3 Series

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Practice split attention, tracking multiple incoming signals, and collective recovery under increasing cognitive load.

Use it when: Use as an energetic warm-up before collaborative problem solving, sprint planning, or team retrospectives where multi-channel communication is needed.

Skip it when: Skip when group members require physical rest, when sensory or auditory overload will cause distress, or when participants need a quiet, reflective check-in.

Group arrangement: Single whole-room circle of 6 to 16 people. Split groups larger than 16 into parallel circles.

Timing: UWT suggested 12-minute run time based on traditional 10 to 15-minute improv structures.

Materials and tools

• Whiteboard or flip chart and marker for category prompts (optional)

Before participants arrive

1. Clear floor space so all participants can stand in an open circle with unobstructed views of everyone else.

Say this to open

We are going to build and track multiple overlapping patterns around our circle. We will start with one category, map who passes to whom, and then add more series on top. Your job is to remember who sends to you and who you pass to next.

How to run it

1. Map first series 3 minutes

   State the first category (for example, fruits). Person A names an item, points to Person B across the circle, and keeps their arm extended. Person B names a different fruit, points to Person C, and keeps their arm extended. Continue until every participating person has received and passed the word once, with the final person pointing back to Person A to complete the closed loop. Everyone lowers their arms. Run this exact sequence twice, saying only the assigned words, until the order is smooth.

2. Map second series 3 minutes

   State a second category (for example, car brands). Follow the same pointing-and-holding method, but mandate that each person must pass to a completely different person than they did in the first series. The final recipient passes back to the person who started this series to close the loop. Drop arms once the full cycle is established. Run the second sequence twice until the order is clear.

3. Run two series simultaneously 3 minutes

   Instruct the circle to run both series at the same time without pointing arms. Person A begins the fruit series. Once the first word is passed, the starter for the car series begins the second sequence. If a word drops or two words arrive at one person at once, pause briefly, recover, and keep both loops circulating.

4. Add third series and debrief 3 minutes

   If the group manages two series smoothly, add a third category (for example, cities) following a third unique closed loop. Run all active series together for 1 minute. Stop the action and ask 1 or 2 debrief questions to the group.

Debrief questions

• What specific tactics helped you track your incoming word while holding your outgoing word?
• What happened to the group's flow when a word was delayed or dropped?
• How did you confirm the next person received your word once pointing was removed?

Finished output: Two to three distinct vocal cycles completed concurrently by participating members across the circle without pointing.

Remote

Use gallery view on a video call. Because pointing does not translate across varying screen layouts, participants call out the recipient's name before their item (for example, 'Alex, Banana'). The facilitator posts the sequence of names in chat if recovery is needed. Run the simultaneous stage by having participants unmute and speak clearly into their microphones.

Hybrid

Seat room participants facing the room camera so remote members are visible on a large display. In-person participants call out remote participants by name rather than pointing into space. Remote participants verbally pass by naming an in-person or remote partner. Run both tracks simultaneously with open microphones and room speakers.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may sit instead of stand.
• Participants may pass by nodding or raising a hand instead of extending an arm.
• Anyone may opt out of speaking and serve as a tracker who monitors dropped loops and signals restarts.

If the session gets stuck

Two sequences arrive at one person at the exact same moment.

Instruct that person to deliver the first word they received, then immediately speak the second word without restarting the entire game.

Someone forgets who they are supposed to pass to.

Pause the active loops, ask the person who originally passed to them to raise a hand, confirm the receiver, and restart the flow from that point.

Terms used here

• Series: A set sequence of category words passed from person to person in a fixed, closed loop until it returns to the starter.