Spatial Requirements: Regular classroom setup: little or no space required
Activity Type: Movement/group
Grades: K-12
Group Size: 8 or more
Time: 20 minutes

Introduction: Staying on the right track involves taking control of our choices, ensuring that they are not left to chance or the influence of others.  This activity illustrates the frustration that can often arise when we don’t take control of our own lives.

Materials:

• 1 penny per person
• 1 “Lincoln’s Choice Challenge” maze per student (These can be found at the link above.)
• Prize (optional)
  
  

Activity:  

Give each student a “Lincoln’s Choice Challenge” maze.  Tell students that to get through the maze, they must flip a coin that will determine their course.  At each point in the maze where there is a choice to make, the students will flip the coin.  If the coin reads “heads,” they will go right.  If it reads “tails,” they will go left.  If they reach a dead end, they can start over. If any student is lucky enough to finish the maze, you may award him/her a prize. 

Processing the Experience:

• What was difficult about this race?  What was easy?
• What would have made this race easier?
• If you could have, would you have chosen differently than the coin?
• How did you feel when the coin made a choice different from what you would have chosen?
• Is leaving choices up to chance a good idea? Why or why not?
• How does being in control of your choices lead to more opportunity, freedom and self-respect? How does it keep you on the right track? How does it help you reach your goals?