Blindfold Pickup

  1. Cooperative Games
  • Large Group (10 and up)

  • Grades 1-2

  • Hula Hoops

  • Less Than 10 minutes

Development Goal

To develop verbal communication, leadership, sound recognition, teamwork, active listening and voice identification.

Before You Start

  • Partner up the group.
  • Play Rock Paper Scissors to see who is “blindfolded” first. (To blindfold oneself, simply have players close their eyes and cover them with one hand).
  • Have partners clarify their voices to each other. Mention that voice confusion can lead to accidents.
  • Stress that the game is much more fun and fair if you are blindfolded when you are supposed to be.

Set Up

Place a hula hoop at each corner of your playing area. Scatter all of the pickable items all over the floor.

How to Play

  • One partner is blindfolded; the other partner is the communicator. Start the game after mentioning the rules.
  • Using vocal commands (simple or creative), the communicator needs to guide his/her blindfolded partner to a pickable item. The communicator CANNOT touch his/her blindfolded partner (Use voice only. Can follow blindfolded partner.)
  • Once the blindfolded partner is lead to a pickable item, the communicator will then direct the blindfold partner to pick up the item, bring it to a hula hoop (home base), and drop it inside of the hula hoop. The blindfold partner keeps his/her blindfold at all times.
  • After the blindfolded partner drops the pickable item inside the home base, the partners switch roles (blindfolded partner now becomes the communicator, communicator becomes the blindfolded partner). When that partner drops another item into a home base, the partners switch roles again.
  • The game ends when all of the pickable items are inside the home bases.

Variations

  • With two to four different color hula hoops, split the partners into two to four teams.
  • For more advanced groups, add some obstacles (tables, chairs, etc.) to require the communicators to be more vocal and clear with their directions. If played indoors, classrooms and cafeterias provide natural obstacles.