Learning Support

Drawbridge provides the setting for real and powerful moments of teamwork. Your group must rescue a ball stranded in the middle of a circle without touching the ground inside the circle. They must creatively develop strategies, working only with the tools they are given. The excitement is in how many ways this can be done, and what it takes from everyone to make those options work. This activity involves everyone, and will help your students recognize what it means to be a team.

In the following module you will learn how to properly set-up and facilitate the activity and then if you wish, move students through an academic and/or social skills development reflection experience.

*This activity has been adapted from the Team Building & Group Development CD-ROM of The Inspire! Youth Series from LearningChange, LLC.

Ages
Drawbridge is appropriate for 5th-6th grade students and up.

Group Size
This activity can be facilitated with 10-15 students. For larger groups, divide them into smaller teams, each with a facilitator.

Setting
Drawbridge is best led on grass, mats or a padded floor.

Duration
This activity should take about 30-45 minutes to complete with your group. Budget more time if you wish to go into depth by using any of the extension activities or questions.

General

In this activity, some of the things you will inevitably notice include:

• Students will all be working on the problem in their own ways. Some will sit back and think through solutions (planners) while others jump right in without planning (doers). This activity is perfect for illuminating the different styles in your group.
  
• Students will need to be able to clearly communicate ideas to each other, be collaborative and flexible.
  
• Students will work through every angle and never give up. Some solutions may surprise you.
  
• Students will build trust, and see how they must support and be supported by the group.
  

Academic Standards & Asset Development

For specific academic and social development lessons for this activity, see the Academic Extensions and Social Extensions sections in this module.

This course will walk you step-by-step through the process of setting up and leading this activity, as well as facilitating the conversations and lessons after the experience.

Begin here and move from section to section, and be sure to download and print the activity's PDF Quick Reference Guide and any handouts as you prepare for your event.

Budget about 10-15 minutes to walk through all sections and view all video and written instruction for this course.