Activity #1

Divide the class into pairs and blindfold one member of each pair. The task of the non-blindfolded student is to lead his partner through an obstacle course using only speech – the seeing student is not allowed to touch the blindfolded one. Run this exercise through the halls of your school, through a playground or on an obstacle course.

Before beginning, map out the path that you want the students to take and tape arrows indicating the route that the pairs have to follow. Make it difficult so that the blindfolded member really has to rely on his partner to avoid falling or bumping into things.

After the pairs complete the route, have the blindfolded children give the blindfolds to their guides and redo the course, backwards. 

When everybody has had a chance to be a leader and a follower, discuss the experience with the group. Consider these questions:

• Did the children prefer to be led or to lead?
• How did they feel being dependent on others for their safety?
• How did it feel having the responsibility for making sure their partners didn’t walk into a tree?
• What other situations might arise when we are asked to take care of people who need assistance?
• Are we generally eager to help out others or would we rather just be left alone?
• Conversely, are we too proud and reluctant to ask other people for help or do we realize that nobody is completely self-sufficient?

Activity #2

Note: to be done in a framework where students eat together.

Tape three tongue depressors together to create splints. You will need two splints for every child.

Gather the students and, using masking tape, fasten the splints to the inside elbow of each arm. The idea is to tape the arms so that the kids cannot bend their elbows. Do not explain to the students why you are doing this, just tape them up one at a time. (You might want to ask a couple of other staff members to assist you.) 

Send the class off to lunch. The kids will realize very quickly that they are unable to eat in the current situation.

When the meal is over (and your students are all covered in food) discuss their dining experience using these questions as triggers: 

• Why did some kids prefer to eat with their faces rather than ask another child for help?
• Did anybody feel a sense of power knowing that his neighbor could only eat lunch if he helped? Did that make the feeders act gently or impatiently?
• How did students feel having something as basic as eating taken out of their control, forcing them to rely on somebody else just to eat and drink?
• Most children depend on their parents or other adults to provide them with food, buy them clothes and keep the bathroom stocked with soap, toothpaste and toilet paper. Does this situation also make us feel dependent, or are we glad that people help us take care of some of our needs?  Is there a difference between somebody buying our food and somebody feeding it to us? 

Read the class the attached story which inspired this activity.