Toothpaste Words
Character Building Exercise
This activity was used to show students that once words are spoken it is impossible to
un-speak them.
Without any knowledge of the activity, the students were split into small groups and asked to work together emptying a tube of toothpaste as fast as they could. Once the tubes where empty, each group of students were asked to put the toothpaste back into the tube using only toothpicks. After a short period of frustration, the students realized that this was an impossible task.
The class then worked together to compile a list of words that are not to be spoken. These words are what the calls now refers to as "Toothpaste Words"
un-speak them.
Without any knowledge of the activity, the students were split into small groups and asked to work together emptying a tube of toothpaste as fast as they could. Once the tubes where empty, each group of students were asked to put the toothpaste back into the tube using only toothpicks. After a short period of frustration, the students realized that this was an impossible task.
The class then worked together to compile a list of words that are not to be spoken. These words are what the calls now refers to as "Toothpaste Words"