Here is one of the most famous exercises of values clarification.

The Fall-Out Shelter Problem

"Your group are members of a department in Washington D.C, that is in charge of experimental stations in the outposts of civilization. Suddenly the Third World War breaks out and bombs begin dropping. Places all across the globe are being destroyed. People are heading for whatever fallout shelters are available. You receive a desperate call from one of your experimental stations, asking for help."

"It seems there are ten people but there is only enough space, air, food, and water in the fall-out shelter for six people for period of three months - which is how long they estimate they can safety stay down there. They realize that if they have to decide among themselves which six should go into the shelter, they are likely to become irrational and begin fighting. So they have decided to call your department, their superiors, and leave the decision to you. They will abide by your decision."

"But each of you has to quickly get ready to head down to your own fall-out shelter. So all you have time for is to get superficial descriptions of the ten people. You have half-an-hour to make your decision. Then you will have to go to your own shelter."

"So, as a group you now have a half-hour to decide which four of the ten will have to be eliminated from the shelter. Before you begin, I want impress upon your two important consideration. It is entirely possible that the six people you choose to stay in the shelter might be the only six people left to start the human race over again. This choice is, therefore, very important. Do not allow yourself t be swayed by pressure from the others in your group. Try to make the best choice possible. On the other hand, if you do not make a choice in a half-hour, then you are, in fact, choosing to let the ten people fight it out among themselves, with the possibility that more than four might perish. You have exactly one half-hour. Here is all you know about the ten people:

A 16-year-old girl of questionable IQ; a high school drop-out; pregnant.

A policeman with a gun (which cannot be taken from him), thrown off the force recently for brutality.

A clergyman, 75.

A woman physician, 36, known to be confirmed racist.

A male violinist, 46, who served seven years for pushing narcotics.

A 20-year-old black militant, no special skills.

A former prostitute, female, 39.

An architect, a male homosexual.

A 26-year-old law student.

The law student's 25-year-old wife who spent the last nine months in a mental hospital, still heavily sedated. They refuse to be separated.

Source: "Values Clarification - A Handbook of Practical Strategies for Teachers and Students" by S.B. Simon, L.W. Howe, and H. Kirschenbaum.

- sold more than 600,000 copies.