Follow the Leader Circle Warm-Up

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Track visual cues and rapid non-verbal imitation through direct observation.

Use it when: Use as a brisk physical warm-up before collaborative tasks to sharpen visual attention.

Skip it when: Skip when participants need seated quiet focus or when room space prevents forming an open circle.

Group arrangement: Whole group in a single circle with one center guesser.

Timing: UWT suggested duration for two full rounds and debrief.

Materials and tools

• Clear floor space large enough for the full group circle
• Video conferencing platform with gallery view and private chat (remote or hybrid)
• One camera-enabled device per remote participant (remote or hybrid)
• Shared room display monitor and room microphone (hybrid only)

Before participants arrive

1. Clear enough floor space so the full group can stand or sit in an open circle with unobstructed sightlines to the center.
2. Designate a spot facing away from the circle or just outside the room door where the guesser will wait.

Say this to open

Please form a circle. One person will volunteer as our guesser and step to our designated spot facing away from the group with eyes closed. While their back is turned, I will silently point to one person to be the leader. That leader starts a simple repeated gesture, like clapping or tapping knees, and everyone mirrors it immediately. When the guesser enters the center, keep mirroring as the leader changes moves. The guesser gets up to four guesses to identify who starts the changes.

How to run it

1. Form circle and assign first roles 2 minutes

   Assemble everyone in a circle. Ask for one volunteer to serve as the guesser. Have the guesser close their eyes and face away from the circle at the designated wall or outside the doorway. Confirm the guesser cannot see the group. Silently point to one participant in the circle to be the movement leader. The leader nods quietly to confirm acceptance.

2. Run round one 3 minutes

   The leader starts an initial repeated upper-body movement, such as gentle shoulder rolls or knee taps. The circle mirrors it at once. Call the guesser into the center of the circle to open their eyes. The leader changes movements every few seconds. Circle members follow using peripheral vision without staring directly at the leader. The guesser calls out up to four guesses to name the leader. The round ends when the guesser spots the leader or exhausts four guesses.

3. Run round two 3 minutes

   Ask a new volunteer to act as the guesser. Have them face away from the group with eyes closed. Confirm they cannot see, then silently point to a different leader. The new leader starts a fresh motion, the circle mirrors it, and the guesser enters the center. Run the guessing phase until the leader is found or four guesses are spent.

4. Debrief observation strategies 2 minutes

   Keep everyone in the circle. Ask the debrief questions to the room. Hear two or three brief answers from volunteers before concluding.

Debrief questions

• What visual cues helped you notice when a movement changed?
• How did followers keep track of changes without staring directly at the leader?

Finished output: Completion of two rounds of physical movement deduction.

Remote

All participants keep cameras on in gallery view. The chosen guesser turns off their camera and mutes their audio. The facilitator sends a private text chat to one participant naming them as the leader. The leader begins a clear upper-body movement on camera, and everyone mirrors it immediately. The facilitator texts the guesser to turn their camera and audio back on. The guesser examines the gallery grid and speaks up to four guesses aloud or in chat to name the leader.

Hybrid

Arrange in-person participants in a semi-circle facing the shared room display showing remote attendees. The guesser stands in the middle where both the room and the screen are visible. The guesser turns their back with eyes closed. The facilitator sends a private chat to pick a remote leader or silently taps the shoulder of an in-person leader. Once the chosen leader starts the gesture and the group mirrors across both spaces, the guesser turns back and makes up to four guesses.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may sit in chairs within the circle and use seated arm, hand, head, or torso movements.
• Anyone may choose to stay in the circle purely as a follower without taking the center guesser or secret leader roles.

If the session gets stuck

Participants stare directly at the leader, giving away the leader immediately.

Remind everyone to look slightly across or out of the circle and track changes using peripheral vision.

The leader keeps the same movement the entire round, giving no deduction cues.

Say aloud to the room: Leader, introduce a new movement now.

Terms used here

• Peripheral vision: Seeing movement outside the direct line of sight without turning the head.