Effort Mirror: Guess Your Partner's Number

Partner work where one student runs 3-minute bouts and the other watches outside signs (breathing, talking, posture) to guess their effort number. It builds perception of your own and others' effort, respectfully.

How to play

1. Review the 0–10 scale and the signs you can observe: breathing, whether they can talk, face color, posture and stride (3 min).
2. Runner A does 3 minutes at a comfortable pace, then 3 minutes livelier. B watches and silently writes a number for each bout. A writes their own separately (7 min).
3. Switch roles with the same bouts (7 min).
4. Compare numbers: do they match? Which sign was most reliable? Share two ideas out loud (3 min).

Rules

• Watch for signs of effort; never comment on anyone's body.
• Numbers are compared only within the pair.
• The observer stays off the loop at a fixed spot.
• At the end of each bout, the observer may ask one question to check talking (talk test).

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: same activity; watch breathing, push rhythm and posture.
• Visual impairment: the observer uses the talk test and the breathing they can hear.
• Students who don't want to be watched: pair with someone they trust and may record only on their own sheet.

Learning goals

• Recognize signs of effort in yourself and others.
• Compare inner perception with outside observation.
• Talk about effort respectfully and without judgment.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 8
• recording sheets: 15
• pencils: 15

Teacher tip

Make it clear first that you're watching signs, not people: shut down any comment about bodies. A small 60–80 m loop helps the observer see the runner well.

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