Blindfolded Egg Carry

Overview:
In this activity, pairs of participants will work together to transport a raw egg on a spoon.

Resources:

• One spoon per participant pair
• One egg per participant pair
• One blindfold per participant pair
• Materials to create an obstacle course – string, rope, PVC pipes, chairs, etc.

Space Required: Can be indoors or outdoors.  But, if you run it indoors either boil the eggs or put down something to cover the carpeting/floor.

Group Size:  Flexible.  You can have small groups of 2 or run it with larger teams in sub groups.

Total Time: 20 minutes

• 2 minutes to describe the activity
• 3 minutes planning time
• 10 minutes for implementation
• 5 minutes to debrief

Prerequisite: None

Set Up

• Give each pair of participants: one egg (better if it’s raw), one spoon, one blindfold.
• Create an obstacle course.  Use whatever materials you have including trees, chairs, ropes.  Make sure it is safe for a blindfolded person.
• Create a start and end line.

Running the Activity

• Objective:  For each pair of participants to traverse the obstacle course with a raw egg on a spoon.  One person will be blindfolded holding the egg and the other will be guiding them.
• The blindfolded person is the only person who can transport the egg.  They can only touch the spoon.
• The guide can only give information and cannot touch the spoon, egg or the person transporting it except at the start line.
• To make the channel more difficult, have the blindfolded person also wear heavy gloves.
• If the egg is dropped it can be messy.  You can also hard boil the eggs if you are concerned about participants dropping raw egg onto their shoes or the flooring.
• If you have larger teams…break them into pairs.  Or, run this as a small group competitive activity.
• When the pairs maneuver their way to the end of the obstacle course, have an ending bucket or plate and have the sighted person lower into the bucket.

Suggested Learning Outcomes

• Communication
• Planning
• Risk Awareness
• Strategy
• Engagement

Activity Guidance and Notes
This activity can heighten the need to pay attention while slowing the pace.  It works well to focus participants as the need to take care of the person being guided, and the raw egg being carried, can split attention. It is also worth examining how much pressure each person feels in their role.  The “carrier” may feel unsure but pressured.  Create an obstacle course that challenges the pairs, but that is safe. Make sure there are no holes or rocks along the path.  Also, look for overhead obstructions (low hanging tree branches).

Review
Suggested questions to ask:

• Why did you choose the role you assumed?
• Did you plan?  What was included and how effective was it during the implementation period?
• How did the risk of dropping a raw egg affect your speed?  Would it be different if the egg had been hard boiled?
• As the guide, were you more concerned about the “carrier’s” safety or the egg’s safety?  What were some of the actions that you took to ensure both?
• How do you manage the need for safety and everyday distractions that make it more difficult?