Another Innovative activities class has passed and this week, my group presented our quick activity to the class since one of our team mates was sick last week. Our quick activity involved three people on a team and each person was assigned a role. There would be one model, one person who is the clay, and another who is the artist. The artist must be blind folded while the model chooses a position to make such as one leg out, an arm in the air and the other on their hip. The artist must then feel the model, figure out all the details of the model’s position, then move onto the clay and try to mold them into the exact same position. The first team to do this and do it the most accurately is the winner. This activity was aimed towards only certain populations, not all. The main population we aimed it towards was children and youth at risk. It is a good activity to break the ice and allows people to step outside their comfort zones, work together with people, and have some fun. It teaches social skills and the message than despite any disability or obstacles one may face, they can still work through them to create something, have fun, and be an artist. It can also be modified and used with some physical disabilities such as moving and shaping arms or legs. It could be done slowly and be a good way to stretch for the participants and get some movement and flexibility. Some things to keep in mind were that it requires supervision, both so that the person blind folded does not run into anything or fall down, and so that guidance and supervision is present so people play the game appropriately.
After we facilitated our activity, we talked about activities that are inclusive so that everyone is involved and are not super competitive so that there are no true losers in the game. We used the example of red light green light where a leader yells either red light or green light. If he yells green light, the participants run forward. When he says red light, they stop in place. The goal is to be the first one to reach the leader, but no one loses or gets kicked out of the game. We also did an example where people make two “trains” and either move forward, backwards, switch the front and back participants, or close their eyes and go slow as they pass through the “tunnel.” Our teams brainstormed other games or activities that are inclusive, fun and no one feels left our or discouraged. My team thought of a game called fish and whales where people are divided into two teams. On one team the people are the fish, on the other side are the whales. There is one fisherman in the middle who calls out either fish or whales. If they call fish, all the fish have to run across to the other side of the room without getting tagged by the fisherman. If they are tagged, they become another fisherman in the middle and help the original fisherman tag people. The last person left becomes the new fisherman in the middle for the next game.
Next, we watched a clip from fashion run way where the contestants had to create an article of clothing out of supplies from Home Depot. We also talked about a popular activity at wedding showers which is to have a wedding dress making contest where you need to make a wedding dress on a model using only toilet paper. Our teacher then challenged us to discuss and come up with ideas of our own based on this idea from fashion run way. We were to first create some article of clothing using everyday material aimed towards our given population. My group’s population was geriatrics and we decided to have our population create hats out of saran wrap, aluminum foil, tissue paper and tape. We were inspired by the red hat ladies and the owners of our hat would also be part of a society where they create and wear their hats together at their outings. Next, we had to create variations of this main project and we chose to have our people make decorative pillows or quilts out of the same material. They would each create their own individual pattern or design out of the material and then they would all put them together to create a quilt of all their work. Finally, we did another variation that would be completely different from clothing or accessories and we chose to have them make flower arrangements and flower boxes.
This week’s class had us discuss and think about activities where people all felt a part of the activity and included. These activities were stimulating, yet not competitive enough where people “lose” or get kicked out of the game for not doing it correctly or in a fast enough matter. These activities create inclusion and get people working together. We also touched on being innovative and facilitating activities or crafts with people using something that isn’t seen every day. By working together and thinking outside the box, people can come together and enjoy recreation while learning valuable social and experimental skills.
A wedding shower I recently attended where we created a wedding dress out of toilet paper. How innovative!
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