Participatory Methods

Human Line

Human Line is a participatory activity where participants must line up according to specific criteria, such as their birth date, time at the company, experience in a certain field, or any other relevant category. This quick and fun activity promotes group cooperation, problem-solving, and getting to know each other, making it an ideal energizer.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Encourage group cooperation and problem-solving.
    • Help participants get to know each other through an interactive exercise.
    • Break the ice and create a dynamic, collaborative environment.
  2. Set up the space:
    • Choose a spacious area where participants can move freely to form a line.
  3. Choose the criterion:
    • Decide on a criterion based on the activity’s goal, such as birthday, seniority, etc.
  4. To run the activity virtually:
    • Use collaborative platforms to create a space where participants can place virtual cards representing their position in the line.
    • Ask participants to interact via chat or use annotation tools to determine the correct order.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduce the activity:
    • Tell participants they will form a line based on a specific criterion you provide.
    • Mention whether they will do this silently (for added challenge) or with verbal communication.
  2. Set the criterion:
    • Select a relevant criterion, such as birth date, work experience, etc.
    • Clearly communicate the criterion before they begin moving.
  3. Form the line:
    • Ask participants to move around the space to form the line in the correct order.
    • If the line is incorrect, they can reorganize until it’s correct.
  4. Reflection:
    • Review the final line and discuss how they organized themselves.
    • Invite comments about the process, such as challenges faced and strategies used.
Recommendations
  • Choose a clear criterion: Make sure all participants understand the criterion before starting.
  • Add challenges: To make it more engaging, set a time limit or prohibit verbal communication.
  • Adapt the space: Ensure the area is spacious enough to accommodate the group comfortably.
  • Encourage reflection: Ask participants to discuss how they organized themselves and what strategies they used.
  • Include variations: Change the criterion in additional rounds to keep the activity dynamic and engaging.
Inspiration

Useful variations for “Human Line”

  • Line up by month and day of birth.
  • Organize by length of time at the company.
  • Line up according to the number of languages spoken.
  • Form a line based on the distance they live from the workplace.
  • Line up by experience in a specific area (e.g., leadership, technology).
  • Form the line by family size (number of siblings, children, etc.).
  • Line up by number of years of education completed.
  • Organize by number of countries visited.
  • Form the line based on time spent in the organization.
  • Line up by current energy level (from lowest to highest).
  • Organize by the number of pets owned.
  • Form the line based on years of experience in their industry.
  • Line up by the month they started their current job.
  • Organize by number of books read last year.
  • Form the line by the first letter of their first name.
  • Line up according to eye color (from darkest to lightest).
  • Organize by how long they’ve practiced a specific sport or activity.
  • Form the line by height (from shortest to tallest).
  • Line up by the number of languages they would like to learn.
  • Organize by how long it took them to get to the event location.
Materials
  • Spacious area
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of Human Line is to foster group cooperation, problem-solving, and mutual understanding among participants in a dynamic and entertaining way. It also serves as an effective energizer in group activities.
Type of activity
Participatory InteractionParticipatory Learning
Level of participation
Collaboration, Knowledge generation, Exchange of perspectives
Target audience
Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Conflict resolution, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
5 minutes.
Ideal number of participants
10-20 people.
Topics related to this activity
Active CollaborationActive LearningActive ListeningCollective ConstructionCreative Problem SolvingGroup EnergizerGroup IdentityGroup RecognitionGroup StrengtheningIcebreaker ActivityInclusive ParticipationKnowledge GenerationTeam-Building ActivitiesTeamwork
Other activities that might interest you
Share this activity