Tapestry of Faith: Love Connects Us: A Program on Living in Unitarian Universalist Covenant for Grades 4-5

Activity 1: Turning Circle Inside-Out

Activity time: 10 minutes

Preparation for Activity

  • Make sure you have an open space large enough for all participants to stand in a circle with their arms outstretched.

Description of Activity

Have participants stand in a circle, facing inward and holding the hands of the participants on either side of them. Invite them to close their eyes if they are comfortable doing so. Challenge the group to "turn the circle inside out" so everyone is facing in the opposite direction (the outside of the circle), without letting go of anyone's hands. Tell the group they will need to work together cooperatively to accomplish this task.

Give the group a few minutes to discover the solution: Two people need to raise their hands in the air and the rest of the group follows through their "opening" like a train, which will turn everyone around to face the other direction.

After the group has solved the puzzle, encourage them to reflect on the experience with questions such as:

  • How did you finally figure out the solution for this activity?
  • Did everyone work together cooperatively, or were individuals trying to solve the problem on their own?
  • If you closed your eyes, how did it feel to have your eyes closed during this process?
  • Did you have to let go of anything in order to make this happen such as your skepticism, anxiety, or a wish to solve it yourself?

Including All Participants

Children with balance or mobility issues could participate by sitting in a chair or wheelchair and having other children maneuver around them. This game does involve close physical contact, and children who are uncomfortable being touched may wish to opt out.