Goals of program

·         The workshop will be an example of a Thursday program that students can model for their own presentations
 - Students will observe a program based upon the Joplin model
 - Students will learn that this Thursday workshop is only the first of a four-part sequence that includes focus (1^st  
   Thursday)→new games (2^nd Thursday) →initiatives (3^rd Thursday) →challenge (4^th & 5^th Thursday)  
 - Students will participate in example of very basic processing (sharing circle) 

·         The activities will create a non-threatening comfort level of students in Rec 200  
- Students will participate in at least 2 name games in order to start learning each others' names
- Students will participate in at least 2 games that have "non-threatening" physical contact (e.g., holding hands)
- Students will be introduced to the concept of "participation by choice" and know that they can sit out of any activity
- Students will learn at least one activity that they can put to use in their own  leadership

List of events

1.       Warm-up  (Turnstyle game with giant jump rope)

2.       Brief oral introduction

·         Explanation of day’s activities

·         Stated purpose of the day

3.      Action component, to include:

Physical touch

 a) prui, b) lap sit, c) spiral, d) human knots with rope

            Name games

      a) brag circle, b) group juggle, c) waupum

            Action break

a)      Smaug’s jewels

Brief Description of Activities

Turnstyle:  With retired climbing rope, recruit partner from class to turn giant jump rope.  Start out by having participants get through rope one at a time, then two at time, then four at a time, then 8 at a time.  This is practice.  The real challenge is to get entire group through rope without stopping rope – with the following stipulations; 1) there must always be someone jumping in the rope, 2) no single person may stay in the rope for more than three rotations.  Any mistake and the entire group must start over.

Oral introduction:  Explain purpose to develop comfort with each other and the course format.  All is “Challenge by choice;” i.e., any person may excuse self from activity without explanation, but should remain involved through observation.  Explain day is part of 4-part series of events.  Safety restrictions will be explained with each event.  Students’ job is to participate and garner lessons for own leadership.

Prui:   One person is prui; all others try to find prui.  Leader chooses prui.  Prui has eyes open, but cannot speak.  Others cannot see, but can speak.  So go around with eyes closed, shaking hands.  When encountering person, shake hands and say “prui.”  If other person is not prui, he or she also will say prui.  The prui, however, will not speak.  Once you find prui, open eyes and join hands to create a larger prui.  Continue until everyone has linked to prui.  (from New Games Book)

Lap sit:  Have everyone for a circle shoulder to shoulder, then turn clockwise.  Place hands on waist of person in front of you.  One count of three, guide person to sit upon your knees.  On count of three, all stand up.  If group can handle it, have group sit, then walk as connected group.

Brag circle.  Create large circle that has one less spot than people participating.  The extra person stands in the middle of the circle.  That person begins by saying, “My name is _____.”  The group responds by saying back, “Hi, ____________.”  The person then says, “I like people who ____________ (e.g. like to bicycle, have a tattoo, are wearing blue jeans).  Everyone who feels like that statement applies to them must leave their spot and relocate in an empty spot.  The person in the middle also finds a spot.  This means one person, probably a new person, is left without a spot.  He or she becomes the person in the center, and the process is repeated.  Safety: no running, only fast walking.  (from Karl Rohnke)

Group juggle:  Participants get into circles of about 12 people (can be an outer circle standing and an inner circle sitting).  A pattern within the circle is created whereas a soft object (e.g., tennis ball) is tossed from person-to-person in a specific order (i.e, one person always throws the object to the same person).  Once the pattern is established, the number of objects increases, and the several objects are following the pattern.

Smaug’s jewels:  This activity sometimes becomes competitive, so safety rules must be enforced.  First of all, the “jewels” must be soft.  A handkerchief works well.  Second, people must be aware that people might bump into each other, maybe even whack heads – So play carefully?   Break the game into groups of about eight people. One person in each group is Smaug, carefully guarding the jewels.  Smaug may hover around the jewels, but cannot touch them.  Everyone else tries to get the jewels from Smaug.  This is accomplished by grabbing the jewels and lifting them over his or her head.  Smaug, however, turns everything it touches to stone.  Therefore the goal is for someone to get the jewels before Smaug turns everyone to stone (from New Games Book)