Discipline: Team Building
Age Range: All ages
Estimated Time: 10 minutes
What you need: At least two people, vision blockers (i.e., bandana, scarf, beanie)
Instructions:
This activity will require you to trust a partner (or two) to accomplish tasks with limited senses. Before you begin, make sure that everyone involved is comfortable being vision blocked.
With Two People Available:
Decide who would like to be vision-blocked first and who would like to give the directions first. Using a bandana or other materials, block the vision of the designated person.
The director will help spin the vision-blocked person around three times.
The director will silently choose a mystery object somewhere in the area, then begin directing the vision-blocked person towards it. (i.e., “Forward! Stop! Turn right! Crouch down! Pick it up!”) NOTE: The director may not touch the vision-blocked person. They must direct using only words.
Once the object has been retrieved, the vision-blocked person must use touch, smell, and hearing to make observations and try to guess what the object is.
Switch roles and repeat!
With Three People Available:
Choose one person to be vision-blocked, one person to speak (speaker), and one person to act (actor). Using a bandana or other materials, block the vision of the designated person.
The speaker must stand between their two partners, facing the actor and with their back toward the vision-blocked person.
The actor will silently choose an object in the area, then use motions to act out directions for the vision-blocked person to find that object.
The speaker will translate the actor’s motions into words, and the vision-blocked person will follow their directions.
Once the object has been retrieved, the vision-blocked person must use touch, smell, and hearing to make observations and try to guess what the object is.
Switch roles and repeat!
Debrief Questions:
As a team, try to reflect on and answer the following questions once you have finished the activity.
How did it feel to be vision-blocked?
How did it feel to give directions or act?
What was most helpful to accomplish the common goal? Did you change anything?
How can we apply what we learned in the future?
Helpful Hints: If you can, try to do this activity in an open space!
Make sure to direct the vision-blocked person so that they do not bump or trip into anything.
With three people, the actor and the speaker may want to practice their lefts and rights — it can get confusing!
New Words:
Observations: Something you see, hear, or notice using your five senses: sight, sound, touch, hearing, or smell.
Vision block: a piece of cloth tied around the head to cover someone’s eyes and prevent them from seeing anything.