What’s in the box?

Before you begin

• You’ll need a selection of prizes. Some should be things young people may want, for example, snacks, craft items, or the power to decide which games are played for the rest of the term. Some should be much less desirable, for example, a half-eaten banana, a single sock, or a broken pen.
• Put one prize into each box.
• If you’ve got a lot of people, it may work best to split into smaller groups. A few groups could play at once, or you could run this activity as one base alongside other activities.

Play the game

1. Everyone should sit in a circle. The person leading the game should put a chair in the middle of the circle.
   
2. The person leading the game should choose one person to be the prize holder. They should choose a box and sit on the chair.
   
3. The prize holder should open the box to find out what their prize is. They shouldn’t tell or show anyone what’s in the box. They could react, though, perhaps by looking pleased or excited.
   
4. Everyone else should start trying to persuade the prize holder to give up their prize. It’s up to them whether they work as a group or as individuals taking it in turns. They should experiment with different methods, to see which work best. Everyone must stay in the circle, and no one can use physical force.

5. The prize holder should decide how much they value the prize they have. They can keep it for themselves, share it with the group, or give it to the group. If they share the prize with the group, they should choose another box – but they must share what’s in it. If they give the prize to the group, they should choose another box and keep the prize inside for themselves.

6. The person leading the game should keep the game moving – they may need to say ‘stop’ and ask the prize holder for their decision if it’s going on too long.
   
7. Everyone should take it in turns to be the prize holder. The group may start to work out which strategies work best, and the prize holders may develop strategies of their own.