Purpose:

To demonstrate how being distracted while driving can be dangerous.

Materials:

Enough for each team

1-  11” Balloons, blown up and tied in a knot.

1-  XL Men’s Button Down Dress shirt.

1-  Empty Box taped shut

Objective:

To be the first team to successfully complete the obstacle course without letting the balloon drop to the floor.

Procedures:

1. Divide into small- medium teams (4-8).

2. Mark off a portion of space available for each team to form a line and walk forward about 25 feet.

3. There are three races to this competition. The first involves simply keeping the balloon in the air while walking down the course. The second involves keeping the balloon in the air while putting on the men’s dress shirt and walking the course. The third involves keeping the balloon in the air, putting on the men’s dress shirt, and avoiding the empty boxes.

4. Begin the first race by explaining the course and that each member of the group must go to the end of the course while keeping the balloon in the air.  Allow students to race.

5. Begin the second race by introducing the unbuttoned men’s dress shirt. Explain that each member of the team must put on the dress shirt, button it completely, and keep the balloon in the air while walking to the end of the obstacle course. When they get back to the next person they must unbutton the shirt and hand off the balloon and the shirt to the next person while keeping the balloon in the air. They may not assist the other members of their group.

6. Begin the third race by introducing the empty boxes. Explain that each member of the group must put on and button the men’s shirt while keeping the balloon in the air and avoiding the boxes. The race continues like the first two.

7. The winner is the team that successfully completes the most obstacle course without letting the balloon drop to the floor.

Discussion: