Method guide · Arrange people and ideas
Lower a bamboo cane to the ground
Coordinate gentle movement of a light cane, with seated alternatives, non-holding roles, passing, and an immediate shared stop.
- People
- 6–14
- Base procedure time
- 10 minutes
- Recording
- No record
Purpose: Build working relationships; Reflect and learn.
English guide
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How this method works
A cooperation method for lowering a light cane resting on everyone's fingertips while keeping it level. Participants choose to lower it to the floor, lower a short tabletop cane, act as signaller, observe, or pass. Stand in two lines; after everyone has placed their index fingers beneath the cane, the facilitator sets the light cane on them. Do not press from above or pinch it between fingers; use small signals to move it down. If a finger loses contact, the cane tilts, or pain occurs, everyone stops and the facilitator retrieves it. Do not compare success or speed; optionally reflect only on signals that helped. Do not use this where a safe posture or tabletop version cannot be provided.
Phase schedule
Minutes are cumulative from the start of the base plan, not a live timer. Read scaling for any additional time. Phase controls do not advance automatically.
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- Choose floor, tabletop, signalling, observation, or passing0–1 minutes from the start (1 minute)
Action: Choose. Participation: One group on both sides of a light cane.
No record
- Place the light cane on everyone's index fingers1–2 minutes from the start (1 minute)
Action: Place. Participation: One group on both sides of a light cane.
No record
- Lower it level without pressing with fingers2–6 minutes from the start (4 minutes)
Action: Lower. Participation: One group on both sides of a light cane.
No record
- Everyone stops for lost contact, tilt, or pain6–8 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Stop. Participation: One group on both sides of a light cane.
No record
- Check one signal that helped lowering8–10 minutes from the start (2 minutes)
Action: Reflect. Participation: One group on both sides of a light cane.
No record
Facilitation steps
- For 1 minute, each person chooses lowering to the floor, lowering a short tabletop cane, signalling, observation, or passing.
- For 1 minute, everyone in the two lines places index fingers beneath the cane, and the facilitator places the light cane on them horizontally. Do not press from above or pinch it.
- For 4 minutes, keep everyone's fingers touching the underside and use small signals to lower it level to the floor or table.
- For 2 minutes, if fingers lose contact, the cane tilts, or anyone is in pain, everyone stops; the facilitator retrieves the cane and adjusts posture and height.
- For 2 minutes, close with optional reflection on just one signal that made lowering easier, without comparing success or speed.
If something changes
If
Before starting, one or more people find bending, standing, or supporting with fingertips difficult.
Then
Let those people choose a short light tabletop cane, signalling, observation, or passing; do not force a posture for lowering to the floor.
If
On even one occasion, the cane loses contact with someone's finger, tilts, falls, or someone indicates pain.
Then
Everyone stops moving and the facilitator retrieves the cane. Resume once only if height and posture can be adjusted.
If
7 minutes after the start, the group cannot lower the cane while all fingers remain in contact.
Then
Do not compete for success. Move to the tabletop version or reflection on signals, and end that round.
Preparation
Materials
- One cane per group that spans 6–14 people, is light enough not to injure anyone if dropped, and has no splinters or sharp ends
- One short, light tabletop cane per group, without splinters or sharp ends
- One stop/tabletop/signaller/observation/pass card per person
Room and setup
- Provide space for two lines on either side of the cane and seating for doing the same movement on a tabletop
Adjust for people and time
With 6–14 people, use one group and a light cane long enough for everyone to touch comfortably. With 15 or more, divide the participant count by 14 and round up to determine the number of groups; distribute people evenly into groups of 6–14, each with one light-cane and tabletop set. Do not form groups of fewer than six; distribute remainders so group sizes differ by no more than one person. Do not compare success, time taken, or number of restarts between groups.
Safety and non-applicable situations
Offer tabletop work, signalling, observation, and passing without forcing floor-level posture. Use only light, splinter-free canes without sharp ends. Everyone stops for lost contact, tilt, a fall, or pain, and the facilitator retrieves the cane. The triggered restart is allowed only once and only if height and posture can be adjusted. Do not compare speed, success, or restarts, and do not run this without safe posture and a tabletop version.
Manuscript's recorded references
These translate the original manuscript's source and rights claims. They remain separate from any current-page notice below; they do not establish new verification.
- Seeds for Change Facilitation Tools: Lower a bamboo cane to the ground
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/tools
anti-copyright adaptation; changes made
- Conditions for applying anti-copyright
https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/resources
anti-copyright
Diagram, print, and video language
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Editorial provenance
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