Cindy Dang

LEI 4724
Activity Portfolio
Activity Portfolio
Activity: Stories out of the Hat
Source: Denise Schwind of Centre for Neuro Skills on January 23, 2004
Equipment: Hat or bowl, and strips of construction with descriptive questions
Size: 4+
Objective: stimulate memory, allow staff to see clients as "real people" encourage
communication, sharing and trust within group.
Description: prior to session group leader will write out memory stimulating
questions and/or phrases on the strips of paper, fold paper in half and place in
hat/bowl.
Questions will reflect group objectives for session. For example, favorite memory of
mom? Favorite book or movie, Why? Favorite season what is your favorite thing to
do? Who were you closest to growing up? Best friend story, first drive in date, each
client/staff chose a slip from the hat. Tell their story and pass the hat on.
Leadership Considerations:
1.) When running this activity with a new group, the facilitator can join in on the
game to lead and demonstrate the activity for the rest of the participants to follow.
This will also help the facilitator and the clients gain a sense of comfort as well.
2.) This activity should be played in an open area to allow participants to run freely.
Outdoors (i.e. park, yard) would be an ideal location to run the activity, but it can
also be played indoors (i.e. gym) to avoid injuries for those participants who need
further modification (i.e. physical disability).
3.) When working with participants with ADHD, your goal is to increase their level of
motor skills. Therefore, you can consider having the participants link arms instead
of holding hands. This will allow them better support in keeping balance and
coordination while playing.
Also, participants with motor dyspraxia can benefit from this activity as it will help
them with motor planning. It would be ideal to allow those participants to walk
instead of run in order to improve walking, and practice walking well among others.

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