Try to balance the number of students possessing each element. Students have 10 minutes to trade atoms with their classmates. When playing Cross-cultural Chemicals, many students will initially believe that everyone started on an even playing field. However, someone eventually realizes that students who got a bag of chlorine atoms were a step ahead because the chlorine atoms are a major component of some of the molecules assigned higher point values. Often students will admit that they tended to trade only with their friends because that was their zone of comfort.
Students are notorious for socializing predominantly in small groups or cliques.
Having students engage in multicultural dialogue is an important tool in breaking down the barriers between students of diverse cultures. Consonant with any type of change, students and teachers may find this new avenue of conversation initially uneasy and challenging. Students may initially feel uncomfortable talking about their feelings in a classroom setting. The first time you try to engage students in multicultural dialogue, it may feel equivalent to going down a dead-end road. It helps to experiment with different ways of setting up activities.