Two Challenge leaders are needed for each station.
ACTIVITY:
The class sits in a circle and is blindfolded. Objects are passed starting at one point in the circle. They pass to the person on their left until it reaches the end. Students make a guess in their mind as to what each object is and try to remember the order in which it came.
At the end of the “Passing” event children, collectively as a class, try to remember as many objects as they can. The white board is used so that they can see what they have generated. Double points are awarded for every object remembered in the correct order from the starting point. It is frantically fast paced, but fun.
Points:
- 5
points for every object remembered.
- 10 points for every object remembered in correct order from the starting point.
Role of Challenge Leader (what to do)
- When setting up the room, make space for 25 to 27 children to sit in a circle. Place blindfolds in a large circle, matching where you think the children will be sitting. This will help to cue children where to sit when entering. (They will leave their blindfolds behind, in the same location.)
- Have children sit in a large circle on the floor.
- When explaining this activity to the children, make it sound as fun and exciting as you can.
- Students place blindfolds (masks) over their eyes, and are to “feel, weigh, smell ...” common objects to determine what they are. Students will use all senses except sight and taste. Explain that if they can’t figure out an object, it is because it is not supposed to be easyt.
- They are not to talk out loud !!!
- A bell is rung when it’s time to pass on an object, and it should be rung at about 5 - 8 second intervals. (You will get a “feel” for this)
- Objects are passed in the same order for every class. Follow the order of the master sheet when passing objects.
- It will take between 10 - 12 minutes to pass all objects, leaving only 8 - 10 minutes to figure out what was there, and in what order.
- Children need to be reminded that they should not pass or receive objects, except when they hear the bell. This will help move the pieces smoothly.
- There will be peeking by a few. Don’t encourage, but don’t get worried or stressed about it. I already know this will probably happen on a small scale, and understand that “being completely blind could actually be too frightening for some children to handle.
- As the class finishes, congratulate them and INSTANTLY start generating the list on the board. Remind them that they only have 10 to 12 minutes before the event bell rings to end the session, so to work fast! In the event of a tie, the most objects remembered in correct order from the first object will determine the winning team. DO NOT HELP THEM, NOR LET THE TEACHER HELP. This is a cooperative, team effort.
- Make sure that you wipe the white board very clean between classes, since they can read the “shadow” words.
- Congratulate
the children and shake hands as they leave the room