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Thursday December 4, 2008
In this section activities have been grouped into specific topics to help those providing day or multi-day thematic programming to their youth.
community
A student’s sense of belonging in the classroom has a significant impact on his or her desire to get involved with the classroom experience and leads to a desire to remain connected. The following activities in this module are designed to build connections amongst your program participants.
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connect
Building a strong classroom foundation that fosters communication, collaboration, and learning requires connections to be made between you and your students. Getting to know your students and giving them an opportunity to get to know one another is an essential step in developing that foundation. When a student feels like his or her peers and teacher care about them as an individual they will break down barriers and feel more connected to others in the classroom.
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cooperate
Sometimes, we find that the best motivation we can provide to our students comes from other students in the classroom. Promoting student interaction has numerous positive effects in the classroom from supporting learning to reducing the feeling of alienation and isolation. Activities that promote cooperation and collaboration are a great way to promote student interaction and increase motivation.
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create
If you are like most educators, you value student creativity and see strong connections between creativity and problem solving, communication skills, and other developmental assets. Creativity is a key component to any supportive learning environment and leads to high levels of student engagement.
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discov-kit
For those programs that have purchased the Discovery Kit the following activities are tied directly to the props and materials that come combined within that resource. While most of the activities have been designed to use ordinarily available items within your program or none at all...some programs have opted to just purchase the Discovery Kit as a comprehensive way to make sure that they have all of the resources in a single package at their fingertips.
energize
If you’ve ever run into a situation where energy levels run low in the classroom we are sure you’ll appreciate some simple strategies to energize your students. You know that it’s important to give your students a fun and physically active “pick-me-up” to refocus their attention when their energy levels dip.
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esteem
You’ve probably watched as your student’s self-esteem peaks and dips based on the experiences they have in the classroom, in their social circles, at home, and just about everywhere else they go. How they do in class, what their friends tell them, and their family all impact their feelings of well being. In this unit contains a series of activitities that help kids find their strengths and abilities and promote the development of confidence in who they are and what they bring to their world.
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grabbers
Learning simply cannot occur if your class is not focused and attentive. Capturing the attention of a classroom can be a challenge for both beginning and seasoned teachers. Over time, you’ll undoubtedly develop and adopt your own techniques for focusing student attention and preparing to kick off any lesson, discussion, or activity. These techniques are an invaluable part of any teacher’s toolkit.
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just 4 fun
Sometimes you need a quick idea to occupy your class time for the last 15 minutes of the day or to reward your students for good performance. Just for fun activities in this collection are active, fun, and simple games to stimulate your class and engage in a moment of playfulness.
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lead
Much of the activities that take place in your classroom connect with leadership and the development of the leadership skills of your students. There is a strong connection between communication, empowerment, cooperation, and leadership. Review and implement the activities found in LEAD to unleash new opportunities for your participants!
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think
Teaching students to become critical thinkers is an important, and often challenging task for teachers. By instilling in them the ability to critically analyze and solve problems, we equip our students with the skills they will need to handle problems and be successful in life.
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These activities are designed to stimulate, energize, focus and get everyone actively involved in playful discovery. Typically these activities are used at the beginning of a program or anytime the energy of a group begins to fade. Fun, energetic, laugh-out-loud boundary-breaking play is waiting in every one of our icebreaker activities.
When My Hands Cross
When My Hands Cross is a ton of fun! All your audience has to do is clap their hands whenever your hands cross. Sounds easy, but it all depends on how hard you make it for them. This is an awesome way to get people loosened up because they will be moving and laughing.
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Match Face
Match Face is one of the best openers we know. You will have your group rolling with laughter and see just how controlling a person's "image" can be. By spending a little time in creative inquiry and using some of our suggestions, you can set the stage for excellent learning and a whole lot of fun for students of all ages.
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Dead Ants
Dead Ants is a contagiously fun and cooperative tag game. One or two people volunteer to be anteaters, the rest start out as ants. Anteaters attempt to stun all of the ants on the ant hill, while the ants struggle to avoid the anteaters and rescue their friends. Dead Ants will have your group playing hard and working together.
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Rhythm Hunter
Rhythm Hunter is a wonderful activity to get a group moving around, having fun, and energized. This game relies on the individual's ability to pay attention and react undetected to changes in rhythm and movement. The "rhythm leader" attempts to change rhythms and movements of the group without being detected by the person in the middle, the "rhythm hunter."
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Color Wheel of Fate
With a simple toss in the air, the Color Wheel of Fate decides which of four mini-activities your group will play. Color-Wheel of Fate is a great fast-paced, flexible icebreaker that generates enthusiasm and offers a variety of ways for a group to interact.
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Mixed-Up Directions
It's time to confuse and utterly bamboozle your group with fun yet troublesome directions. In the beginning things seem easy. Participants simply point in the direction you point and call out that direction. As you move in to second and third rounds, expressions quickly become that of confusion, and the laughter begins. Mixed-Up Directions has you playfully get the better of your group while producing infectious laughter.
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Balance
Balance is a game of dexterity and flexibility. Pairs attempt to move their partners off their center of gravity, causing individuals to take a step forward or back in order to regain their balance. The activity is played with partners facing each other, hand-to-hand, and involves gentle pushes and retreats. The only measure of success is how much fun participants are having!
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Dollar Jump
Who says you can not get anything for a dollar these days? For a buck you can lead a very fun and challenging activity, that will, more often than not, put the dollar back in your pocket. All the participants have to do to earn the dollar is jump over the bill while holding their toes. It sounds a lot easier than it actually is.
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Finding Differences
Finding Differences is an amusing get-to-know-you activity. Participants quickly interview one another, trying to find things they don't share in common. Through exploration people learn about each other, share interesting facts about themselves, and end up discovering many more things in common.
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Gotcha!
Gotcha! is an extremely fast-moving tag game where everyone is "it" at the same time. Each round kicks-off with a burst of energy as group members try to tag one another and not be tagged.The purpose of this activity is to have fun and create emotion through playful motion.
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Haven't We Met?
This silly ice-breaker may cause players to have an identity crisis. Each player writes his or her name on a note card and proceeds to mingle with everyone else. Each time a player makes another acquaintance; they switch note cards and take on that person's identity. After two or three exchanges, the goal becomes for each player to find his or her name again.
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Look at Me!
Look at Me is a simple and fast game to help the group get to know each other better. This activity is perfect for when a group first forms and participants are not well acquainted.
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Mental Maneuvers
Mental Maneuvers is a challenging and exciting focus game. Players must concentrate in this exercise if they want to get it. This should get your groups attention!
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More, Dig, DONE!
This is the ultimate in get-to-know-your-group-members games. More, Dig, Done goes beyond learning each other's names. In this activity participants actually gain some knowledge about their peer's lives.The nature of this activity provides members with a safe place to share information about themselves and allows others to work on their active listening skills.
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Morph
Morph gives your group an excuse to get crazy and have some fun.The goal of this non-elimination game is for everyone to morph from a chirping bird, to a monkey, and finally to a rock star. With little friendly competition, participants continuously move up and down the chain between bird and rock star.
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Name Tag!
Name Tag! uses repetition and movement to help people learn each other's names. A volunteer races around the inside of the circle trying to give "ten" (i.e., two "low fives") to the person whose name is called out by another member of the group. If the person inside the circle successfully reaches the individual and gives them a "low ten" before he or she can call out another person's name, the players trade positions.
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Nickname Nugget
This classic game uses alliterations to help people learn and remember the names of others in their group. Each player shares his or her name along with a funny alliteration. As you move around the group, the remaining members attempt to repeat the names and alliterations of the people who have already contributed.You'll be surprised at how many people will remember everyone's name.
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People, Traps & Tigers
People,Traps & Tigers energizes a group through laughter,movement and play. Engage your group in an activity resembling the classic paper, rock, scissors and watch as your participants work together to become part of a winning team. The game ensures that in the end, everyone wins!
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Round & Round
Round & Round combines active elements of tag with a healthy dose of cooperative play. Four-person teams sidestep, spin, slide and dodge to keep a chosen member of their group safe from the pursuant fourth team member. This is a fantastic game to play anytime your group is low on energy or simply restless.
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Safety in Numbers
Safety In Numbers is a cooperative version of tag. Players "school together" in groups of three to avoid being tagged by the person who is "it." This is a great exercise to kick-off your day.
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Spellin' Melon
In this game group members will be spelling their names with their melon. In case you are thinking, "my kids don't have melons;" "melon" is code for head. As each person spells his or her name, the group will be guessing at each other's names. But this isn't just a name-game; it is also one of the silliest games there is. People will be laughing out loud and might even be a little dizzy at the end!
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Start When You Start
"Start When You Start" is a quick, simple opener or closer which may strengthen the bond between group members. The group holds hands and "starts when it starts, and finishes when it finishes." The rest is up to your group to figure things out on their own.
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Sticker Sneaker
This is a sneaky kind of ice-breaker that will require stealth and patience. Participants are given a set of stickers that they must get rid of by secretly sticking them on to other players.
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Sticky Tag
Sticky Tag is a wild, fast-past variation of tag that your group will enjoy. Everyone is "it" trying to tag everyone one else without being tagged in the process. In this version, when someone is tagged, their hand becomes "stuck" to that spot for the remainder of the game. On the third tag, a player is frozen in place, but definitely not out of the action.
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Strangers, Friends & Winners
Strangers, Friends & Winners will challenge your group to look at the different ways in which we treat others based on the roles that we assign them. The group, standing in two concentric circles, greets one another in the manner consistent with the roles you have assigned.
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Tap Dancing
Tap Dancing tests group members' agility. Players try to tap the tops of their partner's feet without allowing their partner to do the same to them. This activity is a playful, nimble, toe-tapping dance. It is a great way to lighten the mood and get your group's energy soaring.
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Toilet Tag
This game is about as goofy as they get. This crazy version of tag will have your participants running around frantically and laughing their heads off.
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Virtual Catch
Virtual Catch is the ultimate in imagination games. Your group can play an energetic game of catch, and all each person needs is a paper lunch bag and keen imagination. You may be thinking something is missing, like the ball. With a snap of fingers, the ball becomes "real" and a game of catch begins?but in truth, the ball is imaginary.
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What if I Told You...?
This activity allows people to learn about each other, and fosters imaginative thinking and story-telling. The group forms a circle around a volunteer who is standing in the center. Each person, minus the one in the middle, stands at a floor marker. The person in the middle tells the group something about himself or herself, which may or may not be true. The people forming the circle vote on the truth of the statement with thumbs up or thumbs down. While having a great time scrambling for a spot and listening to each other's wild and many times truthful stories, the participants will learn about each other and find common ground among their peers. Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction!
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Who's Watching
You've probably heard the old saying, "Somebody is always watching." But who is that someone? Group members secretly and individually pick another person in the group to watch for one minute. Players remain in constant motion, always keeping their watched person in direct line of sight, yet trying to be sneaky enough that the watched person isn't sure who is keeping an eye on them. This activity works as a fun metaphor for how we are both observing and being observed in our daily lives. How we present ourselves by what we say and do, and how others use this information to form their opinions about us. What messages are you sending? How does that message change when you think no one is watching?
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Work of Art
Participants rotate through roles as artist, clay, and model. Through the creation of living sculptures, your group's level of comfort will rise, as will each individual's confidence in the team.
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Yin-Yang-You
Yin-Yang-You requires participants to pay close attention to the other members of the group. While rapidly passing the Yin-Yang-You pattern around the circle, participants struggle to stay focused and not become confused. No one is "out" in this game. Those who get confused and break the pattern simply slide into a new role.
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Your Big Entrance
Your Big Entrance gives everyone a chance to feel like a superstar. The team makes two lines, and one-by-one each "player" introduces himself or herself and jogs between the two lines of enthusiastic team members.The superstar is greeted with energetic high-fives and supportive hollering by peers. Your Big Entrance is an awesome way to show group support and to get everyone energized.
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Rapid Digits
Rapid Digits explores the realm of group synergy. Small teams of three or four people struggle to collectively show eleven fingers. Each attempt begins with both players hands behind their backs.Then, with a silent countdown, the players reveal their hands with any number of fingers raised. The group then counts the total number of fingers to determine if they add to eleven. Groups continue until they reach the magic number eleven.
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Teambuilding, initiatives, problem-solving activities and cooperative events all share a common foundation and goal; to get a group of people speaking and working together. Using the activities in this section you will be able to open lines of communication, create connections within your group and challenge the students academically, socially and physically. These fun, engaging activities will help you create a better community within your program.
Hands Are Tied
Often, our perceptions about a problem affect our ability to solve it. In Hands Are Tied, participants work to disconnect from each other in what appears to be an impossible task. Group members twist and turn themselves to frustration, and find that a little creative thinking will do the trick.
Hands are Tied naturally highlights such topics as how our beliefs influence our actions (i.e. thinking we CAN'T do something usually leads to that conclusion), having patience and working together. If you really want to get your group to start thinking in the positive and challenge their beliefs around what they can and can't do, this is a great eye opening experience.
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First Impressions
Assumptions, stereotypes, and how they affect a group's ability to work together best describe this high-energy activity. Participants begin by mingling and interacting with each other as the characteristic cards taped on their backs indicate. For example, if a player had "I am a superstar musician" on his or her back, everyone would treat him or her that way. Players do not know what is on their backs, and try to figure it out later. Next, group members, while still in character, try to squeeze into a small square on the floor at one time. First Impressions stimulates discussion about how stereotypes and assumptions influence everyday life and how a group functions.
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AntiGravity
Anti-Gravity is a fast, fun and accommodating activity for very large groups.Your team must keep a large beach ball bouncing in the air as long as they can, racking up the most hits. Each time the ball touches the ground your group must start over.Use this activity any time your group needs to release some energy. Best of all, they will be doing it through cooperative play.
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Drawbridge
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.
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Magic Maze
Magic Maze is a classic activity that never fails to impress. Team members work to move across a grid using the one and only safe path. You have the only map. Through trial and error, students must work together to discover the "correct" or "safe path." The challenge presented in Magic Maze will stimulate conversation and act as a springboard into other learning activities.
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3 Foot, 6 Foot, 9 Foot
3 Foot, 6 Foot, 9 Foot is an excellent activity for demonstrating how an individual's actions can affect everyone in the group. In this activity, your group secretly chooses people to remain 3 feet, 6 feet and 9 feet from them at all times.Watch what happens when everyone in the group tries to keep their distances simultaneously. When one person moves, everyone in the group must adjust. 3 Foot, 6 Foot, 9 Foot stimulates great conversation and an awareness of how the challenges presented in this game unfold everyday.
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Virtual Group Juggle
Virtual Group Juggle demonstrates how lost and confused people can get when there are too many things going on at once. Within the group, players create three separate patterns and try to perform them all at the same time. The confusion comes on gradually as group members accept more responsibilities. This is a fun example of how people can learn through play.
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Don't Touch Me!
Don't Touch Me specifically targets shifting paradigms, the concept of "what you see and hear is not always what you get," and the idea of "thinking outside of the box." Don't Touch Me playfully engages your group and challenges them to use that grey matter just to the north of their shoulders. This activity has been written in many books, and used because it is nothing less than wildly successful. Kudos to games guru Karl Rhonke at High Five Adventure Learning Center, and our good friend Sam Sikes and his crew from Learning Unlimited.
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Group Jump Rope
Jump Rope has been around for ages, and so has this team building variation. In Group Jump Rope, group members try to get through a series of jump rope challenges while having a great time. This activity reinforces the old adage "motion creates emotion" as your group moves, jumps, and enjoys the fun.
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Speed
With no set up, quick passing, and lots of laughter, Speed is an easy and fun team builder. Players pass a disc around a circle using only their backs. This game gets a little crazy because players find the task more difficult than they imagined. The task is light-hearted and full of smiles!
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Puzzling Problem
Anything and everything can be an experiential activity. Something as simple as putting a puzzle together can lead to a great conversation. Puzzling Problem asks three teams to put three different puzzles together in as little time as possible. To make this challenge more interesting, the pieces for the three puzzles are all mixed up, and the teams switch puzzles twice during play. This can be one of the longer activities, but well worth the time.
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Moving Marbles
Moving Marbles involves team members working together to roll marbles through homemade paper tubes.The goal is for the group to move the five marbles from a standing position to a slow and controlled finish on the ground.This is another classic activity that has stood the test of time. Using props that you can find anywhere, you can have a quick and intriguing activity ready for your group in no time!
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Pass It
Pass It stimulates group rhythm by asking participants to pass a sound around the circle quickly; but more importantly on beat. This simple activity explores rhythm as a metaphor for life and how well groups work together.
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One Way
Sometimes there is only one way to get things done. In this brainteaser turned group activity, participants are trying to switch positions in a nine square line. It isn't as easy as it seems and requires some thought. The challenge of the activity will keep them engaged in the process.
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Perfect Square
Perfect Square is a fast-moving game with a team-building twist. Your group must try to keep you at the center of their perfect square. No matter where you move or how you turn, group members must remain in the same orientation to you as when they started. This is a great opener at the beginning of an activity session.
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Mountain Rescue
This activity is all about physical teamwork and communication.To be successful, team members have to learn to move together across a narrow path while connected at the ankles. Coordinated movement and an ability to work together will mark the success of this activity.
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Alphabet Soup
Alphabet Soup is a fast-paced activity that can be played with groups of any size. It is quick and easy to explain and provides an opportunity for your group to move and be creative. Alphabet Soup works great indoors or outdoors, and can spark wonderful conversation.
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Structure
Structure is about building teams by building towers. First, your team breaks into smaller workgroups and is given a limited amount of plain paper and tape. The team is then asked to build the tallest structure possible from the resources provided. Each workgroup will begin construction independently, but will soon realize that pooling their resources may provide a better result.
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Winding Down
This activity was inspired by a carnival game at the fair, but the materials are a bit different. You won't win any cheesy stuffed animals and it takes the whole team to make this one work, but hey, close enough. Your group is trying to move a ring down a winding piece of copper tubing without it touching. Success depends on the group's ability to work together and have a good time doing it.
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Spider's Web
Spider's Web is an excellent, but more advanced activity. It requires your group to work at a slightly higher level of cooperation. Team members work to pass themselves or each other through a spider's web made of masking tape. Everyone must pass through to the other side safely, and without disturbing the web. We recommend that you use some of the other activities on the CD-ROM such as First Impressions, and Mountain Rescue before moving to this activity.
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In this section you will find the full laundry list of activities found within this resource. For those of you who like to see it all at a glance, this is the place for you!
When My Hands Cross
When My Hands Cross is a ton of fun! All your audience has to do is clap their hands whenever your hands cross. Sounds easy, but it all depends on how hard you make it for them. This is an awesome way to get people loosened up because they will be moving and laughing.
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Match Face
Match Face is one of the best openers we know. You will have your group rolling with laughter and see just how controlling a person's "image" can be. By spending a little time in creative inquiry and using some of our suggestions, you can set the stage for excellent learning and a whole lot of fun for students of all ages.
View Activity
Dead Ants
Dead Ants is a contagiously fun and cooperative tag game. One or two people volunteer to be anteaters, the rest start out as ants. Anteaters attempt to stun all of the ants on the ant hill, while the ants struggle to avoid the anteaters and rescue their friends. Dead Ants will have your group playing hard and working together.
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Rhythm Hunter
Rhythm Hunter is a wonderful activity to get a group moving around, having fun, and energized. This game relies on the individual's ability to pay attention and react undetected to changes in rhythm and movement. The "rhythm leader" attempts to change rhythms and movements of the group without being detected by the person in the middle, the "rhythm hunter."
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Color Wheel of Fate
With a simple toss in the air, the Color Wheel of Fate decides which of four mini-activities your group will play. Color-Wheel of Fate is a great fast-paced, flexible icebreaker that generates enthusiasm and offers a variety of ways for a group to interact.
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Mixed-Up Directions
It's time to confuse and utterly bamboozle your group with fun yet troublesome directions. In the beginning things seem easy. Participants simply point in the direction you point and call out that direction. As you move in to second and third rounds, expressions quickly become that of confusion, and the laughter begins. Mixed-Up Directions has you playfully get the better of your group while producing infectious laughter.
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Balance
Balance is a game of dexterity and flexibility. Pairs attempt to move their partners off their center of gravity, causing individuals to take a step forward or back in order to regain their balance. The activity is played with partners facing each other, hand-to-hand, and involves gentle pushes and retreats. The only measure of success is how much fun participants are having!
View Activity
Dollar Jump
Who says you can not get anything for a dollar these days? For a buck you can lead a very fun and challenging activity, that will, more often than not, put the dollar back in your pocket. All the participants have to do to earn the dollar is jump over the bill while holding their toes. It sounds a lot easier than it actually is.
View Activity
Finding Differences
Finding Differences is an amusing get-to-know-you activity. Participants quickly interview one another, trying to find things they don't share in common. Through exploration people learn about each other, share interesting facts about themselves, and end up discovering many more things in common.
View Activity
Gotcha!
Gotcha! is an extremely fast-moving tag game where everyone is "it" at the same time. Each round kicks-off with a burst of energy as group members try to tag one another and not be tagged.The purpose of this activity is to have fun and create emotion through playful motion.
View Activity
Haven't We Met?
This silly ice-breaker may cause players to have an identity crisis. Each player writes his or her name on a note card and proceeds to mingle with everyone else. Each time a player makes another acquaintance; they switch note cards and take on that person's identity. After two or three exchanges, the goal becomes for each player to find his or her name again.
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Look at Me!
Look at Me is a simple and fast game to help the group get to know each other better. This activity is perfect for when a group first forms and participants are not well acquainted.
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Mental Maneuvers
Mental Maneuvers is a challenging and exciting focus game. Players must concentrate in this exercise if they want to get it. This should get your groups attention!
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More, Dig, DONE!
This is the ultimate in get-to-know-your-group-members games. More, Dig, Done goes beyond learning each other's names. In this activity participants actually gain some knowledge about their peer's lives.The nature of this activity provides members with a safe place to share information about themselves and allows others to work on their active listening skills.
View Activity
Morph
Morph gives your group an excuse to get crazy and have some fun.The goal of this non-elimination game is for everyone to morph from a chirping bird, to a monkey, and finally to a rock star. With little friendly competition, participants continuously move up and down the chain between bird and rock star.
View Activity
Name Tag!
Name Tag! uses repetition and movement to help people learn each other's names. A volunteer races around the inside of the circle trying to give "ten" (i.e., two "low fives") to the person whose name is called out by another member of the group. If the person inside the circle successfully reaches the individual and gives them a "low ten" before he or she can call out another person's name, the players trade positions.
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Nickname Nugget
This classic game uses alliterations to help people learn and remember the names of others in their group. Each player shares his or her name along with a funny alliteration. As you move around the group, the remaining members attempt to repeat the names and alliterations of the people who have already contributed.You'll be surprised at how many people will remember everyone's name.
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People, Traps & Tigers
People,Traps & Tigers energizes a group through laughter,movement and play. Engage your group in an activity resembling the classic paper, rock, scissors and watch as your participants work together to become part of a winning team. The game ensures that in the end, everyone wins!
View Activity
Round & Round
Round & Round combines active elements of tag with a healthy dose of cooperative play. Four-person teams sidestep, spin, slide and dodge to keep a chosen member of their group safe from the pursuant fourth team member. This is a fantastic game to play anytime your group is low on energy or simply restless.
View Activity
Safety in Numbers
Safety In Numbers is a cooperative version of tag. Players "school together" in groups of three to avoid being tagged by the person who is "it." This is a great exercise to kick-off your day.
View Activity
Spellin' Melon
In this game group members will be spelling their names with their melon. In case you are thinking, "my kids don't have melons;" "melon" is code for head. As each person spells his or her name, the group will be guessing at each other's names. But this isn't just a name-game; it is also one of the silliest games there is. People will be laughing out loud and might even be a little dizzy at the end!
View Activity
Start When You Start
"Start When You Start" is a quick, simple opener or closer which may strengthen the bond between group members. The group holds hands and "starts when it starts, and finishes when it finishes." The rest is up to your group to figure things out on their own.
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Sticker Sneaker
This is a sneaky kind of ice-breaker that will require stealth and patience. Participants are given a set of stickers that they must get rid of by secretly sticking them on to other players.
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Sticky Tag
Sticky Tag is a wild, fast-past variation of tag that your group will enjoy. Everyone is "it" trying to tag everyone one else without being tagged in the process. In this version, when someone is tagged, their hand becomes "stuck" to that spot for the remainder of the game. On the third tag, a player is frozen in place, but definitely not out of the action.
View Activity
Strangers, Friends & Winners
Strangers, Friends & Winners will challenge your group to look at the different ways in which we treat others based on the roles that we assign them. The group, standing in two concentric circles, greets one another in the manner consistent with the roles you have assigned.
View Activity
Tap Dancing
Tap Dancing tests group members' agility. Players try to tap the tops of their partner's feet without allowing their partner to do the same to them. This activity is a playful, nimble, toe-tapping dance. It is a great way to lighten the mood and get your group's energy soaring.
View Activity
Toilet Tag
This game is about as goofy as they get. This crazy version of tag will have your participants running around frantically and laughing their heads off.
View Activity
Virtual Catch
Virtual Catch is the ultimate in imagination games. Your group can play an energetic game of catch, and all each person needs is a paper lunch bag and keen imagination. You may be thinking something is missing, like the ball. With a snap of fingers, the ball becomes "real" and a game of catch begins?but in truth, the ball is imaginary.
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What if I Told You...?
This activity allows people to learn about each other, and fosters imaginative thinking and story-telling. The group forms a circle around a volunteer who is standing in the center. Each person, minus the one in the middle, stands at a floor marker. The person in the middle tells the group something about himself or herself, which may or may not be true. The people forming the circle vote on the truth of the statement with thumbs up or thumbs down. While having a great time scrambling for a spot and listening to each other's wild and many times truthful stories, the participants will learn about each other and find common ground among their peers. Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction!
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Who's Watching
You've probably heard the old saying, "Somebody is always watching." But who is that someone? Group members secretly and individually pick another person in the group to watch for one minute. Players remain in constant motion, always keeping their watched person in direct line of sight, yet trying to be sneaky enough that the watched person isn't sure who is keeping an eye on them. This activity works as a fun metaphor for how we are both observing and being observed in our daily lives. How we present ourselves by what we say and do, and how others use this information to form their opinions about us. What messages are you sending? How does that message change when you think no one is watching?
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Work of Art
Participants rotate through roles as artist, clay, and model. Through the creation of living sculptures, your group's level of comfort will rise, as will each individual's confidence in the team.
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Yin-Yang-You
Yin-Yang-You requires participants to pay close attention to the other members of the group. While rapidly passing the Yin-Yang-You pattern around the circle, participants struggle to stay focused and not become confused. No one is "out" in this game. Those who get confused and break the pattern simply slide into a new role.
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Your Big Entrance
Your Big Entrance gives everyone a chance to feel like a superstar. The team makes two lines, and one-by-one each "player" introduces himself or herself and jogs between the two lines of enthusiastic team members.The superstar is greeted with energetic high-fives and supportive hollering by peers. Your Big Entrance is an awesome way to show group support and to get everyone energized.
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Rapid Digits
Rapid Digits explores the realm of group synergy. Small teams of three or four people struggle to collectively show eleven fingers. Each attempt begins with both players hands behind their backs.Then, with a silent countdown, the players reveal their hands with any number of fingers raised. The group then counts the total number of fingers to determine if they add to eleven. Groups continue until they reach the magic number eleven.
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Hands Are Tied
Often, our perceptions about a problem affect our ability to solve it. In Hands Are Tied, participants work to disconnect from each other in what appears to be an impossible task. Group members twist and turn themselves to frustration, and find that a little creative thinking will do the trick.
Hands are Tied naturally highlights such topics as how our beliefs influence our actions (i.e. thinking we CAN'T do something usually leads to that conclusion), having patience and working together. If you really want to get your group to start thinking in the positive and challenge their beliefs around what they can and can't do, this is a great eye opening experience.
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First Impressions
Assumptions, stereotypes, and how they affect a group's ability to work together best describe this high-energy activity. Participants begin by mingling and interacting with each other as the characteristic cards taped on their backs indicate. For example, if a player had "I am a superstar musician" on his or her back, everyone would treat him or her that way. Players do not know what is on their backs, and try to figure it out later. Next, group members, while still in character, try to squeeze into a small square on the floor at one time. First Impressions stimulates discussion about how stereotypes and assumptions influence everyday life and how a group functions.
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AntiGravity
Anti-Gravity is a fast, fun and accommodating activity for very large groups.Your team must keep a large beach ball bouncing in the air as long as they can, racking up the most hits. Each time the ball touches the ground your group must start over.Use this activity any time your group needs to release some energy. Best of all, they will be doing it through cooperative play.
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Drawbridge
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.
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Magic Maze
Magic Maze is a classic activity that never fails to impress. Team members work to move across a grid using the one and only safe path. You have the only map. Through trial and error, students must work together to discover the "correct" or "safe path." The challenge presented in Magic Maze will stimulate conversation and act as a springboard into other learning activities.
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3 Foot, 6 Foot, 9 Foot
3 Foot, 6 Foot, 9 Foot is an excellent activity for demonstrating how an individual's actions can affect everyone in the group. In this activity, your group secretly chooses people to remain 3 feet, 6 feet and 9 feet from them at all times.Watch what happens when everyone in the group tries to keep their distances simultaneously. When one person moves, everyone in the group must adjust. 3 Foot, 6 Foot, 9 Foot stimulates great conversation and an awareness of how the challenges presented in this game unfold everyday.
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Virtual Group Juggle
Virtual Group Juggle demonstrates how lost and confused people can get when there are too many things going on at once. Within the group, players create three separate patterns and try to perform them all at the same time. The confusion comes on gradually as group members accept more responsibilities. This is a fun example of how people can learn through play.
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Don't Touch Me!
Don't Touch Me specifically targets shifting paradigms, the concept of "what you see and hear is not always what you get," and the idea of "thinking outside of the box." Don't Touch Me playfully engages your group and challenges them to use that grey matter just to the north of their shoulders. This activity has been written in many books, and used because it is nothing less than wildly successful. Kudos to games guru Karl Rhonke at High Five Adventure Learning Center, and our good friend Sam Sikes and his crew from Learning Unlimited.
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Group Jump Rope
Jump Rope has been around for ages, and so has this team building variation. In Group Jump Rope, group members try to get through a series of jump rope challenges while having a great time. This activity reinforces the old adage "motion creates emotion" as your group moves, jumps, and enjoys the fun.
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Speed
With no set up, quick passing, and lots of laughter, Speed is an easy and fun team builder. Players pass a disc around a circle using only their backs. This game gets a little crazy because players find the task more difficult than they imagined. The task is light-hearted and full of smiles!
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Puzzling Problem
Anything and everything can be an experiential activity. Something as simple as putting a puzzle together can lead to a great conversation. Puzzling Problem asks three teams to put three different puzzles together in as little time as possible. To make this challenge more interesting, the pieces for the three puzzles are all mixed up, and the teams switch puzzles twice during play. This can be one of the longer activities, but well worth the time.
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Moving Marbles
Moving Marbles involves team members working together to roll marbles through homemade paper tubes.The goal is for the group to move the five marbles from a standing position to a slow and controlled finish on the ground.This is another classic activity that has stood the test of time. Using props that you can find anywhere, you can have a quick and intriguing activity ready for your group in no time!
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Pass It
Pass It stimulates group rhythm by asking participants to pass a sound around the circle quickly; but more importantly on beat. This simple activity explores rhythm as a metaphor for life and how well groups work together.
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One Way
Sometimes there is only one way to get things done. In this brainteaser turned group activity, participants are trying to switch positions in a nine square line. It isn't as easy as it seems and requires some thought. The challenge of the activity will keep them engaged in the process.
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Perfect Square
Perfect Square is a fast-moving game with a team-building twist. Your group must try to keep you at the center of their perfect square. No matter where you move or how you turn, group members must remain in the same orientation to you as when they started. This is a great opener at the beginning of an activity session.
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Mountain Rescue
This activity is all about physical teamwork and communication.To be successful, team members have to learn to move together across a narrow path while connected at the ankles. Coordinated movement and an ability to work together will mark the success of this activity.
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Alphabet Soup
Alphabet Soup is a fast-paced activity that can be played with groups of any size. It is quick and easy to explain and provides an opportunity for your group to move and be creative. Alphabet Soup works great indoors or outdoors, and can spark wonderful conversation.
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Structure
Structure is about building teams by building towers. First, your team breaks into smaller workgroups and is given a limited amount of plain paper and tape. The team is then asked to build the tallest structure possible from the resources provided. Each workgroup will begin construction independently, but will soon realize that pooling their resources may provide a better result.
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Winding Down
This activity was inspired by a carnival game at the fair, but the materials are a bit different. You won't win any cheesy stuffed animals and it takes the whole team to make this one work, but hey, close enough. Your group is trying to move a ring down a winding piece of copper tubing without it touching. Success depends on the group's ability to work together and have a good time doing it.
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Spider's Web
Spider's Web is an excellent, but more advanced activity. It requires your group to work at a slightly higher level of cooperation. Team members work to pass themselves or each other through a spider's web made of masking tape. Everyone must pass through to the other side safely, and without disturbing the web. We recommend that you use some of the other activities on the CD-ROM such as First Impressions, and Mountain Rescue before moving to this activity.
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