Yes, The Human Knot!

Advocacy Focus, East Early College High School

Date

Monday, October 16, 2017

Image

Background

Essential Question: How are we all connected?

Activity

(Discourse)

Task: Students will work together to untangle their human knot.

Procedure:

1. Clear a Space- make sure there is enough room for groups of 10 to stand comfortably in a circle (divide your family in three even groups-as even as possible).
2. Shoulder to Shoulder- make sure the students are standing shoulder to shoulder facing each other in the circle.
3. Reach Across- Direct participants to reach across the circle with one hand and shake hands with another person--then reach with the other hand and do the same with a new person.
4. Untangle- now, they must untangle themselves without letting go of their hands.
5. Time-Give the group up to 10 minutes.
6. If there is too much of a struggle, then allow the group ONE unclasp and reclasp of hands. (The group must discuss and decide which two hands will be unclasp or reclasp.
7. (If type permits, then create either one large group with the whole advocacy group or two groups) and repeat the steps.

Reflection and Discourse

Discuss:

1. Discuss the strategies they used- positive and negative.
2. Why were some groups more effective than others?
3. What did you like and dislike about the Human Know?
4. How does the Human Knot relate/or connect to group projects/or assignments?
5. What does it mean to collaborate effectively? What are the traits of an effective group? 

*Advice the students to bring any work/or assignments they are struggling with on Wednesday.