On The Spot!!
On The Spot activities are intended to challenge the group
both physically and mentally. The students must work together
so that the entire group succeeds. Groups do not compete
against each other, but rather, they work cooperatively
to achieve a common goal. The goals are team formation,
communication, cooperation, problem solving, and trust.
Establish with your group that it is important to realize
and accept that everyone is different. Each individual
in a group has their own areas in which they excel and
it is important not to make fun of their weaknesses, but
to accentuate the positives in everyone.
Often times the group will not want to participate, or
they will question why they are doing these activities.
Listed first are a few short warm-ups that help to illustrate
what the activities are all about.
*Closed and Opened Fist- Have students
find partners. Tell one to make a fist. The other needs to
open the fist. Emphasize they are working as a team. The
simple solution is to ask the person with the closed fist
to open it. Discuss with the group how a team works better
this way compared with struggling to pry the fist open.
*Group Juggling- Have the group form a
circle. Choose one person to start by giving them a ball.
Explain that this person is going to throw the ball to another
person, saying their name first. The object is to catch the
ball; a dropped ball starts it over. The second person will
then call someone else’s name and throw them the ball.
Each person can only have the ball once. The last person
catching the ball throws it back to the person who started.
After the first time, tell them that you will time them,
and they need to figure out the fastest way to get the ball
to everyone without dropping, keeping the same throwing order.
Allow them to discuss and come to their own (possibly incorrect)
ideas. The easiest way is if they figure out they can change
their place in the circle so that the person they throw to
is right next to them.
*Run and Scream- This activity involves
students running, one at a time, while screaming. Explain
that they have to take a breath, run and scream, and as soon
as their breath is out, they need to stop. The students will
end up spread out throughout the field. After calling them
back, explain how some got further than others, and some
were louder than others. This shows how people are different,
and differences are not necessarily bad.
*Perfect Circle- Have students stand in
a perfect shoulder-to-shoulder circle. Have them take 25
steps backwards and take a look at the circle. They will
notice that since all legs are different lengths, they will
most likely no have a perfect circle. Again, another good
example of an activity used to show differences.
Alligator Pass
Set up an area to be crossed. Give the group a toy alligator,
ball or bandanna. Explain that the group needs to get to
the other side, but that they cannot move without the “alligator.” If
the object touches the ground, the entire team starts again.
The group will probably try to send one person across and
have them throw the object back (make sure that the distance
is too far to be thrown and caught every time). In order
to succeed, they usually form a caterpillar line where
one person walks out a little bit and passes the object
back. Then the next person walks out a little further and
hands the object to the first person until a chain is formed.
Alphabets
Tell students they need to be completely silent. Shout out
a letter of the alphabet. The entire group uses their bodies,
lying down, to create a capital version of the letter stated.
Keep changing the letters until they get the hang of it.
The letters A, C, E, or F may be simpler, while K, B, or
Q might be more challenging. As a variation in cold or
wet weather, have the students stand up. As a more challenging
variation, have students spell words. All of this is done
silently.
Birthday Line-up
Students must line up according to their birthdays without
speaking. They can use any other means of communication.
Variations: Have the students stand on the telephone pole
log and arrange themselves in a similar fashion. This one
you can do with birthdays, height, etc., and start with
voices. If someone falls off, they lose their voice.
Bucket pass
Begin with the group sitting in a circle. The object of this
activity is to pass a bucket around the circle without
using hands or shoulders. If the bucket touches the ground
it goes back to the starting point. Variations: Students
pass the bucket with the same restrictions as above and
they cannot put their heads or feet inside of the bucket.
They can try to beat their own time. Also, try putting
a ball in the bucket. If either the ball or can touch the
ground, they must start over again.
Clocks
Ask the group to form a large hand-in-hand circle. Tell the
circle that you would like it to rotate 360 degrees clockwise,
and then return 360 degrees back to where they started.
The goal is to see how quickly the group can complete the
double rotation. The attempt is stopped if anyone breaks
the circle. Place markers at six and twelve o’clock
inside the circle, so that the group has reference points
for starting and stopping. Variations: If you want to increase
the difficulty of this moving problem, ask the group to
be seated on the ground and finish up in that position.
The clock stops when the last person sits on the ground.
Human Knot
Ask members to face each other in a tight circle. Each person
holds out their right hand and grasps the right hand of
someone else, as if they were shaking hands. Then each
person extends their left hand and grasps the left hand
of someone else, so that each person is holding the hands
of two different people. With hands held tightly, arms
intertwined, and bodies tangled, tell the participants
to untangle the human knot without releasing hands. A circle
will eventually be formed (or two or three interlocking
circles).
Inch Worm
Sit facing a partner. Inch toward your partner until you
can sit on each other’s feet. Grasp your partner’s
elbows or upper arms with each hand. Decide which direction
you would like to travel and rock back and forth to inch
along. Make each duo race to a set point.
Jelly Roll
Have the group hold hands in a straight line. Have one end
of the line remain stationary while the rest of the group
winds up around each other (like a jelly or cinnamon roll).
Caution the group against pulling too hard against each
other, yet make the group as close as possible. Once the
group is rolled, designate a goal (a tree, etc...) to which
the entire roll must slowly walk. Make sure the group walks
slowly and carefully, trying not to trample anyone or fall
over.
Lap Sit
Have the group form a circle standing shoulder to shoulder.
Have them turn so their right shoulders face the inside
of the circle. Keeping in a circle, have the group step
inward until their toes touch the heels of the person in
front of them. Once this is accomplished, explain that
each person will be sitting on the knees of the person
behind them. At your signal, have the group slowing sit
down. Counting to three works well-by three everyone should
be sitting. If everyone sits at the same time this will
work and no one will fall. Count to three again to have
them stand up.
Monster
The object is for the team to cross a designated area as
a monster. This monster has one less foot touching the
ground than the number of participants in the group (i.e.
10 feet touching for a group of 11 children). Everybody
must be connected to form the monster. The most common
way this is solved is by all the participants hopping except
one who wheelbarrows while being held by a person hopping.
Moon Ball
Each person must hit the ball at least twice and the whole
group must achieve a total of hits set by the instructor.
For a group of 15, set a target of 35. If the ball touches
the ground, the group starts again. They may realize that
you only said that the ball had to be off the ground. Therefore,
it is possible to hold the ball, pass it hand to hand,
and tap the ball.
Nuclear Waste
Have four students who have been blindfolded stand as close
to one another as possible. Tell the rest of the group
this is nuclear waste that they must move from one location
to another. They move the waste by placing a large circle
of rope around the waste and walking it to the other location.
The rope or the mover cannot touch the nuclear waste at
anytime. Variations: To increase the difficulty, have the
person/people who are the nuclear waste attempt to carry
something from one point to the other (blindfolded) while
under the instruction of the movers.
Stargate
Have partners sit down, back to back, with arms locked. The
object is to stand from this position without releasing
the partner. Next, sit face to face with feet together.
Grab outstretched hands and try to stand from this position.
A variation is to try again without being able to talk.
Touch My Can
Take a clean can. Place two people so that they are facing
each other. Have them hold the can with their noses. The
rest of the group must now touch the can at the same time
without touching each other and without dropping the can.
Trollies
This activity consists of two 4x4’s each having ropes
tied through them. The group must walk a prescribed course
with their feet on the trollies at all times, holding on
to the ropes. If someone falls off or a foot touches the
ground, have the group start over. The easiest way for them
to move together is to count off having everyone move their
left foot, then right foot, slowly towards their goal. If
they get far along the course, and they were working well,
trade their ability to speak for another chance from where
they stopped. We have two sets of trollies located near the
marsh boots. A six-person regular one, and a seven-person
difficult trollie (rope sizes are purposely uneven).
Willow in the Wind
Form a small circle of about eight players standing shoulder-to-shoulder,
facing the center of the circle. Hands should be at the
chest level with palms forward. Each person should have
one foot slightly behind the other for support. A person
(the willow) is placed inside the circle with feet together,
arms crossed over chest, and eyes closed. Keeping knees
locked, body relaxed, and feet stationary, the willow sways
from side to side, forward and backward. Those in the circle
provide summer breeze sound effects and support the willow–pushing
gently with their palms. Make sure there are at least two
people supporting the willow at all times, and that the
gentle breeze does not become a howling hurricane.
Yurt Circle
Make sure there is an even number of participants before
starting this activity. Instruct the group to hold hands
in a circle and count off by twos. On a signal, have the
ones lean in and the twos lean out, holding onto hands.
Switch roles by having the ones lean out and the twos lean
in.
**Additional Games Just For Fun**
Elbow Tag
Have students find a partner and link elbows. Have partners
stand in a circle with space in between. Ask one group
of partners to be the IT and ITEE. IT tries to catch ITEE
as they both run around the other partners in the circle.
When ITEE tires, he/she can link elbows with one of the
other groups of partners. The person on the opposite end
of that pair now becomes the new ITEE. If IT ever catches
ITEE, they immediately change roles.
Honey, If You Love Me, Smile
While seated in a circle, the “it” person approaches
someone and says, “Honey, if you love me, please smile.” The
correct response, without smiling, is, “Honey, I love
you, but I just can’t smile” (repeated 3 times).
If the person being addressed smiles, they become “it.” “It” may
not touch anyone.
People to People
Use an odd number of people. Group members find partners
and form a circle around the leader. The leader chants “People
to People” with the group joining in the chant. When
everyone is chanting, the leader begins to call off body
parts, substituting a body part for the word “people”
in the chant (i.e. foot to foot, nose to nose, elbow to knee).
The partners begin to follow the directions of the leader.
Positions are changed each time the leader shouts new body
parts. Body parts are matched until the leader shouts, “people
to people.” This is the signal to find a new partner.
The first leader should also find a partner and anyone who
cannot find a partner becomes the new leader.
Red Handed
Everyone forms a circle and the “it” person stands
in the center. While “it” has his/her eyes closed,
the other players pass a small object from person to person. “It” then
opens his/her eyes and tries to find the object as it is
passed. If all members of the circle constantly pretend to
be passing the object, it is more difficult for “it” to
find the object. Fake passes are an integral part of the
game. The person that “it” catches with the object
has been caught “red handed” and is the new “it.”
Skin the Snake
This relay race can be played as a group or by teams. Each
team should have 15 to 25 players lined up one behind the
other. Reach between your legs with your left hand and
grab the right hand of the person behind you while you
reach forward with your right hand. Once the chain is formed,
you can begin (just do not let go of hands). At the starting
signal, the last person in the line lies down on their
back. The rest of the line backs over that person, straddling
the body. As each person reaches the end, they in turn
lie on their backs. This continues as the whole team moves
backwards over the prone bodies.
After the last person lies down, he/she gets up and starts
forward again, pulling everyone else up and back over the
bodies. The winner is the first team with everybody back
on their feet. If anyone breaks hands during the process,
the group must stop, go back to that point, and reconnect
before proceeding.
Vampire
Everyone is sitting around with their eyes closed when the
leader designates a vampire. When the leader says this
is done, players can open their eyes. Everyone is to shake
hands with each other. When the anonymous vampire shakes
hands, he/she scratches the palms of the victims. If the
vampire scratches your hand, you must shake two more people’s
hands, in the vampire fashion, and then die with a blood-curdling
scream.
If a living person can identify the vampire before being
scratched, the game ends and all people return for the next
round. If a living person accuses the wrong person of being
a vampire, that person joins the dead partners on the sidelines.
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