Blind Square

CEEPS On-Line Activity Database

Blind Square

Type	Audience	Group Size	Min. Time	Equipment	Source	Contributor
Problem	Adult	5-15	40 mins	Blindfolds & 20m of rope	?	Nelleke van Klaveren YMCA Netherlands

Description

Simple objective, tougher solution - an activity to study how a group listens and what roles people play.

Instructions

The group's objective is to form the rope into a perfect square, while blindfolded. The parameters are as follow:

+ Everyone must be grasping the rope with 2 hands at all times.
+ The hands may move along the rope, but may never come off the rope.
+ The entire rope must be used for the 4 sides of the square.

The group will signal when they believe they have completed the task by all laying the rope down on the ground in the formed shape and removing their hands.

Facilitator Notes

Variations include allowing them to plan without the blindfolds on, challenging them to first find (and untangle?) the rope (blindfolded) in a large area, making certain people 'mute', and having someone stand in the exact centre of the square once the rope is laid down at the end.

As with all blindfold activities, participants should be given the options of either just closing eyes, or participating as a sighted observer who can share insights with the group once the activity is over.

Look for accuracy - measure the 4 sides and the angles. How could they have done better? Are there ideas that come out after the blindfolds are off, that were not shared in the activity? If so, why weren't they heard?

http://ceeps.ca/activities/BlindSquare.htm