| Title: |
A coffee break in the dark |
| Summary: |
In this activity participants experience eating in the dark, but in a shorter time than the one required for a dinner (which is usually longer). Participants will try to use the sense of flavour to recognize different ingredients and food. However, they will experience all their senses in a darkened environment and situation, except the sense of sight. |
| Objectives: |
Experience eating in the dark; Use all the senses except the sense of sight. |
| Materials / Equipment needed: |
A completely darkened room. Use black cardboards, black plastic bags and black tape to obscure the room. Before the activity takes place, make sure that the room is completely darkened. Ask to a sighted person to stay at least 5 minutes in the room to check if it has been completely darkened. 5 minutes are necessary because, after some minutes, the eyes get used and if there is even a little light, the person can see something.
Set some tables and chairs in the room and all the necessary to prepare a lovely coffee break (coffee, tea, sugar, biscuits, cakes, fruit juice, etc). If you like, you can also have a relaxing background with some soft music (e.g. a piano in the background). |
| Group size: |
6-8 people |
| Duration: |
40 minutes |
| Step-by-step instructions: |
It is better to perform this activity with more than one Vi facilitator and, if possible, it would be great if there are sighted participants/assistants outside the darkened room to support the smooth implementation of the activity.
After having prepared the room and the coffeebreak, explain the activity to the participants and point out that, if they have any problem/difficulty when they are in the room they must call the Vi facilitator (no leave the room alone, but inform and ask for the help of the Vi person). This is very important for their safety. Also, point out that, for the effectiveness of the activity it is important not to use any watch or mobile phone in the room (they make lights).
Now, after the explanations, you are ready to help the participants entering the room. You can help them entering the room one by one, or in small groups (max 3 People).
The vi facilitator helps them to have a seat in front of a table.
When all participants have taken their seat, the Vi facilitator can start serving.
If there are more facilitators, one of them (or more) can serve the coffeee and another can entertain the group of participants.
At the end of the coffeebreak, the Vi facilitator brings some candles in the room, to make participants used again to the light.
The activity ends with a debriefing held by the facilitator via some questions for reflection e.g. the ones of the “Reflection / Evaluation questions” section. |
| Reflection and evaluation questions: |
To conclude the activity the facilitator asks participants to share their impressions, thoughts and feelings. Some questions might be: What did you find difficult? How did you feel? What did you learn/find out? How did you feel while eating in the dark? Could you recognize what you were eating? How much time do you think you spent in the room? How was to interact with other guests in the dark? What did you feel? |
| Possible risk factors: |
Facilitator must know in advance eventual food allergies, intolerances or celiac disease in order to avoid a specific food.
If this game is performed in a school, facilitator must know in advance if he/she is allowed to bring food from outside.
Facilitator must also be aware of the fact that some People might be anxious or might panic due to the dark. Be prepared to support them (also emotionally) and bring them out of the room in case they don’t feel comfortable. Try to help them relaxing in order to enter again the darkened room, if they wish to try again the experience. |
| Variations: |
N/A
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| Tags: |
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