Game of Life
Approximate Running Time: 15-20 minutes (including debrief)
Minimum Group Size: 3 people
Maximum Group Size: 30 people (per group – if you are working with a large group you can split them up in the same space to run this activity)
Age/ Level:
Participants must be capable of reasoning and understanding the meaning behind the activity rather than just the simple objective. This activity is suitable for a mature Grade 4 class and older participants.
Space Required: This activity requires enough space for participants to run around freely, as well as enough space for participants to sit in a circle to debrief.
Materials:
– No materials required
Set-up:
No set-up required for standard activity. However, if the activity space is large facilitators may wish to create a “playing zone” by marking the floor with painters tape.
Objective:
The objective of this activity is for participants to consider how they work in groups, how they listen to each other, the choices they make as individuals, and how those choices affect others, etc etc.
Facilitator Guidelines:
- Ask all participants to stand inside the playing area (taped area, or space in room)
- Instruct participants to raise their right hand and point their index fingers to the sky. Tell them that this will be their “sword”.
- Ask participants to place their left hands behind their backs with the palm facing out. Tell them that this is their “heart”
- In the first round tell the participants: “The objective of the game is for you to stay in the game of life! Go” (allow them to start to play).
- After they have eliminated all but one player, start the second round.
- In the second round tell the participants: “The objective of the game is for you to stay in the game of life! Go!” (allow them to start to play)
- After they have eliminated all but one player, start the third round.
- In the third round tell the participants ” The objective of the game is for everyone to stay in the game of life! Go! (allow them to start to play)
- After they have eliminated all but one player, and if they have not “figured out the trick” to keep everyone alive yet, start the last round.
- In the last round tell the participants: “the objective is for everyone stay in the game of life! Go!”
- Participants must follow these rules:
- If you step out of the playing field you are out (either the taped area, or a designated area in a space).
- If you stab someone in the heart they are out.
- Hearts may not be purposely covered.
General Debrief Questions:
The debrief for this activity is largely determined by whether or not the participants were able to keep the entire group alive.
What happened?
How did you stay alive?
To those of you who managed to stay alive the longest, what was your strategy? Why did you feel you needed to kill others?
Do you feel that in order for you to be successful in life, others have to be unsuccessful?
How do others support you in your life?
How can you support others? (Classmates, colleagues, etc).