Have students pair off. One at a time, each student tries to pull the other over a designated center line, exactly as in playground tug of war. Here, however, the rope is not visible but made out of “thin air” by using pantomime techniques and imagination. Encourage a cooperative rather than competitive atmosphere, where both partners work together to create the Illusion of a well-matched contest. Pairs can play simultaneously or one at a time as others observe and comment.
Describe: What was it like to play tug of war with an imaginary rope?
Analyze: How did you and your partner work together?
Relate: Why might we play this game?
“Feel the rope. How heavy is it?”
“Keep the rope between you!”
“Use your full body to pull—your back, your feet, and your legs!”
“Stay on the same rope!”
“Keep the rope in your hands and not in your head.”
After game has been played by several pairs, gradually add more students to both ends of the rope until the entire group is involved.
Viola Spolin