Fun with Character: Simon Says

For this activity, ask your students to perform each of the following tasks:

Simon Says, “Snap your fingers.” Simon Says, “Notice which finger, second or third, you snapped with.”  Simon Says, “Snap your fingers using the other finger.”

Simon Says, “Fold your hands together, interlocking your fingers.” Simon Says, “Notice which thumb, right or left, is on top.” Simon Says, “Fold your hands together but switch thumbs.”

Simon Says, “Cross your arms on your chest.” Simon Says, “Notice which arm is on top right or left.” Simon Says, “Cross your arms but switch arms.”

Simon Says, “Cross your legs above the knee.” Simon Says, “Notice which leg is on top, right or left.” Simon Says, “Cross your legs but switch legs.”

To process the activity, ask these or similar questions:

• Was it fun to play Simon Says?

• Was it difficult to switch positions?

• Have you ever thought about it before?

• Is there a right and wrong way to do each of these things? ( there is no right or wrong way to perform any of these tasks, and the positioning of right or left has no relationship to being right-handed or left-handed.)

• Why do you think one way is comfortable and the other is not? (The reason that one way feels normal and the other doesn’t is a result of habit. The activity that is controlled by habit seems to come naturally.)

• What kind of habits can help you be thorough?