Ericka Kofkin

LEI 4724
Activity Title: Noodle Ninja
Activity Source: Twila Guzman, Camp Director- Citrus Council of Girl Scouts
Equipment: Pool Noodle
Activity Description:
1. Sit in a circle.
2. Moving in order around the circle each participant states his or her name and a food that starts
with the same letter, for example Emily eggplant Each person must select a unique food item.
Encourage participants to pay attention and remember each persons name and food.
3. Select one participant to knight with the pool noodle. That person becomes the Noodle Ninja
and stands in the center of the circle holding the noodle.
4. The therapist calls out the food/name combination of someone sitting in the circle.
5. The person called must call out another name/food combination before getting bopped with
the pool noodle.
6. If the person called cant remember another food/name combination, calls an incorrect
combination, or only uses one of the two identifiers, he or she is knighted as the next Noodle
Ninja.
Leadership Considerations:
1. To keep play fair and appropriate for the given group, make adjustments to the rules; no calling
the person who called you, cant call person beside you, use names only for younger groups,
play standing and require a unique dance move in addition to the name and food for older,
outgoing, or more kinesthetic groups.
2. For participants with PTSD, especially stemming from childhood abuse and/or domestic
violence the prospect of being hit, or hitting another person (even if its only a pool noodle) is
potentially triggering. If a single or small number of participants with PTSD are known to the
therapist ahead of time, set up the game to tap the floor in front, or knock over paper cops
sitting in front of people. If the group is specifically focusing on PTSD, use the game as
exposure therapy, by having the participants tap each other on the feet instead of bopping.
Make sure to allocate enough time for processing after playing; ask participants if they enjoyed
the game, identify current SUDs rating (Subjective Unit of Distress- hot/cold, 1-10 scale, angry
mountain, use whatever imagery is consistent with the setting), and discuss changes in SUDs
rating throughout the progression of the game.
3. Many client populations in RT, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, osteoarthritis,
and Parkinsons, will present with symptoms of diminished grip strength. Sword handles for
pool noodles are now readably available in most sporting goods stores, as are foam pool
swords, both of which have narrower and more agronomical handles to make it easier for the
noodle ninja to keep hold.
4. To process as an ordinary icebreaker, when not used for PTSD, ask participants if they learned
some new names, how did it felt to be the ninja, if they think the game will help them
remember next time they see that person (12 years later I am STILL known by the combination
I used the first time I played this game, and no one ever forgets my name, even people who
werent there).