Small Group Alternative Activity

In your group complete the activity below by ranking items after careful consideration and deliberation with the members of your group. There is only one correct combination that would secure your survival.


Once you've tallied your individual ranking (IR) meet as a group and complete your group ranking. Then on Thursday, April 29, log onto this site to get the correct ranking to see how you did.

Then write an original and thorough evaluation of your group's discussion and participation in the following three areas; quantitative participation of each member, qualitative participation of each member, and an overall analysis of the group's communication as a whole.

USAF Survivor Worksheet

You have just crash-landed in the woods of North Minnesota and Southern Manitoba. It is 11:32 a m. in mid-January. The small plane in which you were traveling has been completely destroyed except for the frame. The pilot and co-pilot are dead, but no one else in your group is seriously injured.

The crash came suddenly before the pilot had time to radio for help or inform anyone of your position. Because your pilot was trying to avoid a storm, you know the plane was considerably off course. The pilot announced shortly before the crash that you were eighty miles northwest of a small town that is the nearest known habitation.

You are in a wilderness area made up of thick woods broken by many lakes and rivers. The last weather report indicated that the temperature would reach –25 degrees in the daytime and –40 degrees at night. You are dressed in winter clothing appropriate for city wear – suits, pantsuits, street shoes, and overcoats.

You may assume that the number of survivors is the same as the number of people in your group and that the group has agreed to stick together.

While escaping the plane your group salvaged the fifteen items listed here. Your task is to rank these items according to their importance to your group’s survival, starting with “1” for the most important and proceeding to “15” for the least important:

A. 7  Compress kit (with 28 feet of 2” gauze)

B. 2  Ball of steel wool

C. 1  Cigarette light (no fluid)

D. 12  Loaded .45-caliber pistol

E. 4  Newspaper (one per person)

F. 15  Compass

G. 10  Two ski poles

H. 6  Knife

I. 13  Sectional air map made of plastic

J. 5  30 feet of rope

K. 8  Chocolate bar (one per person)

L. 11  Flashlight with batteries

M. 14  Quart of 85 proof whiskey

N. 3  Extra shirt and pants for each survivor

O. 9  Can of shortening