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Circle Run (a Pipeline Variation)

2/26/2026

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AI Generated Image

If you've been a FUN Follower for a while, you know I love variations of Pipeline. Here are some past posts of one's I've used over the years: 
  • Immobile Chopsticks – using foam pool noodles (with a video).
  • Paper Transporter – using paper to move the marble (with video).
  • Obstacles I like to add to the Pipeline journey.
  • Bridges & Traits Writing words on/in the gutters to use for reflections.
  • Materials Move My current favorite with more problems to solve.  

Here's an idea I had in my 'Activity Ideas' file ready to try: 

'Circle Run' 
  • Group is in a circle - each person with a channel (like the image above).
  • Every other person has a marble/ball in their channel or, to make it easier, every third person.
  • One player has a distinguishable marble/ball - or we can call it the 'Pace Car'.
  • Time movement of all the objects around the circle, through the channels.
  • Only one object can be in any one channel at a time.
  • When the Pace Car gets back to the player it started with time stops.
  • Add 5 seconds to the overall time for every dropped object.
  • A restart happens if two marbles end up in one channel. 

After reading this Pipeline version I would start with just one marble going around the circle of channels. This will give the group a chance to warm up and start talking to each other with fewer 'problems' to solve. Then I would add a second marble, each starting at opposite sides of the circle. This will change the attention and communication behaviors of the group. Then add a third marble... You see where this is going. 

To make this work, there will need to be at least one open channel between two marbles. Groups of 8 to 15 participants will make it a good challenge. If you have more than 15 in a group, divide them into groups of at least 8 players. 

This is a good version of Pipeline to use if you don't have the room for a traveling leap-frogging line. You don't need a lot of space to form circles with your groups. 

Variation: Try this one with Hot Wheels cars! If your channels are wide enough to fit the small cars into, it will be a fun race to watch. You could even give everyone an 18-inch board to roll the cars over. I'd use 1- by 4-inch boards. 

Have fun out there! 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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Bullring Monkeys (Video)

2/12/2026

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I learned this activity from my friend Chris Ortiz may years ago. Recently, I got to play it again during a workshop he led at ACCT. It’s one of those ‘simple’ but not easy tasks. Groups do not travel so they don’t need a lot of room. And it’s a nice ‘tabletop’ activity when working with participants seated at Rounds.

Here’s what I like about it:
  • Barrel of Monkeys! Who doesn’t get excited about hooking those monkeys?! So, there's good energy throughout the experience. 
  • Each person has some autonomy through their string – how much will they use it.
  • This can be a small group (e.g., 3 people) or larger group (e.g., five groups of 8 people) activity. 
  • Leadership behaviors emerge as the group navigates what monkey to go for and how to position themselves to get that monkey. 
  • There are opportunities for goal setting – both process-oriented and product-oriented. And does the group set goals? What are the benefits? Drawbacks?  
  • Success and failure are obvious – losing monkeys (progress) helps to refocus on the task.
  • Communication behaviors surface. How do group members talk to each other? Are ideas suggested? Forced? Held back?
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I like Chris’s micro ring apparatus. It’s made with (what I’m guessing is) a small brass ring about 1-inch in diameter. (Any traditional Bullring apparatus will work for this activity. See this FUNdoing Post with video, to learn how to make your own Bullring.) He used cotton string about an 1/8-inch in diameter – it has a good feel to it – with an overhand knot tied at the ends. Each string is about 8-feet long and then girthed to the ring, making eight 4-foot strands to hold. Group size can range from 3 to 8 people. 

Leading Bullring Monkeys

There are a variety of ways to lead this activity depending on group outcomes. Chris’s workshop was about exploring some of the different ways a facilitator might influence a group’s experience. After using Bullring Monkeys we discussed, with Chris, some facilitator impact. (Maybe I can get Chris to share more about his work and pass it on to you. I’ll keep you posted.)


Here’s what we were instructed to do:
  • Each person in a group is invited to hold the end of one of the strings of the bullring apparatus at the knot. If there are extras, some people can hold two strings.
  • When the strings are pulled tight, hook one of the monkeys from your pile onto the ring of your apparatus.
  • When ready, pick up the monkeys.

We played for about 10-minutes before we stopped to discuss facilitator influences.
Prop Notes: 'Barrel of Monkeys' is easy to find in the States. Typically, there are 12 Monkeys in the Barrel (from Hasbro). I like to give each group a big pile of 16 to 20 monkeys, it just looks better.

I've seen creative configurations with paper clips that can be linked up. And I've used 'Chain Repair Lap Links' (below) with a bullring. When linked together, the strand can get very heavy! A great discussion point about what happens when we 'pick up' too many things and how we manage them. 
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Have fun out there! Why Not?!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

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    Dr. Chris Cavert is an internationally known author, speaker, and trainer in the area of adventure-based activity programming and its relation to community and pro-social behavior development.

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    This blog is a space for hands-on programable fun - energetic activities and ideas that can be used as a means to bring people together; activities and ideas we as educators can add to our social development curriculums. 

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