Spatial Requirements: Classroom with moderate space required
Activity Type: Movement/group
Grades: 1-12
Group Size: 10 or more
Time: 10-15 minutes

Introduction: In order to be successful in life, we need to make positive connections with others.  To be successful in this activity, the entire group must be interconnected and work as a team.

Materials:

• Timer
• 30-foot rope or string or masking tape

Activity:

To prepare, place the rope/masking tape in a small enough circle that participants will be tightly packed inside.

Tell the participants that their group has shipwrecked and they have been floating for days in a disintegrating raft in shark-infested waters.  They are desperately trying to make it to a small island (the tape/rope area) before the raft sinks. The passengers have grown very close and don’t want to sacrifice anyone as shark bait.

Participants need to get on the island with all feet and hands inside the rope/tape for 30 seconds. If a foot or hand touches the floor outside the island, the group must start over.

Give the group a few minutes to plan, but don’t allow them to start the activity until you tell them to begin. 

Give the group three minutes to implement the plan and get on the island before the tide comes in.  Check the island for stray fingers and toes outside the tape/rope before beginning the 30-second countdown.

After a successful attempt, tell them, “The tide has come in and the island is a little bit smaller.” Adjust the tape/rope so that the island will be more challenging but not impossible. Repeat the same process one more time.

Processing the Experience:

• What were some of the roles that people played on the island?
• What was your role?
• What sacrifices were you willing to make for the people on the island?
• What sacrifices did they make for you?
• What people make sacrifices for you in real life?
• What are the sacrifices that people make for you?
• What kind of connections do you have with people that really care about you?
• What other connections could you make to help you be more successful?