Crooked Circle

  • Large Group (10 and up)

  • Ages 6-10

  • None

  • Less Than 10 minutes

Development Goal

Learning how to work within a group to meet a challenge.

Before You Start

Skills Practiced: Learning how to develop trust in others.

  • Have students form a circle and number off by 1’s and 2’s.
  • Explain that the game is a challenge and discuss the concept of “trust.”
  • Designate a signal to start.
  • Make sure students are holding hands and remember their numbers.
  • Emphasize the importance of holding hands firmly but not painfully.

How to Play

  • The students hold hands and when you give the signal, the 1’s lean forward and the 2’s lean backward.
  • The challenge is to keep holding hands while maintaining balance once half the group is leaning back and the other half is leaning forward.
  • Once the group has managed to balance, bring them back to center and change roles.
  • If the group has switched roles successfully, challenge them to do it with their eyes shut.
  • Discuss how”trust” played a role in the game.

Variations

  • Play it in a straight line with the ends standing straight.
  • Put bean bags on their heads and challenge the team to not drop the beanbag as they lean forwards or backwards.