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Game Play
Objective: Braid together various length pieces to bond them together into a singular piece.
Set Up:
- Layout all the different materials available by similarity in length.
- This will require some time spent foraging and harvesting the different materials
Game:
- Gather the group and ask them to select a variety of lengths that matches your metaphor.
- Instruct them on how to braid all the pieces together.
- I would start with a basic three-strand braid, and as you reach the end of one length pair it with a new piece to be incorporated in its place.
- Feel free to add accent/ color pieces as you go or after you’ve finished the main structure.
- To finish them you can braid them into a circle or leave it as a long piece of braided branches, etc.
| Additions & Alternatives: |
| – Collect flowers, bright green shoots, pine needles, or anything else that can add color and pizazz to your braid!
– As you build knowledge of braiding try more complex patterns. – You could also use weaving techniques with warp “threads” and create a two dimensional rectangle. |
Transfer of Learning
This activity can be fun and informative about the history of different patterns and the usage of weaving to build baskets. It also has good potential for a metaphor as each piece of material can represent something unique. For example, if you have three different length pieces then each length is a different size goal. So, lets say they choose 3 short, 2 medium, and 3 long pieces. The participant would assign a specific goal to each piece, matching the size of the goal with the length of the piece. they would then braided it into a circle creating their circle of goals. Each singular goal/ length piece is supporting it neighbors and is in turn held together by the others. This is just one way you can add a metaphor to the activity. There are plenty of ways you can alter the activity to increase the depth of the group’s discussion. Regardless of whether this is deep and meaningful or lighthearted and fun, the participants get to learn a new skill and practice existing ones.
