Knots

Purpose: This activity teaches leadership, group cooperation, problem solving and teamwork skills. As the ropes are being handed out to group participants, introduce that each rope represents something in life that tangles us up and we stop caring about taking care of our bodies; thus engage in risky behaviors like using tobacco.

Materials: 4-5 foot length of rope per group participant. This activity works best with a minimum of 6 participants and a maximum of 15 participants.

Activity: Each person is given a rope. Then everyone grabs someone else’s rope from across the circle with their empty hand. No one should grab the rope of a person next to them or someone who has the other end of their rope. The goal is to untangle the rope without anyone letting go of the ropes in their hands. Once untangled, people may be facing in to the group or away from the group, or there may be more than one circle.

Variations:

1. Complete activity without talking

2. Blindfold some participants.

Processing:

1. What did you observe happening while the group completed this task?

2. Who provided leadership? Was there more than one person who took a leadership role?

3. Did any question the leadership?

4. Did anyone suggest ideas and felt they were ignored?

5. Were any conflicts apparent? If so, how did the group go about solving conflict amongst members?

6. What skills were demonstrated that could lead students to want to take care of their bodies and not smoke?

7. How can we apply the skills used in this activity to our lives?

Resource: MPS Ropes & Challenge Education Curriculum