Activity Title 1: Lets Fish!

Source:
Hammer, G. (2003, January 20). Quiet Small Group Games. Retrieved November 22,
2015, from http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txgmpsv.htm
Equipment: fish shapes cut from construction paper, magnets (with sticky), paper clips,
yarn, dowel rods and fish crackers (prize).
Description of Activity:
This activity requires some preparing before actually performing the activity with
participants. The therapist will have to get construction and outline multiple of fish. Once
the fish have been out lined then the therapist will cut out the fish out. After he/she has
cut out the fish shapes, they will place a magnet on the backside of each fish. Now they
therapist will make rods for the participants by attaching the yarn to the dowel rod,
which is the pole and the paper clip. The paper clip is the hook of the rod and it is what
the magnets will attach to while playing the game.
On the day of the activity the therapist will have the group of participants sit in a
circle and the therapist will place the fish on the floor in the middle and pass out the rods
to each participant. They will explain to participants that they are going to go fishing!
The therapist will demonstrate to the participants how the rod works with the fish. The
therapist will count to three and everyone will start "fishing". If the group consists of too
many people, have them pair up and then one person will fish and the other person helps
take the fish off the hook. The game will continue for several rounds before the "master
fisherman" receives his/her prize, which is a small bag of gold fish crackers. Once the
winner has been announced and received their prize then the therapist will ask
participants to sit in a circle. The therapist will begin a discussion asking participants if
they enjoyed the activity. Once everyone has answered the question, the therapist will
discuss with participants what they found the most challenging from the activity.
Leadership considerations:
This activity is very beneficial for many different participants. The activity helps
increase hand/eye coordination, socialization, group interaction in a competitive
situation and physical activity over all. The activity is best performed in small groups but
adjustments can be made if there is a large group, as mentioned before in the description
of the activity. The activity is best performed in an indoor setting to avoid any incident of
probably wind blowing on the yarn or blowing the fish away. The therapist will prepare all
materials before beginning the activity in advance. When the activity day comes, the
therapist will moderate the activity and explain to the participants what they will be
doing with the rods and fish on the floor. The therapist will hand each participant a rod
and then supervise as each participant attempts to catch the most fish. After the
participants had multiple rounds, the therapist will award the participant with the most
fish some fish crackers. The therapist will now become a moderator again and ask
participants to go back to a circle and review the activity with the participants. The
discussion will be lead by the therapist and they will ask questions based on the
participants needs and interests The biggest safety hazard during this activity is the usage
of the rod. It is to be advised to participants that the rod is only to be used to fish. It will

not be used to fool around because the rod can hurt someone if it used incorrectly. The
paper clip can also cut someone if used incorrectly.

Adaptations:
*Participants with Vision Loss:
Vision loss is referred vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact
lenses, so this mean that they cannot see anything and do not see light (Blindness and
Vision Loss, 2014). To help participants play this game the therapist can provide an
orientation of the area where the game is going to be played. The therapist will explain
where the circle of the fish is and where they rods are to be swung. Describing the
location of distinctive landmarks will help participants locate other areas, such as
restrooms, water fountains and emergency exits (Datillo, 2012). The fishes should be
enlarged so the chances of getting a fish are greater and the therapist can possibly
move the fish closer to the participants (Eye-Vision Loss, 2014). The therapist can also
pair up participants, one participant with vision loss and the other participant with normal
vision. So the participant with vision will guide the other participant with vision loss in the
direction to swing the rod. This kind of teamwork is known as sighted guiding. Using
sighted guide promotes social interaction and increase self-esteem of visual loss
participants (Datillo, 2012). It is vital that the therapist enhance using other senses when
describing directions, such as touch and hearing. Allow participants to feel the fish and
the rods, which will help them familiarize themselves to it (Eye- Vision Loss, 2014).
*Participants with Muscular Dystrophy:
Participants with muscular dystrophy a generalized as a group of people with a
chronic and hereditary disease characterized by the progressive degeneration and
weakness of voluntary muscles (Datillo, 2012). These participants get easily fatigued,
so during the activity participants should be provided a chair to sit on, so they can go
fish. Many participants use braces, standing frames or wheelchairs, so to provide
another form to sit down would really excite the (Medical Management, n.d.). Also
make sure that the chairs are cushioned, so participants can avoid from getting sores.
Having muscular dystrophy is very difficult and can make participants feel rather
hopeless at times because they feel weak and insecure about how they look. The
therapist and their peers must provide social support to the participants at all time. The
therapist is to never tell the participants they cannot do something, but allow them to try
and continue the interactions with their peers. Social communications of their peers
really helps participants feel like they do not have a disability (Datillo, 2012). If some
participants do not have muscular dystrophy, they are still to sit down in a chair, so that
they game is even. Having participants use the motion of swinging the rod is a great
exercise and can help participants build skeletal muscle, keep their cardiovascular
system healthy and contribute to having them feel better overall (Medical
Management, n.d.).
Adaptations References
Blindness and Vision Loss. (2014, September 9). Retrieved November 22, 2015, from
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003040.htm.
Dattilo, J. (2012). Learn About People, Inclusion, and Disability. In Inclusive Leisure
Services (Third ed., pp. 385-485). State College, PA: Venture Publishing.

Eye-Vision Loss. (2014, August 1). Retrieved November 22, 2015, from
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/eyes-visionloss.
Medical Management. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2015, from
http://www.mda.org/disease/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy/medicalmanagement#mobility_devices