Exercise 1: The "Keeper" Ball Toss

Concept: A physical representation of "passing the conversation."

• How to run it:

  1. Students stand or sit in a circle.

  2. You hold a ball (or a rolled-up piece of paper). You start by making a simple statement about yourself (e.g., "I like sunny weather.").

  3. Before you toss the ball to a student, you MUST use a "Keeper" (e.g., "...What about you?").

  4. The student who catches the ball must answer the question (e.g., "I like sunny weather too.") and then make their own new statement.

  5. They must then use a different "Keeper" before tossing the ball to another student (e.g., "I watched a good movie last night. Have you seen any good movies?").

• Why it works: It physically reinforces that a "Keeper" passes the turn. It's high-energy, fun, and forces quick thinking.