Human Knot

Human Knot

OBJECTIVE: Students work together to untangle themselves from a “human knot” and end in one large circle without letting go of hands.

SETUP:

• Best for 8–20 students per group

• Open space where students can safely move

• Students stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a circle

HOW TO PLAY:

• Have students stand in a tight circle, facing inward.

• Everyone reaches their right hand into the middle and grabs a different person’s hand.

• Everyone reaches their left hand into the middle and grabs a different person’s hand (no grabbing the same person twice).

• Check that everyone is holding two different hands.

• On the instructor’s signal, students begin working together to untangle the knot.

• Students may:

  • Step over arms

  • Duck under arms

  • Turn and rotate

• Hands must stay connected the entire time.

• The game is complete when the group forms one big circle (or two smaller circles—both count!).

• Repeat 2-3 times with different combinations of students before moving on to the next game.