Fumble Fingers

Purpose: When a person uses any type of drug, it has an effect on the body. When alcohol or any other type of depressant drug is used, the body reacts by slowing down. When the bodily functions are impaired in such a manner, it becomes increasingly more difficulty for a person to complete certain tasks; especially tasks requiring manual dexterity.

Materials:

1. 1 pair of gloves for each team of five

2. 2 chocolate Hershey Kisses for each person plus a few extras

3. A watch with a second hand

Activity: Divide group participants into teams of five. This will be a relay race, so if a group doesn’t have equal teams, one member will go twice. Line the teams up behind a starting point and place five Hershey Kisses on a chair, table, or the floor, 10 to 15 feet in front of the starting point. All of the teams will start at the same time. The objective for each person in the teams is to walk up to the Hershey Kisses, unwrap one of them and eat it. They do not have to eat the candy before they leave the chair or table. The Hershey Kiss must be completely unwrapped before they leave the chair or table. They may put the candy in their mouth and eat it as they walk back to the starting point. If the individual does not like Hershey Kisses or just does not care to eat it, they may leave the unwrapped candy on the chair or table and return to their team. When they return, the next person leaves the starting point. You will need to time each team. Record how much time it takes each team to accomplish this task.

Repeat this activity for round two except for the fact that each person must wear a pair of gloves when they are unwrapping the Hershey Kiss. Have the last person in line come up to the front of the line and turn to face the first person. The person who was last in line is given the pair of gloves. When you say “Go” they will put the pair of gloves on the first person in line and then return to the end of the line. The first person, which now has a pair of gloves on, goes up and unwraps the candy. When they return, they put the gloves on the next person in line. This process continues throughout the round so that no one puts the gloves on themselves. Once again, record the amount of time it takes for each team to accomplish this task. Record the scores and compare how quickly each team accomplished the task in the second round as opposed to how quickly they finished it in the first round.

Page 2 Fumble Fingers

Processing:

1. How difficult was it to unwrap the Hershey Kiss without the gloves on?

2. How difficulty was it to unwrap the Hershey Kiss with the gloves on?

3. In what way did the gloves make the task harder?

4. Did some people find it hard than others to unwrap the Hershey Kiss?

5. How can this activity be compared to the use of alcohol and other drugs?

6. What activities would be harder for you to accomplish in your daily life if you were impaired?

7. What problems would you have if you were impaired on the job?

8. Are some people affected by drugs to a greater degree than others? Why or why not?

9. Even if you don’t use drugs, how can their use by others affect your life?

10. How do impaired people affect others around them?

11. How easy is it for you to get your work done if you have to help an impaired person complete their work and still do yours?

12. What kind of help from other people does someone who is impaired need?

13. If you noticed someone at your school impaired by drugs or alcohol, what would you do? What would be the results of your actions?

Resource: More Activities that Teach, Tom Jackson