Ages 12 - 15

• To heighten awareness of one's perceived role within the family of origin.

• To encourage reflection on how specific familial roles impact the assumption of personal and shared responsibilities.

• To foster recognition of one's responsibility within their family tree.

• To assess and contemplate potential changes in one's familial role and responsibilities.

• Labels with various family roles written on them (e.g., father, mother, maternal uncle, older sister of the mother, grandmother, dog, canary, etc.).

• Markers and sheets of paper for additional notes or role assignments.

• Background music to set the atmosphere.

• Chairs, tables, and kitchen utensils for props.

60 minutes.

Preparation: Arrange the materials in a designated area of the room for easy access during the improvisation. Display the labels with family roles where all participants can see them.

Role reflection:

The facilitator prompts the group to reflect on their roles within their families of origin, such as the peacemaker, the organizer of celebrations, or the one who tends to withdraw from family engagements.

Group Improvisation:

Inform the participants that they will engage in a group improvisation activity involving up to 10 people at a time.

Participants choose the family role they wish to enact (e.g., father, mother, son, daughter-in-law, etc.), and each person announces their selected character.

Begin the improvisational scenes, allowing participants to interact based on the dynamics and conflicts typical of a family setting. Scenes can be performed simultaneously or sequentially, as decided by the facilitator.

For younger children, use drawings, symbols, or simple storytelling instead of written descriptions; for participants from non-traditional or complex family structures, invite them to define "family" broadly (including friends, caregivers, pets, or chosen family); for trauma-sensitive settings, allow participants to include only the people they feel safe acknowledging; for virtual settings, use collaborative digital tools like shared slides or whiteboards.

After creating their family tapestry, invite participants to quietly observe their work and reflect on the connections, roles, and emotions represented. Then encourage discussion or journaling with gentle prompts like: What patterns or themes do you notice in your tapestry? How do these relationships shape who you are? Were there any surprises or strong emotions while creating it? What do you appreciate about your family story, and what would you like to change or grow in the future?

The expected outcomes of "The Family Tapestry" Gestalt Theatre activity include enhanced self-awareness and insight into one's familial role and its influence on personal behavior and identity. Through improvisation, participants actively explore the complexities of family dynamics, gaining a clearer understanding of responsibility, boundaries, and inherited patterns. The process fosters emotional expression, empathy, and reflection on how individuals relate to family members and how these dynamics shape their choices. Ultimately, the activity encourages students to recognize areas of personal growth, challenge limiting roles, and envision new, healthier ways of engaging within their family systems.

Guide participants to explore their feelings, the strategies employed during conflicts, and alternative approaches. Intervene as necessary to prompt reflection on their emotional responses, conflict management, and possible changes in behaviour or attitude.