One time…

Instructions for the leader

Activity: Rapid-Fire One-Sentence Story Circle Gather the entire group into a seated circle for a high-energy storytelling chain. Pre-Activity Guidance: Frame the game as a spontaneity practice. Emphasize brevity—keeping stories to exactly one sentence keeps momentum high and prevents overthinking. Structure & Rules: True Stories Only: Each story must be a complete, true personal statement starting with the words "One time...". Clockwise Motion: Pass turns quickly around the circle without long pauses or cross-talk. Multiple Rounds: Aim to complete 2–3 full rotations around the circle to build conversational momentum. Follow-Up Window: After completing the rounds, open a 5-minute unstructured Q&A period where participants can ask about stories that sparked curiosity. Timing: Run 5–8 minutes of circle storytelling, followed by 3–5 minutes of open follow-up questions.