Group Activity:
A Seat on the Train
Imagine that you are boarding a train, about to make a three-hour journey. The train is crowded, with only a few seats unoccupied and no chance of sitting alone. Below are brief descriptions of the other passengers on board.
Your Task
You have 3 minutes to decide which seat you’ll choose.
The Passengers
The Mother & Daughter
A seat opposite a mother and her young daughter (you think she’s about 4 years old). From the books, tablet, and sketchpad on the table, it is clear the child has plenty to keep her occupied. At the moment, her mother is reading her a story.
The Young Man
The seat next to a young man who is wearing a thrash metal tee shirt and a large pair of headphones.
The Chatty Woman
The window seat next to a plump elderly woman sitting in the aisle seat. She is chatting with the man sitting across from her on the opposite side of the aisle. On the table in front of her is a large water bottle, a sandwich, the newspaper, and a pair of glasses.
An Unoccupied Seat?
A seat next to another that is currently unoccupied except for a coat. On the table in front of it is an open can of beer with another empty one scrunched next to it. You notice the ‘occupied’ light for the toilet is on.
A Group of Women
A seat in a group of 4, the other seats are occupied by young women who are clearly traveling together. The table between the seats is covered in magazines, salads (still unopened), a mix of snacks, and bottles of sparkling water.
The Decision
Which seat did you choose? What factors influenced your decision?