Research Activity Number Ten

Activity: Shapes in the Dark

Target participant group: At-Risk Youth              

Therapeutic potential of this activity: To provide participants with an activity to work on team bonding and problem solving. To have participants work together toward a common goal. To help participants step outside of their comfort zones and build trust by relying on one another to accomplish a task.

What other groups may benefit from this activity?

Other groups that may benefit from this activity are individuals in addictions, rehab, or corrections. This activity may also be beneficial for individuals with Schizophrenia so that they learn they can trust others.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?

This activity may not be appropriate for low-functioning individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This activity also may not be appropriate for individuals with sever cognitive impairment or low physical functioning.

Activity description: This activity can be done indoors or outdoors with 5-20 participants. All participants can be in one group and work together or groups of 5-10 participants can work against one another.

Facilitation/Instructions:

1. Once the participants are in their places, the facilitator will give them a rope which all of them need to hold on to and be in contact with throughout the entire activity.
2. The facilitator will then blindfold each participant so that they are not able to see.
3. After each participant is blindfolded, the facilitator will tell the group to form a specific shape.
4. The participants now have to figure out how they will form the given shape by only talking to each other.
5. Once the participants feel they have successfully created the shape, they are to step inside of the rope, and then let the facilitator know they have finished.
6. The facilitator will take off the participants’ blindfolds so they can observe whether or not they created the shape correctly.
7. The facilitator will then start the activity over by giving the group another shape to form. If multiple groups are doing this activity at once, the facilitator will watch to see which group finishes first and whether or not they formed the correct shape.
8. The facilitator may do as many rounds as they would like.

 Resources needed: A rope and blindfolds.

Best leadership style for this activity: Delegative Leadership

Where did you find this activity?

I found this activity in the book, Chicken and Noodle Games: 141 Fun Activities With Innovative Equipment by John Byl, Herwig Baldauf, Pat Doyle, and Andy Raithby.

Where can others find more information on this activity?

Others can find more information on this activity at the following website, (Blindfold Games) http://www.blindfolds.co.uk/blindfold-games.htm.