Fist To Five

Step-by-Step Instructions

Form a circle, whereby everyone can see others.
Invite everyone to place one hand behind their back and then extend zero (fist) to five fingers on their hand.
The number of fingers an individual chooses to extend will reflect their assessment of a particular topic you describe, eg how effective the group’s communication was during the activity.
A clenched fist (zero fingers) is the lowest possible score and five extended fingers is the highest score.
Allow a few moments for your group to consider their options, and secretly extend their fingers behind their backs.
On your signal, ask everyone to reveal their hands with extended fingers for the group to see.

Video Tutorial

Video Transcript for Fist To Five
presented by Mark Collard

I’m going to ask a question in a moment and it has a very rapid response. We don’t need to even talk about it. But I’m going to ask you now to reflect back on this morning.

We’ve spent a good deal of time, several hours together now. We’ve done a variety of experiences, continued to build relationships and skills within the group and build comfort level.

Out of five, from zero to five, how would you rate your morning?

And the way I would like you to express that rating is simply using what I call fist to five.

A fist would suggest that it was a zero out of five being really, really poor, wish I wasn’t here, wish I never got out of bed, through to five was outstanding, couldn’t flaw, there was no flaws, couldn’t faltered. And of course all the numbers in between based on one hand, one set of fingers.

So think back over the morning. Just take a few moments now to think about your morning in terms of the reasons that you were here. If you were here just for a fun time then your kinda rating well how much fun have you had?

If you were here to gain all sorts of different ideas to integrate into your curriculum or maybe earn some understanding of programming principles, whatever it is, clearly we’re only halfway through the program… but out of five, fist of five and we all do it together, no talking is necessary but once it’s out there just get a glance. Have a look at what other people have expressed as well.

So just take a few moments now to think about that. Your morning.

Okay, on the count of three. One. Two. Three.

(group is displaying their Fist To Five)

Have a look around. Okay. Have a look around. Okay. Okay, thank you. Great.

How To Play Narrative

Fist to Five is possibly one of the simplest and quickest processing or debriefing strategies I know. Ideal if you don’t have a lot of time, or are leading a group which is not very verbal.

First up, ask your group to gather together, preferably in a circle, and then place one of their hands behind their backs. Circles work best, because no-one will see what others are about to do, which is the perfect set-up.

Next, explain that you would like each person to extend a certain number of fingers on their hand – from zero to all five – to represent their assessment of a topic you are about to pose.

The scale can vary of course, but the simplest measure is to suggest that zero is the lowest possible score and five is the highest score.

You now pose the question or statement on which you would like your group to consider their qualitative response. Allow a few moments for your group to consider their options and on your signal, ask everyone to reveal their hands and extended fingers – all at the same time.

Invite your group to survey the results of others – perhaps making a mental note of anything significant – and then move on.

Practical Leadership Tips

This exercise is also known as the Five Finger Debrief.

It is often enough to simply ask your group to observe the variety of ‘scores.’ However, for deeper understanding, consider asking a number of volunteers to explain their score so that the rest of the group can understand their rationale.

It’s important that your language makes it clear that you want everyone to reveal their hands at the same time – lest, a few sneaky folks (who are often unsure of how others will react to their score) will quickly change their score in response to peer pressure.

One further tip – encourage individuals to not be influenced by others and how they may score the particular topic. If (almost) everyone extends the same number of fingers, expect there to be a significant level of peer pressure to be present within your group.

If peer pressure is not an issue, the strategy to hide hands behind backs is not necessary – simply invite people to shoot their score in front of the group.

Social-Emotional Learning

You could integrate Fist To Five as part of a well-designed SEL program to develop your group’s ability to understand their emotions, thoughts and values and how these influence their behaviour in different situations.

Specifically, this activity offers opportunities to explore and practice the following social & interpersonal skills:

Self-Awareness

Identifying Emotions
Linking Feelings, Values & Thoughts
Recognising Strengths, Prejudices & Biases
Demonstrating Self-Confidence, Honesty & Integrity
Experiencing Self-Efficacy

Social Awareness

Taking Other’s Perspectives
Demonstrating Empathy & Compassion
Appreciating Diversity
Respecting Others

Relationship Skills

Communicate & Listen Effectively
Demonstrate Cultural Competency

Responsible Decision-Making

Making Reasoned Judgements
Promoting Personal & Collective Well-Being

You can learn more about SEL and how it can support character education here.

Health & Wellness Programming

Emotional Intelligence

Any time you invite your group to reflect is another opportunity for them to practice their social and emotional competencies, not to mention, build their emotional literacy. Fist to Five is ideally suited for this purpose because it does not rely on a verbal response but still invites each person to reflect on their thinking and feelings and respond numerically without having to say anything. That said, as described above, I often invite sharing in small groups (before leading large group plenary) to help tease out the reasons behind the number of extended fingers. Accordingly, this can help to understand other’s emotions and perspectives, too.

Popular Variations

Out Of Ten: Use two hands, for a score out of ten.
One To Five: Prohibit the clenched fist (a score of zero,) and require people extend at least one finger to represent their lowest possible score.
Take a look at Back to Back for a paired-alternative.

Virtual Adaptation

With the webcams of your participants switched on, and toggled to Gallery View, simply pose your question and invite each person to hold their hands close to the camera for all to see.

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Useful Framing Ideas

It may sound like…

“WITH ONE HAND BEHIND YOUR BACK, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXTEND FROM NONE TO FIVE FINGERS ON YOUR HAND TO INDICATE YOUR SCORE OF … [enter topic of conversation ] … WITH NO FINGERS, OR A CLENCHED FIST, MEANING THE LOWEST POSSIBLE SCORE AND FIVE EXTENDED FINGERS BEING THE HIGHEST.”

“LET’S CHECK IN ON HOW SAFE WE WERE ON THAT LAST ACTIVITY – EXTENDING A CLENCHED FIST TO MEAN THE LEAST AND ALL FIVE FINGERS EXTENDED MEANING THE MOST, HOW SAFE DID YOU FEEL … [enter name of experience…]”

Source

The inspiration for the Fist to Five, and many more fun & engaging reflection strategies, was sourced from the following publication:

Front cover of The Hundredth Monkey book, by Nate Folan

THE HUNDREDTH MONKEY - $69.00 AUD

Contributor Mark

Add your Comments...

Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?

Comments (1)

David Piang-Nee February 1, 2018
Great way of gauging group feeling or reaction in the moment or upon reflection of events. Doing so a couple of times may also demonstrate the progress made during a session .. Eg At start of a bike or archery session. Asking them how well they rate their bike skills or how comfortable they feel and after a skill session, discovering how well they now feel about it.. hopefully they can discover they do improve or feel more comfortable afterward.. can be applied to any activity and adapted.. quick and easy.. you can ask for comments if you have more time as well.

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Fist To Five

Step-by-Step Instructions

Video Tutorial

How To Play Narrative

Practical Leadership Tips

Social-Emotional Learning

Health & Wellness Programming

Popular Variations

Virtual Adaptation

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Three H Debrief

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Starts With

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Paired Shares

Useful Framing Ideas

Source

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Video Tutorial

How To Play Narrative

Practical Leadership Tips

Social-Emotional Learning

Health & Wellness Programming

Popular Variations

Virtual Adaptation

You Might Also Like...

Become a Memberto Access this Activity

Three H Debrief

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Starts With

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Paired Shares

Useful Framing Ideas

Source

Add your Comments...

Comments (1)

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