using the Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form you’ve been given.

You’ll need to make a note of which results (emojis) the group match with each action. When you've completed the activity, please share your feedback and your group’s responses using this form.

Submit your feedback and group's responses

Planning and setting up this activity

  • For this activity, we suggest groups of three to four young people. Before the session, print or write out a set of Scenario Match Up cards for each group. Cut out each set of cards, which include Action Cards and Result Cards, and give them a shuffle.
  • You’ll also need a way to record which Result Cards the group matches with each Action Card.
  • Some parts of this activity may trigger emotions or personal experiences for young people. It’s important to be aware that discussions about friendships and relationships can sometimes bring up feelings of sadness, frustration, or discomfort. That’s why it’s important to create a supportive space where everyone feels comfortable and to keep an eye on how each young person is coping. If you have a concern about a young person, always follow the Safeguarding Code of Conduct (Yellow Card) and report it to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.. 

Running this activity

  1. Gather everyone together and ask them what actions people do that can change how we feel. You could use an example, such as someone sharing their snack with you. 
  2. Split everyone into smaller groups of three to four people, and give each group a set of Scenario Match Up Cards, which include Action Cards and Result Cards. 
  3. Explain that they'll need to work together to match each action with the most likely result, shown as an emoji. Some actions might have more than one result, and some results may be used more than once.
  4. Set aside time for the young people to complete the activity. Ensure an adult goes around the groups to observe and offer support where necessary. 
  5. Once everyone has finished, go through each action and result as a group. Allow young people to shout out their answers and explain why they chose that card. 
  6. Try to pull out key points, like how kindness builds trust or how ignoring someone can hurt their feelings.
  7. Once you’ve gone through all the statements, ask the group to think about actions they’ve taken recently or in their daily lives that might have impacted someone else. Were these the right actions, or is there something they could do differently next time? 

Reflection

This activity helped you explore how people’s actions can affect others’ feelings and understand that the same action can have different impacts in different situations. By matching actions with results and discussing your choices, you practised empathy and thought about how your own behaviour can influence the people around you. 

Think about the activity and your choices. What did you find easy? What was challenging? Did anything surprise you about how others matched the actions and results? Do you think this activity will help you understand how your actions affect others, and if so, how? 

Talking about the scenarios helps you appreciate different opinions, and the hands-on part lets you express your ideas by moving, matching, or pointing to cards. By reflecting on actions and their consequences, you can think about how to act kindly, include others, and support your friends in everyday life. 

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.

Scissors

Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

  • To make this activity easier, you could limit the number of Action and Result Cards per group so that participants can focus on fewer matches. Providing examples of suitable matches for some actions can help guide their thinking. Allowing extra time for discussion, with support from adults where needed, can also help ensure everyone is able to engage fully with the activity.
  • To make this activity harder, you could ask participants to suggest alternate results for each scenario, encouraging them to think creatively about how actions can affect feelings. You could also challenge groups to justify their choices and explain why different results might also fit. Introducing additional or more complex scenarios can further increase discussion and promote deeper critical thinking. 
  • Make sure the cards are clear and easy for everyone to handle. You could use large font sizes and high-contrast colours on both Action and Result Cards so young people can read them easily. Laminating or using sturdy cards can make them easier to handle.
  • Encourage buddy support by pairing people up, so they can help each other read or match cards if needed. 
  • You could provide tactile or textured markers on the cards to support those with visual impairments.
  • You could break the activity into smaller steps, such as reviewing a few cards at a time.
  • Give clear, simple instructions, repeating them as needed. Keep language simple, clear, and concrete.
  • Encourage discussion but keep it optional. Check in regularly to make sure everyone understands and feels included. 

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.