Spin and Perform

Purpose: Your body reacts in numerous ways when you are under the influence of alcohol. An example of one reaction is that you can’t control your movements with as much dexterity as you can when you are sober. This activity will demonstrate the loss of muscular control that one would experience when under the influence of alcohol.

Materials:

1. A pencil and paper or a piece of chalk and the blackboard.

2. A pitcher of water, a glass and a towel.

Activity: Have one group participant come up in front of the group. Have the volunteer write his/her name on the blackboard or on a piece of paper. This is to establish his/her ability when he/she is sober. To simulate having him/her under the influence, spin him/her around until he/she is dizzy. When you stop him/her, immediately have him/her repeat writing his name. The attempt will not be anywhere near what it was before in either speed or clarity.

Variation: A second method of showing the influence of alcohol would be to have another volunteer from the group come up in front of the class. Have him/her pour water from a pitcher into a glass. Both the pitcher and the glass are to be held in his/her hands. Now put the pitcher and glass down and spin him/her to get him/her dizzy. Immediately upon stopping, hand him/her the glass and pitcher and have him/her pour the water in the glass. The volunteer will most likely spill some, so be sure a towel or something is under the glass.

Processing:

1. How did you feel when you wrote your name the first time?

2. How did you feel when you tried to write your name after becoming dizzy?

3. How did you feel when you poured the water the first time?

4. How did you feel when you tried to pour the water after becoming dizzy?

5. What were the signs that we saw showing that the student was impaired?

6. What can these two activities show us about being under the influence?

7. Would you want to ride in the car with either of these two people if they were driving? Why not?

8. What kinds of activities that you participated in would be hampered if you participated in them while under the influence? Why?

9. What kinds of jobs would be impossible to perform while under the influence?

10. How drunk would a person have to be before you wouldn’t let him drive the car you were riding in? Fly the plane you were flying in?

Activity taken from: Activities that Teach, Tom Jackson