Map Making

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Coordinate spatial boundaries and scale collaboratively using flexible physical materials.

Use it when: Use when an intact group needs an active physical coordination exercise in a large open space.

Skip it when: Skip when open floor space is unavailable or when kneeling, bending, and physical floor work present barriers.

Group arrangement: Run as one whole group for 4 to 9 participants. For 10 to 24 participants, split into separate working groups of 4 to 8 people.

Timing: Playmeo sources suggest 10 to 15 minutes. This run sheet uses a 15-minute schedule.

Materials and tools

• 4 to 8 long lengths of rope or tubular webbing (3 to 5 meters each) per working group
• 1 countdown timer
• 1 roll of painter tape for optional anchor points

Before participants arrive

1. Clear a flat floor space of at least 4 by 4 meters for each working group.
2. Coil or bundle the rope lengths and place one set in each cleared area.

Say this to open

Today we will construct a map on the floor from memory using lengths of rope. Your goal is to lay these ropes down to form a recognizable map of the world. No phones or reference maps are allowed. You will have eight minutes to place your lines.

How to run it

1. Introduce challenge and assign areas 2 minutes

   Deliver the opening script. Announce the target geography, such as the world map. If the group has 10 or more participants, divide them into groups of 4 to 8 and send each group to a designated floor area with a rope bundle.

2. Lay the floor map 8 minutes

   Start the timer for 8 minutes. Working groups lay, loop, and adjust ropes to form coastlines, borders, and major landmasses. Participants determine orientation, scale, and placement together. Call out reminders at the 4-minute and 1-minute marks.

3. Inspect the layouts 2 minutes

   Stop the timer. Invite all participants to stand back and view their layout from different angles. If running multiple groups, give everyone 1 minute to walk over and view the other groups' completed maps.

4. Debrief team coordination 3 minutes

   Lead a brief whole-room reflection using the debrief questions. Take two or three responses from volunteers before wrapping up.

Debrief questions

• Where did your group place the first rope, and how did that decision set your scale?
• How did you resolve disagreements about the size or location of specific areas?
• What coordination role did you take while placing or adjusting the materials?

Finished output: A completed two-dimensional rope map on the floor representing the chosen geography.

Remote

This physical exercise relies directly on handling tactile ropes across an open floor and cannot be replicated online without becoming an entirely different activity. For an online line-drawing alternative, consider an exercise where teams co-draw shapes on a shared vector canvas.

Hybrid

Hybrid operation is not recommended because the defining mechanic requires tactile manipulation on a shared floor. If remote members must participate, assign them as aerial directors who view the floor via an overhead or high-angle video camera and give verbal adjustments on scale while in-person participants position the rope.

Access and participation choices

• Participants who avoid bending or floor work can stand as scale directors, call out proportions, or manage rope distribution.
• Anyone may choose to observe the construction without offering a reason.

If the session gets stuck

A group exhausts their rope before finishing primary borders.

Remind participants that ropes can represent open outlines or central markers rather than full closed perimeters.

One vocal participant directs all rope placement while others stand by.

Prompt the team to assign specific landmasses or regions to individual members.

Terms used here

• Tubular webbing: Flat, hollow woven nylon strap common in climbing and outdoor pursuits that rests flat on the floor.