
Since I tend to work more and more with larger groups I like to find (discover) activities where lots of people can work together and still have some autonomy in the process. I also love activities that are easy to set up, especially with large groups. Crazy Eights might fit the bill.
Directions: Give each person in your group a game spot. (My recent favorite spot is a foam cupboard liner circle - 12 inches in diameter. You can find foam cupboard liner in rolls at department and hardware stores.) Ask everyone to scatter around the playing area so they are at least 3 or 4 feet away from any other person and then set their spot down and step on it with both feet (in the picture the circles shown are the spots - imagine people standing on them).
Here's the simply put timed challenge. When you, the facilitator says "GO!" (with feeling), you start the time and then every one is free to leave his or her spot in order to travel around two other spots in a figure eight pattern (the lines in the picture indicate two possible figure eight traveling plans). Be sure to emphasize a "figure eight" pattern must be made around two different spots - the spot each person is standing on can not be used in each persons travels. After players circumnavig-eight two spots they return to their original spot. When all players are back on their original spot (all movement stops), the time then stops. Allow for several attempts.
Considerations:
- Smaller groups (8 to 12 players) could record very low times leaving little room for improvement. I'm thinking at least 20 players for this one??
- Allow for planning time before the activity begins and before each subsequent attempt. Planning while standing "around" the spots, as opposed to "on" the spots would be interesting.
- If there is any player-to-player contact time (e.g., 3 seconds) is added to the attempt.
- Distance between spots will change to level of challenge and the time it will take.
- Go with a combination of sighted and unsighted players. Maybe if a player is not in contact with a spot his or her eyes need to be closed - this idea would work nicely with smaller groups.
What else? Let us know how Crazy Eights goes for you. Leave us a comment below.
All the best,
Chris Cavert