Guard Your Data: Clothespins, Hackers and Private Zones
Each player wears three clothespins on their back standing for their name, location and photos, while hackers in pinnies try to grab them. Hoops are private zones you can only enter by naming a good privacy habit. It's a tag game that opens a conversation about personal data.
How to play
- Explain what each clothespin stands for and how private zones work; hand pinnies to five or six hackers (3 min).
- Round 1: hackers grab clothespins; anyone who loses one goes to the recovery cone, says a privacy tip and gets it back (4 min).
- Round 2 with new hackers and a new rule: you can hand a clothespin to a trusted teammate to keep safe (4 min).
- Round 3 with new hackers: private zones protect you for only 5 seconds, then you must leave (4 min).
- Discussion: what data do we share without noticing, with whom, and how do we really protect it? (5 min).
Rules
- Clothespins go on the back of the shirt at shoulder level, never in hair or near the face.
- Take the clothespin without pulling clothing or pushing.
- To enter a hoop, name a privacy habit different from the one the last player said.
- Nobody is out: you can always get your clothespin back.
Variations
Easier
Two clothespins each and fewer hackers.
Standard
Three clothespins and private zones with a habit password.
Harder
More hackers, and the teacher moves the private zones every round.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: clip the clothespins to the side of the wheelchair, and hackers may only walk when chasing them.
- Students with visual impairments: play arm in arm with a partner and share clothespins.
- Students who don't like contact: guard the recovery zone and listen to the tips.
Learning goals
- Improve dodging and changes of direction.
- Learn basic habits for protecting personal data.
- Reflect on the information they share online.
Equipment for a class of 25
- clothespins: 90
- pinnies: 6
- cones: 12
- hoops: 5
Teacher tip
Have a list of habits ready (private profile, not sharing live location, asking before posting photos of others) in case they get stuck. Change hackers every round so everyone gets to run.
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