Assign everyone in the class a number, either a 1 or a 2. These will be their groups. Assign them a small task, such as making a poster about the themes of the book we have been reading, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the instructions, tell them that this should be a good project, and they should try their best. Put materials out on a desk, with one full set of colored pencils along with a set of a handful of assorted used colored pencils. Also bring out one larger, nice sheet of paper, and one much smaller paper, slightly ripped and/or folded. Allow group 1 to go up to get materials first, and emphasize they can take whichever set of pencils they want, as well as which paper. Allow them to start then. Wait 2 minutes, then send up group 2 to take everything else that hasn’t been used (should be the 2-3 colored pencils and ripped paper). Give another five minutes for preparation, then have the students present for the next five minutes.
After the presentations, ask the class how well they thought the groups did. Ask the 1's and 2's individually what they did well, if they had any difficulties with their project, and finally, ask if any of them would have found it easier had they been in the other group.
Ask the class if anyone knows the Marxist perception of the capitalist, class based society. Point out to the class that in fact the way the class was set up was very similar to the social classes of a capitalist society, as thought through the Marxist lens. Those that were in group one were those that were in the upper class. Marx believed that these people were simply born into this class (just like the groups were randomly chosen), and unfairly monopolized the economy (just like group one had the better supplies and a time bonus).
This exercise demonstrates the vast difference between the haves and the have-nots.