Description
Human Checkers is an icebreaker game that requires good communication and strategy to win. In this game, participants have to play checkers, but with themselves as the checker pieces.
Team Size
At least 16 participants, 2 groups
Materials Required
- A 7×8 checker board on the floor made with tape
- Masking Tape
- 5 marbles for each group
Time Required
About 15-20 minutes
Instructions
- The play area should be prepared by making a 7×8 board marked by the masking tape.
- Each group will be given 5 marbles. Participants can choose to allocate the marbles to different people or to let one person keep it. These marbles represent the groups’ lives.
- Participants are free to strategize their own plan and should not let the other group know who has the marbles.
- Then, 2 groups will be standing at their starting position (first 2 line of the board with alternate spaces between one another)
- Each side will have a turn. At each turn, only one player is allowed to move and only diagonally.
- If they meet diagonally and one side chooses to attack, they will play scissors paper stone. The loser will have to give up their marbles to the winning team (if they are in possession of marbles) and they are eliminated from of the game. i.e they have to leave the play board.
- Participants can choose to avoid the battle by not attacking if it is their turn.
- The objective is to see which group is the first to reach the opposite side with the most number of marbles.
- You may also choose to leave one person outside the game board to be the director of the ‘checkers’ pieces.
Debriefing Notes
- What was your strategy to win this game?
- (Optional) Who did you choose to stand outside the game board to direct the play? Why did you choose him?
- Did your strategy play out successfully? Or did you have to change your plans in the meantime?
- This is a game of strategy, teamwork and communication. Each team has to try to guess the opposing team’s strategy and try to outsmart them. This means a lot of adaptation in real time. This is a reflection of real life as well; in the field, many big decisions have to be made and adapted according to what is happening live.
- A leader must always be prepared, but also be prepared to change his/her plans when it is called for. Of course, there’s always the element of ‘luck’ (like in the scissors, papers, stones) that adds to the unpredictability… but how you choose to act and react in these situations shows your ability to be dynamic as a team.
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