Top Monkey

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Re-energize a group and practice physical responsiveness under rapid verbal cues.

Use it when: Use during an afternoon energy drop or between intense desk-bound sessions when participants need quick physical movement.

Skip it when: Skip when the physical space is cramped, when sudden turning creates tripping hazards, or when the group needs quiet focus.

Group arrangement: Whole group facing away from a central caller

Timing: UWT suggested 10 minutes based on source 5 to 15 minute band

Materials and tools

• Clear open floor space with level footing
• Dedicated facilitator webcam and display screen (for hybrid only)
• One webcam-enabled device per participant (for remote or hybrid only)

Before participants arrive

1. Move chairs and bags against walls to clear an open floor where everyone can turn around safely without colliding.

Say this to open

Let us stand up and shake out our focus. In this game, the lead caller is called the Top Monkey, and I will take that role first. We have three animal poses: Raccoon, Crocodile, and Giraffe. When I call 'TOP MONKEY', freeze motionless. When I call 'NOT A MONKEY', turn to face me and commit to one animal pose. If your pose matches mine, you survive to the next round.

How to run it

1. Learn the three poses 2 minutes

   Demonstrate the three physical gestures and have everyone practice each one together: Raccoon (circle thumb and pointer fingers around both eyes like goggles), Crocodile (extend straight arms in front and clap palms vertically), and Giraffe (reach both arms overhead with hands clasped, bending slightly forward).

2. Practice face-to-face trial 2 minutes

   Keep everyone facing you for a practice round without eliminations. Call 'TOP MONKEY' so players practice freezing completely. Then call 'NOT A MONKEY' while simultaneously striking one animal pose. Confirm everyone understands that players must choose a pose instantly rather than waiting to copy what you show.

3. Run elimination rounds 4 minutes

   Have all players turn their backs to you. Call either 'TOP MONKEY' (players remain frozen facing away) or 'NOT A MONKEY'. On 'NOT A MONKEY', strike a pose yourself; players simultaneously turn 180 degrees and snap into their chosen pose. Anyone moving on 'TOP MONKEY', or choosing a different pose than yours on 'NOT A MONKEY', steps to the sideline to act as an observer judge. Continue until 1 player remains, or until the 4 minutes elapse.

4. Rotate caller or reflect 2 minutes

   If a single winner emerged with time remaining, invite them to take the role of Top Monkey for a rapid final round. Otherwise, gather everyone back and take two or three brief observations on how split-second commitment felt.

Debrief questions

• What guided your choice when you had to commit to an animal pose without looking?
• How did your body react between the sudden urge to freeze and the command to turn?

Finished output: A final surviving participant identified through matching rounds, or full group completion of the movement cycle.

Remote

Run in gallery view with all webcams active. Participants physically turn their chairs or bodies away from their screens. On 'NOT A MONKEY', everyone turns back to the camera with their chosen gesture. Sidelined players keep webcams on and help monitor the gallery grid as line judges.

Hybrid

In-person players stand facing away from the facilitator while remote participants turn away from their webcams. A dedicated webcam faces the facilitator so remote participants can see the caller's gesture when turning around. Sidelined participants in both settings serve as co-judges.

Access and participation choices

• Seated participants can turn their upper body or simply hold hands up into the chosen animal pose without standing or spinning.
• Anyone choosing not to jump or spin can serve immediately as a line judge to spot movement during freeze calls.

If the session gets stuck

Participants hesitate and copy the caller's pose after seeing it.

Enforce that players must strike their pose as they complete their turn, not after looking; treat delayed poses as eliminated.

Eliminated players feel disengaged while waiting for the round to end.

Assign eliminated participants active roles as spotters who call out anyone twitching during 'TOP MONKEY' freezes.

Terms used here

• Top Monkey: The lead caller whose secret gesture players attempt to match.