I took a regular size poster board and hand-drew large puzzle pieces on it that connected to each other. Each piece was about 5 inches by 5 inches and I could fit 16 pieces on it. Then, I wrote my residents names on the puzzle pieces with different colored sharpie markers (one name per piece). Then, I cut them out, and put them on their doors for door tags. I also slipped a note under their door that said, “Diversity is a great part of living on campus. Color your puzzle piece door tag in a way that represents you and your personality, then post it back on your door to let everyone know who you are and why you are proud to be you!“
Then, a few weeks later at the end of the month I put up flyers on doors that announced a program and for them to bring their colored puzzle pieces with them. For the program I had them play the “Human Knot” game a few times, and then they had to put their puzzle pieces together.
Afterwards I explained to them that diversity is a great part of living on campus, but being a part of a hall “community” is even better. I emphasized that although they all had their own personalities, they all fit together and were connected through living on the hall.
After the program I put the puzzle up on the bulletin board with a sign that said “Even though we are all individuals we are all a part of (insert your hall here).”
Submitted by Maggie Meyer, Coker College