You’ll need
- Wool
- Scissors
- Pens or pencils
- Tables
Prepare your wool
- Split into teams of three.
- Each team should cut a long length of wool and unravel it to make three strands of equal length.
- Each team should tie an overhand loop knot at one end to join all three strands together.
- Each team should push a pencil through the loop and make sure it is secure.
- Everyone should repeat the previous steps two more times with wool of different colours. You will end up with three lots of three strands, tied together at one end. Each should be tied around its own pencil.
- Tie the other end of all nine strands together in another overhand loop knot. Attach this loop around a table leg.
Get ready to spin
- Each member of the team should hold one of the pencils. Pull the strands of wool out from the table so they are taught (but not at breaking point).
- Everyone should turn their pencils clockwise, twisting up the three strands together, until they feel fairly tight. Make sure everyone does the same number of turns by counting out loud or turning in time.
- Without letting the strands unravel, carefully slip two of the pencils out of their loops, and push the third pencil through those loops. This will put all the three tightly twisted strands onto one pencil.
- Turn the pencil anti-clockwise until the strands join and create equal stripes.
- Keeping the rope taut, carefully pull the pencil out of the loops and tie a knot in the end of the rope.
Reflection
This activity helped you to practice new skills by trying to make a rope. What did you find easy or difficult about this task? Was it similar to anything you’ve done before? What occasions can you think of when it would be useful to have a rope?
This activity was also about working in a team. To make the rope successfully, every member of the team must work together well. How did you communicate as a team and divide up the tasks? How could you have made this task easier?
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
There is a chance of rope burns if the rope is handled incorrectly. Make sure it doesn’t get pulled sharply or wrapped tightly around any part of the body.
There are many ways to make ropes that might be more familiar to the group, including plaiting. Try another method if this one is too tricky. If you want to make the rope more complicated, use more colours, more strands, and more team members.
If the strands of wool are difficult to hold or the colours are too similar to distinguish, try using different materials.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
