Blindfold Tree Partners

Wye Island, MD

Blind-fold Tree Partners

Materials needed:

-Create boundaries (such as a fence or imaginary boundaries) for an area that contains trees

-Blindfolds

Procedure: Divide your group into partners. One person in each partnership will be blindfolded. The seeing partner will lead their blindfolded partner to a tree. The blindfolded person gets to know the tree with their other senses. The blindfolded person is then led back to the starting point to become un-blindfolded and to find the tree. Encourage the sighted partner to lead the blindfolded partner in a way-ward pattern through the area.  Switch partners and repeat so everyone has had a turn.

Safety considerations:   No running. Be careful of where you are leading your blindfolded partner (watch out for ditches and roots). If someone is not comfortable being blindfolded, no need to force them into the activity. They can participate by being a sighted partner twice for different people.

Discussion thoughts:

-         - Were you able to find your tree? Why or why not?

-         - How were you able to engage your other senses? Was it successful or a struggle?

-         - How did your perspective change?

-         - Why or why not was it scary being blindfolded? Were you comfortable trusting your partner lead you throughout the field? What happened?

-    - What properties of a tree did you look for to identify and find it?

-     - What were some of the differences between tree barks and shapes? What are possible reasons for this variety?  

   Suggestion: Bring a Tree Identification field guide for your students to use!

  Additional Resources:

      Tree Bark Types: http://www.backyardnature.net/treebark.htm

     

      Tree Bark ID: http://www.treebarkid.com/

      Kids in Park Tree Bark ID: http://kidsinparks.com/outside/images/tree_bark_scavenger_hunt.pdf

Using Playing Cards to Debrief

At the end of the day, it is important to gather the group together to reinforce concepts learned throughout the day. Sometimes, participants may be shy or experience a "brain-freeze" when asked to share what they learned. 


Encourage participants to draw a playing card from your deck. Each suit represents a specific topic for them to share with the group. 


Possible topics include:
- Successes of the day
- Difficulties of the day and how they were dealt with/overcome
- Something you learned about yourself
- Something you learned about your team
- Something specific you learned based on the concepts taught (for example, if Leave No Trace principles was taught, participants could name of the principles). 
- Ways safety was observed during the activities
- Goals 


Additional resource for debriefing:
http://leadership.uoregon.edu/resources/exercises_tips/skills/leading_a_group_debrief 

Leaf Race

Leaf Impressions: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Materials Needed: Leaves on the ground

Procedure:  The goal of the activity is for the team to blow a leaf of their choosing from Point A to Point B. Their chosen leaf must ALREADY be on the ground. In accordance with Leave No Trace principles, avoid picking leaves still alive and growing on trees.  Divide your group into multiple teams if necessary. 

Discussion Points to Consider: 

- What were some factors that made this activity easy or hard? (wind? communication? etc?)

- What was the decision process for you to choose your leaf? (shape? weight?) 

- Would this activity be easier with a small team, large team, or individual? Why? (If time allows, this discussion point could be up for experimentation) 

- Why were you able to control or not control your team's leaf? (the leaf shape? team dynamics? wind power?) 

- Why is aerodynamics and wind important in nature?

This could be an introduction on a lesson on how seeds are spread. Some seeds rely on wind to carry them to new places. Other seeds rely on other methods, such as being carried on animals, water, or gravity. Why the difference? 

Resource on seed dispersal : http://www.eoearth.org/article/Seed_dispersal

This could also be an introduction on aerodynamics. Teams could study shapes of natural objects (leaves, seeds, insects, etc) to determine aerodynamic properties. 

Debrief with Positive Energy!

Gulf Shores, AL

Sharing Positive Energy during a Debrief Session:

Gather the group together at the end of the day. Encourage each person says something positive about another person. You can suggest the participant to say something about the person on their left so everyone is guaranteed to have something said about them.

Variation: Encourage some participants to share how it felt to have someone say something positive about you.

True Story:
I shared with the group about Andrew. He was really nervous about going up the Pamper Pole event (roped climbing up a telephone pole and leaping to grab the swinging bars). Later, he came up to me to say he had conquered his fear for the day. I thought that was really awesome that he did accomplished that. I shared what Andrew had said to me to the group. He was all smiles.

Later, he shared with the group that where he is from, people are always putting him down. Just to hear people say something positive about him felt really good and different!

You never truly understand a person’s background and how something so simple can make an impact!

Breaking Down Stereotypes

Breaking Down Stereotypes with Art and Teamwork

Materials needed: marker/writing utensil, paper (or paper alternatives, such as drawing with your finger or stick in the sand/dirt)

Procedure: Instruct the group they are to draw the object or concept you will announce, such as “House”. Each person will have approximately 5 seconds to add to the drawing before the trigger sound (or flashing lights if the group is deaf) before surrendering the drawing to the next person.

Pick an object, concept, or idea that relates to your lesson objectives.

Debrief:
Compare each groups drawings.

Compare stereotypes represented in each drawing

If the drawing was of a house, most groups will end up with a box shape with a triangle roof. Is this a stereotype? This would be a good introduction for lesson learning about other cultures, countries, or history.