Magic Cane
- Line up in two rows which face each other.
- Introduce the Magic Cane- a long, thin, bamboo cane.
- Ask participants to point their index fingers and hold their arms out.
- Lay the cane down on their fingers.
Get the group to adjust their finger heights until the cane is
horizontal and everyone's index fingers are touching the stick.
- Explain that the challenge is to lower the cane to the ground.
- The rule: Each person's fingers must be in contact with the cane at all times. Pinching or grabbing is not permitted - it must rest on top of
fingers.
- Reiterate to the group that if anyone's finger is caught not touching the cane, the task will be restarted.
Delivery Notes
- Group need to correctly identify the problem. If you ask the participants they will usually identify the problem as getting the cane to the floor. This is a common mistake as this is the goal not the problem.
- Review the planning that took place.
- Review how the leader of the task was chosen. – What qualities were needed? Where was the person in the line? It should have been someone in the middle of the task so that everyone could see them.
Key Points from the review.
- They must correctly identify the problem.
- They must plan how they are going to solve the problems.
- They must decide who is best suited to mange the task.
- They must communicate clearly as a group.
Useful Tips .
- The collective pressure created by everyone's fingers tends to be greater than the weight of the bamboo cane. As a result, the more a group tries, the more the cane 'floats' upwards.
- To make the exercise more difficult, introduce a no talking rule or blindfold a participant.
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Equipment
- 1 thin, light-weight, 6-10ft bamboo cane (purchase from a garden store)
Summary
- Participants will be given a ‘magic cane’ which they must lower to the ground, using just their index fingers, making sure that they all remain in contact with it at all times.
Group Size
- 8 to 12 ideally, but can be done with 6 to 14
Time
Total time - 20 mins
- 5 minute briefing and set up
- 10-15 minutes to achieve outcome
- 5 minutes Review
Learning Targets
- Identifying the problem
- Selecting a leader to manage the task
- Active listening
- Communicate clearly
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