Spend 2 minutes – silently on paper – listing as many “worlds” as you can think of.
Then, as a class, go around and each say one aloud, trying not to name the same type of world.
Spend 2 minutes choosing one of the worlds you listed, and try to answer “what makes this a world?”
Share back – first in small groups, then as a whole class.

//Recommended Format & Materials

• First, discuss in pairs or small groups. Tell participants to listen for insights for sharing back. 
• When introducing the activity, try to leave the definition open-ended to elicit a variety of answers.

//Tips & Tricks for Facilitators

• First, discuss in pairs or small groups. Tell participants to listen for insights for sharing back. 
• When introducing the activity, try to leave the definition open-ended to elicit a variety of answers.

//Key Takeaways/Deliverables

• Connect the explicit process of “worlding” or “worldbuilding” in a creative practice, with the common understanding of  “worlds.”
• Understand that with the world, there are also many worlds, formed by our perceptions and mental models.

//credits

A version of this exercise was originally created for a course called “Rendering Worlds” co-developed by Sarah Rothberg and Deborah Levitt at the New School in 2018.