Activity Research 4- The Chain Gang

Activity: The name of the activity is The Chain Gang

Target participant group: This activity can be great for most groups with 10 of more participants.

Therapeutic potential of this activity: This activity can be cognitively beneficial because you have to get used to using your body in a new way. It also can be socially beneficial because you have to work with a team.

What other groups may benefit from this activity? A participant with an arm amputation can benefit from this activity because it puts everyone in the same situation as them and they can impress the others by showing how well they can do things with just one arm.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity? This activity involves cutting with scissors, most likely with your non dominate hand, so this activity would not be appropriate for children under 6 years old.

Activity description:

1.    Divide participants into groups of five.

2.    Direct groups to go to designated location in the room.

3.    The leader will then instruct everyone to raise one hand, and then sit on the hand that they raised.

4.    Instruct participants to create a paper chain with the supplies on the table (scissors, paper, glue).

5.    Explain that each participant can only use the hand that is free to construct the paper chain.

6.    Give groups a time limit, with the goal of creating the longest chain.

7.    End activity when time is up and see who has created the longest chain.

Resources needed: You will need 10-20 sheets of construction paper per group, one bottle of glue per group, and one pair of scissors per group.

Best leadership style for this activity: The best leadership style for this activity is simply giving the participants’ instructions and encouraging them throughout the activity.

Where did you find this activity? Learned and played it in a previous course.

Where can others find more information on this activity?