High Wire Act

Purpose: Alcohol has many effects on the body. One area that is affected is depth perception. This ability to judge the distance of objects is crucial in many daily activities. This is especially true when it comes to driving a vehicle and performing job duties in the workplace. This activity will give group participants the opportunity to experience the potential effects of alcohol and other drugs have on the body while under the influence.

Materials:

1. 1 pair of sunglasses per team of 5 (purchase inexpensively at any Dollar Store)

2. 1 jar of Vaseline

3. Masking tape

Activity: Prior to the start of the activity, rub Vaseline on the lenses of the sunglasses. Divide group participants into teams of five. They should line up single file with a 12 foot length of masking tape going away from them on the floor in front of each team. Begin the activity by having them walk the line using a heel-to-toe walking method. This method requires the heel of one foot to touch the toe of the other foot as the person walks the line. This is a duplication of the drunk driver’s sobriety test that is given on the side of the road. Make it a relay race with one person at a time walking the line using the heel-to-toe method. If they fall off the line they must come back and start again. Have the person walk up and back on the tape. Then have the next person take their turn and continue until each person on the team has had a turn.

Now give each team a pair of sunglasses that has Vaseline rubbed on both lenses. Have the group repeat the process of walking heel-to-toe, but this time they must wear the sunglasses with Vaseline rubbed on both lenses to impede vision. If they fall off the line, they must come back and start again. After they have completed walking the tape in one direction, they turn and go back to the starting line. When they have returned to the starting line, have the group participant give the sunglasses to the next person in the line. Continue until each team member has had a turn.

Variation: In addition, you can simulate an obstacle course by making group participants go in and around cones, have group participants toss bean bags into a target area, and have students touch their toes by bending over to touch their feet.

Page 2 Hire Wire Act

Processing:

1. What observations did you make while participating in this activity?

2. Describe any feelings you had while observing or participating in this

activity?

3. What kind of effect did wearing the sunglasses have on your participation?

4. How did you do when you walked the line without wearing the sunglasses?

5. How did you do when you walked the line while wearing the sunglasses?

6. What effect did the sunglasses with the Vaseline on the lenses have on your ability to walk?

7. What effect did the sunglasses with the Vaseline on the lenses have on your ability to see?

8. If you were driving, what problems would this effect have on your ability to drive?

9. What other activities would be hard to accomplish if your vision were distorted like this?

10. What jobs in the workplace would be dangerous if your vision were distorted like this?

11. Would you want to be a passenger in a car if the driver’s vision was distorted like this? Explain.

Resource: More Activities that Teach, Tom Jackson