Bean Bag Inequality Toss: Making the Abstract Concrete

Abstract

This teaching technique introduces students to inequality and related terms.  Students are given different colored beanbags and then all stand equally around a target (i.e., sheet with a bullseye). Students are asked to predict how close they will get to the center of the target given their position, a high portion are very confident. After they toss...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems, Stratification/Mobility

Resource Type(s):

Assignment, Class Activity

Class Level(s):

College 100, College 200, High School

Class Size(s):

Medium, Small

Usage Notes

Usage Notes:

• 
  
• This can be used at all types of institutions
  
• Is suitable for both introductory students and upper level students
  
• This learning experience is limited to the number of beanbags, targets, and room/space at your institution
  
• Classes of 35-40 students are near...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will be able to define inequality (and/or various other terms).
2. Students will be able to discuss social inequality sociologically (and/or various other terms).
3. Students will be able to relate how inequality (and/or various other terms) is present in their lived experience(s).
4. Students will be able to differentiate between various forms of inequality (and/or various other terms).
5. Students will be able to support how inequality can be based on position/status within society and not intrinsically from the individual and their personal characteristics.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Students respond to a series of discussion prompts during the debriefing of the activity.