Teachers and educators (primary and secondary), adaptable for students aged 10+

• To develop spatial and strategic awareness as a group

• To reflect on decision-making, self-regulation, and collaboration

• To observe how individual actions affect collective success

• To encourage non-verbal communication and mutual responsibility

• Here and Now: Fully engaging with the dynamic situation in real time

• Self-awareness: Observing one’s impulses, reactions, and behavioral patterns

• Personal Responsibility: Recognizing the impact of each individual’s choices

• Contact Boundaries: Navigating proximity and interaction without physical interference

• One chair per participant

• Open indoor or outdoor space

• Optional: hat, scarf, or symbolic item for the “monkey” role

30–40 minutes (10 min setup & explanation, 15–20 min gameplay, 10 min reflection)

Setup:

Each participant places their chair anywhere in the space—random, not in a circle or neat layout. Chairs must not be moved once placed.

Rules: If you leave your chair, you cannot immediately return to it.

Do not touch, block, or interfere with the “monkey.” If anyone moves their chair, the group automatically loses the round.

The Monkey's Role: One person plays the “monkey” who slowly and persistently moves toward any empty chair. Each time a participant stands and leaves a chair empty, the old man may head toward it. The old man must move slowly and visibly, embodying time, challenge, or pressure.

Victory Condition: The group wins if they can keep the old man from sitting in any chair for 60 continuous seconds while fully respecting the rules.

Preparation: Participants have 2 minutes to strategize as a group before starting. Facilitator can run multiple rounds to reflect how strategies evolve.

• Modify movement rules for accessibility (e.g., smaller range of motion or visual signals).

• Add a rule: no verbal communication during round 2.

• Rotate the “monkey” role to allow everyone a different perspective.

Strengthened group coordination and creative problem-solving. Deeper insight into how one’s actions affect collective success. Fun and meaningful exploration of impulse control and social behavior. Enhanced teamwork through a shared symbolic challenge

The monkey can symbolize pressure, time, resistance to change, or leadership. Frame the challenge metaphorically: How do we deal with stress or avoid collapse as a team? This activity becomes a mirror for personal and group dynamics—lighthearted, yet rich with insight.