Category: Activities

Micro Cup It Up Activities: Flip Flop Tower & Reverse Pyramid Build (with video)

8/13/2021

If you've been following the fun for a while, you know I love team building with cups (in non-alcoholic ways). And, you might also know I'm the co-author of the book, Cup It Up: Team Building with Cups (with Barry Thompson). The book is available for immediate download or paperback version.

Recently I was organizing some pictures and video files and found some cup action using the smaller one-ounce cups (initially presented at NCCPS: The National Challenge Course Practitioners Symposium - a.k.a., the Un-Conference near Boulder Colorado).

Those of you who have been team building with cups for a while should be able to pick up the steps from the video. (As always, if you have any questions be sure to email me: chris@onteambuilding.com) Here are some finer details for each activity:

Flip-Flop Tower
All the details are HERE for the Macro Cup version - plays the same with the smaller cups!

Reverse Pyramid Build
You will find complete details for this one in the Cup It Up book (along with lots more cup activities). Here are the basics:

Pyramid Rule: Each horizontal level/row of cups has only one more cup than the level above it.
Start with one cup on the table (i.e., flat surface).
Only the cup(s) touching the table can be lifted.
Cups may only be added underneath the pyramid structure.
If a cup falls from the pyramid in any way, start over with one cup.
If you are not lifting the pyramid, only by the bottom row, you can use your index fingers (only) to touch the pyramid structure.

The Reverse Pyramid Build is one of my favorite cup activities. It has the tactile, visual and auditory connections that engage participants. It brings up great conversations about success and failure (when you fail you see it and you hear it) and small groups are active in planning and carrying out particular roles and responsibilities - some are more demanding than others. All good stuff to talk about.

Do let me know if you have questions! Email: chris@onteambuilding.com

Have FUN out there.

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

A New Way Through the Mountain Tops

7/30/2021

I haven't posted a lot about Challenge Course elements (constructed structures) here at the FUNdoing blog since these types of activities not as accessible to most team builders. Recently however, I've found an engaging way to run Mountain Tops that I really want to get 'out there' in the world. (FYI: I'm working on a more portable Mountain Tops that I'll share as soon as I can get pictures.)

Image taken from, The Guide for Challenge Course Operations (2005) by Bob Ryan

I learned and known this activity as Mountain Tops. When searching for a reference the only one I could find (on my shelves) refers to this activity as Islands (source indicated under the image above). No matter the name, the traditional operation of the element is the same.

There are three platforms six to eight feet apart. Two, five to six foot boards are provided. A group of 10 to 12 participants is challenged to get from the first platform to the third platform without the boards or anyone in the group touching the ground. (This is the nutshell idea. There are a few more details.)

As you can see in the image above, a single board will not span the distance from one platform to the other. However, two boards together in an overlapped configuration with participants standing on enough of one end of each board can support someone moving across. (NOTE: At least one foot must be in contact with a board or platform at all times - i.e., no jumping.)

At first, there is some good group problem solving going on. But once the board configuration is solved, it's all about moving people - there is very little problem solving left (other than managing participants on platforms). Despite the access I've had to this element I've rarely used it over the years due to engagement levels...until recently. Hence, A New Way Through the Mountain Tops.

Mountain Tops 2.0 (we'll call it for now)

Set Up: Check out the picture up in the header. The first and third platform are 4 x 4 feet and six inches high. The middle platform is 3 x 3 feet, six inches high. There is one six foot board (2 x 6 inches) on the center platform. The other two boards are 5 feet long (2 x 6 inches). The platforms are seven feet apart.

Now, look closely to see the small white squares near the platforms. Those are Jumbo Bananagram letter tiles placed with the letters down (see the pictures below for a close up with letters up). There's lots more about these tiles below. (NOTE: There are also a few wooden, light brown, stumps near the right platform left over from a Zig Zag - those are not used with this element.) Each tile is placed three to four feet away from the platforms. You can use any type of letter tile you can get your hands on. The most accessible might be small paper plates with letters on them. And, if you can write the letters on the plates so participants can't see the numbers through the bottom of the plates, that would be optimal. (We want to provide a little mystery at the onset.)

Setting Out Letters - In the Big Picture (I don't share this with participants), the group will be tasked to discover and/or form three words using all the letters. So, when I set down the letters I mix up the first word letters around platforms two and three (counting from left to right). I mix up the second word letters around platforms one and three. And, the third word letters around platforms one and two. (This may become clearer as you read through to the end of this description. If not, send me an email and we'll talk.)

Objective: The group will be tasked to successfully complete three challenges with less than 10 fouls (or less depending on the overall objectives of the group).

Group: 9 to 12 participants is optimal (I've seen it done with up to 15 using the set up in the picture above.) I'd do this one with middle school ages on up.

Pre-Challenges: Before Challenge 1 is presented to the group, everyone will need some information to take with them. The 13 letters above will make up the words, Team Work Rules. If you have more than 13 participants, come up with three words that equal or exceed the number of participants you'll have. You can simply have a list of words that might be relevant to your program goals or words that make up a sentence - up to you.

Now, I don't tell the group about the words at this point. Before the first challenge I tell everyone: All of you need to be responsible for taking at least one word with you into the challenges. If needed, you can be responsible for two words, but no more than two. This process is essentially the first team building task they have to go through.

When the group tells me that everyone has her/his letter (or letters), I give them the first challenge. (NOTE: You can check in to make sure all the letters are assigned, or let the group move on without checking. Out the 15 attempts I observed recently, two groups went into the first challenge without all the letters being assigned. Good talking point here.) After all of my observations, I found that giving the group directions to the first challenge while everyone is still standing off to the side of the element provides space for some key planning they might consider. (For example, once they find out the first challenge, they strategically place people on platforms where they have the most success flipping over the tiles, And for some, being on a platform that has enough tiles to flip over - when someone has more than one tile to flip.)

Challenge 1
(During this brief, there is some information relevant to all the challenges - the bullets.) The following is an example of a possible script:

This activity involves three challenges.
You'll need to complete the first to move on to the second. Then, you need to complete the second challenge in order to move onto the third.
You will have 20 minutes to accomplish all three challenges. [NOTE: I found this to be a good time frame - they either accomplish all three tasks or they don't. Good talking points.]
For all three challenges you will be allowed a total of 10 fouls - after the 10th foul you will start over with the first challenge.
Fouls: 1) When a participant touches the ground - every three seconds touching the ground is a foul. The exception to a person touching the ground is when she/he is working with a tile. Slight ground touches are okay in this instance. 2) When a board touches the ground - every three seconds a board touches the ground is a foul. 3) When a board touches a tile. 4) When a tile is thrown or dropped to the ground after being picked up. 5) When a board is thrown - for obvious safety reasons. 6) When anyone is not in contact with a board or platform - essentially, no jumping.

The first challenge involves simply flipping over all the tiles you see on the ground near the platforms. Simply flip over and leave it where it in place. You may not begin to touch the tiles until everyone in your group is standing on top of a platform. Once everyone is standing on a platform all fouls are live until all three challenges are complete or your 20-minute time frame is up.

SAFETY NOTE: Please be mindful and avoid pinching any fingers or toes with the boards during the activity.

You may only flip over the number of tiles equal to the number of letters you are responsible for - if you are responsible for one letter, you flip over only one tile. Two letters, flip over two tiles. Are there any questions about the rules or your first challenge? [Answer questions here.]

If there are no more questions, your 20-minute time frame starts NOW!

What I've seen so far is most groups simply jump up on the platforms and get started - they are concerned about the time. In the two exceptions I mentioned above, the groups walked around the platforms, not touching anything, and assessed where people needed to be in order to flip over the right amount of tiles.

I'm also thinking that if there are some taller people in the group, move some tiles out away from the platforms even further. Will the group assess this ahead of time. If the distribution of the people does not line up with the tiles, challenge 1 will take longer to accomplish. (The 'prior planning prevents poor performance' discussion.)

The big Mountain Top change for me with Challenge 1 is that now everyone is actively engaged in either flipping a tile or helping the flipper. They also pick up the 'diving board' use of the boards which will lead to moving from platform to platform.

One final point. If there are participants responsible for more than one letter, and the group did not plan for this, some of them may need to move to a different platform to flip over another tile - hence, preparing them for Challenge 2. (If you don't want this to happen, create three words with the total number of letters equal to the number of people in the group.)

SAFETY NOTE: When people are moving across boards to different platforms, be sure to spot the crossing - it's very common for boards to slip or move down towards the ground. And, boards can break. So, you might choose to have groups reassess board placement before someone crosses - for safety reasons.

Processing Time Out: Once the first challenge is complete I stop the working time (the 20-minute clock). First I reiterate the number of fouls the group has remaining (since they will/should be aware of how many fouls they had during the attempt). Then, we spend a little time talking about what happened for them during challenge 1. Essentially, what worked, what didn't and what would you like to do better during challenge 2. (One of my favorite questions: What information/learnings did you share across platforms during the challenge?)

You can lead this processing time out while they are all standing on the platforms or bring them down off the platforms to another space. If you bring them down, let them know they must all return to the same platform before beginning challenge 2.

Challenge 2
After the processing time out, ask everyone to step back up onto the platform they ended with after challenge 1. Then give them challenge 2.

Your next challenge will be to retrieve the letter or letters you are responsible for - the letters you chose at the beginning of the activity. You may only touch a letter tile(s) you are responsible for. Meaning, you can't pick up someone else's letter and hand it to her/him. Do you have any questions? [Answer here.]

If there are no more questions, you have _____________ (time) remaining on your 20-minute timeframe. Time restarts now.

That's it. They are off to work on moving people from platform to platform. Now, some people might be on the platform they need to be on - less work for them. Others will need to travel.

As you can see in the picture above, it is perfectly okay to have a gap between the boards. Just be sure to spot anyone crossing. Also, if you are the only facilitator with the group, require that only one person may cross at a time so you are able to spot them. In most cases there are things/tasks to accomplish at each platform, so there is little waiting around if they are on top of 'things.'

Processing Time Out: Again, stop the working time and process a bit. Did they improve on something? Any major failures they learned from? What will be their main improvement focus for challenge 3? Whatever questions work for you, and them, to bring out some learnings. Then back to the final challenge.

Challenge 3
For this challenge there are some options. If the group is within 5-minutes of working time, give them the 'get-to-it' version:

For your final challenge, your letters make up a sentence - Team Work Rules. Well of course it does!! You are required to bring your letter(s) to the appropriate platform. TEAM will be at the first platform. WORK at the SECOND and Rules at the third. Again, you may not hand off or pass your letter(s) to someone else - you must take them to where they belong. Once you get to the appropriate platform you are allowed to place your letter on the ground in front of your platform in order to spell out the word your letter is part of. No foul will be given.

If there is more than 5-minutes left on the clock, give them another problem to solve:

This final challenge has two parts. The first part is to use all the letters within your group to create a sentence. Here's a hint. The sentence is made up of two words. However, within the two words, there are three words. And yes, you need to stay on the platforms while you work on solving the problem.

Now, you may need to give some hints along the way so it doesn't take too much of there time remaining - keep an eye on the clock. Once they have figured out the sentence, give then the second part of the challenge:

You are required to bring your letter(s) to the appropriate platform. TEAM will be at the first platform. WORK at the SECOND and Rules at the third. Again, you may not hand off or pass your letter(s) to someone else - you must take them to where they belong. Once you get to the appropriate platform you are allowed to place your letter on the ground in front of your platform in order to spell out the word your letter is part of.

Once they have completed the third challenge, bring them down off the platforms for some processing.

As you might have already figured out, if the group commits 10 fouls you can bring them down off the platforms and have them take a little mental (and possibly physical) break while you reset the activity. This is, of course, if you have the time for them to restart. You have the option to give them only the remaining time on the initial 20-minute time frame or give them a new 20 minutes. This will depend upon the overall time allowed for your program and the outcomes you are working on.

Processing:
There are lots of things to talk about for this one. Here are some things I've seen:

Describe your planning process for the first challenge. What went well right away? If so, how did your plans change during the challenge? If anything, what did you overlook during your initial planning time?
Describe any changes that took place in regards to planning for the second and third challenges. What influenced your planning for these challenges?
What do you remember about your communication between platforms throughout the challenges? What communication behaviors worked well? What communication behaviors didn't work so well?
What were your resources during the challenges? How did you utilize your resources? In what ways could your resources have been better utilized?
If you made mistakes (fouls) during the challenges, how did you go about fixing them? Did the same mistakes happen more than once? If so, why do you think this happened?
How was the workload distributed during the challenges - Evenly? How did you divide up the work? Unevenly? Why do you think this happened?
What did you learn from the challenges that you want to remember after this program?

If you try this New Way Through the Mountain Tops, please let us know how it went and what changes or additions you made. Leave a Comment below. Thanks.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Quadistinctions (with Playing Cards & Chiji Cards)

6/18/2021

In one of my recent FUNdoing Fridays emails I shared a link to a Free Experiential Learning Manual from RSVP Designs (free as in, give them your email free - but I like this group, fantastic tools for team building). I recommend the manual as a useful tool for training new team building staff.

As I often do during my activity searches, I took an image capture of an activity shared in the manual in order to explore the idea at a different time. They call it, Making Novel Connections - an exercise in creative thinking (I'm calling it Quadistinctions). When I went back to explore, playing cards and Chiji (Image) Cards jumped to the front of the line. Here are the first several pieces of information for the activity from RSVP:

Take a pack of assorted picture cards that is divisible by 4 - we suggest a pack of 32 to 48 cards.
Lay the cards out on the table and ask the learners to sort them into sets of 4. Each set of 4 must have something that connects all the cards (e.g., animals)
The task is easy to begin with but becomes more difficult as fewer cards remain. It may be necessary to break up existing sets in order to fit existing images into sets.
Insist that the group's members 'force' all cards into sets of 4.
You can share that finding novel connections is a key skill when it comes to creative thinking.

NOTE: There are some other educational points shared in the manual if you want to dive in deeper.

Okay. I love the simplicity of the exercise. It's a good one for small groups (and larger groups divided into smaller groups - How will the different groups approach the problem and will answers be the same or different, or both?). It's nice for quiet cognitive engagement and can certainly be considered problem solving.

Now, since a deck of Chiji Cards has 48 images, I was ready to try it out (my 'out'come is below). However, since more team builders have access to playing cards I thought I'd try them first. Here's my thinking/idea right now (help me sort it out):

Quadistinctions with Playing Cards
NOTE: This is a different approach to the challenge suggested by RSVP Designs.

Give each group (of 3 to 5 learners) a set of playing cards that include the Aces through the eights (put aside the nines through Kings).
Challenge the group to discover the 12 different 'distinct' groupings (all cards organized into sets of 4 cards meeting the distinction) on the Master List (below).
The distinctions for the groupings must be 'arguable' - groupings that are clear and obvious (you, as the facilitator may need to explain your expectations when necessary).
After forming the sets of 4 to make the distinction, groups may not use these formed sets as another distinction - may not name the formed sets more than one thing.
If a clear and obvious distinction is discovered by a group, one that is not on the list, it can be written onto the list and categorized as a 'creative discovery' - but will not count towards completing the challenge.
Be sure to set a time limit for the challenge (e.g., 20 minutes) or end it when one group finds all 12 distinctions.

As with any Beta testing, let me know how this works for you. And let me know if you have any questions about the distinctions I've come up with (some might not make sense or could be the same as another distinction). Here's the Master List (so far):

quadistinctions_playingcards.pdf
File Size:	29 kb
File Type:	pdf

Quadistinctions with Chiji Cards
Well, I gave myself 30 minutes for my first attempt with Chiji Cards following the RSVP Directions for Image Cards. I almost made it...I'll be making another attempt soon. Here's what I came up with creating 11 out of the possible 12 sets of 4...

I would be super-excited to find out about your success - with whatever deck of image cards you have available. (The next deck I'm going to try is Climer Cards.) Send your discovery to chris@onteambuilding.com Thank you in advance!!

Have fun out there my friend!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

The Bank Robbery - A Who Done It? Challenge (Print-N-Play)

6/5/2021

Here's another fun share from Karen Whittaker. (THANKS Karen!) She shared this one with me a while back as a Virtual problem solving challenge. Now that we are starting to meet face-to-face again with groups, I thought I'd get this to you ready to print, cut and play.

Karen developed this deductive challenge for up to 13 participants (there are 13 clue(s) cards to cut out). (Another good small group team building activity.) I also made another level of challenge for us. Karen numbered the clues cards. If read in order it's a little easier to follow the story/facts in chronological order. I took the numbers off the clue cards for another level of challenge - groups will need to sort out some of the chronological details. (So, there is a numbered version and an unnumbered version below.)

I'd say, this challenge is good for older middle school age and up. Again, for up to 13 participants. If you are working with larger groups, divide them up into smaller groups - each group getting a set of 13 clues cards. I wonder if they will collaborate?

NOTE: If you want to attempt to solve the crime, know that the Answer is on the final page of each PDF document.

bankrobbery_whodoneit_numbers_kwhittaker.pdf
File Size:	70 kb
File Type:	pdf

bankrobbery_whodoneit_nonumbers_kwhittaker.pdf
File Size:	68 kb
File Type:	pdf

If you try this one out, do let us know how it goes - we love feedback. Leave a Comment below.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Number Flips (a Key Punch Variation)

5/20/2021

Every team builder I know carries around a set of numbered spots (usually, at least, 24). I've seen the small 'livestock tag' version, the poly-spot versions (small & large), the yogurt lid (write-the-numbers-on-the-plastic) version and index card versions. There are so many activities you can do with numbered spots. The most famous of all is Key Punch (Rohnke, Silver Bullets).

Here are some versions of Key Punch I've posted here at the FUNdoing Blog:
Ven Key Punch
Key Punch: The Overlap
Key Pad Express (with Video)
Thread the Needle

Number Flips was created as a self-guided activity for groups of 6 to 12 participants. (Of course, it does not need to be self-guided.) I believe this one can also be done (with more hands-on facilitation and maybe taking out the 'unflip' part) with elementary age groups as long as they know their numbers. A great one for middle school age and older.

So far, here is what I'm getting from the activity: Planning practice, execution and adaptation of plans, adapting/adjusting to change, acceptance and working through mistakes, roles and responsibilities, process improvement.

All you need for each group you put into play is two 50-foot activity ropes, a set of (at least) 24 numbers and up to 12 game spots. I've attached the PDF download of preparation information and the self-guided directions below.

numberflips_2.0.pdf
File Size:	219 kb
File Type:	pdf

A Little Help: I just started using this activity with a handful of groups - I'm really finding it engaging. I could use some feedback, especially with the write up. If something is way too confusing, let me know. Leave a Comment below. Thanks!!

All the best,
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Image Perspectives (a Chiji Cards Activity)

5/6/2021

Image cards are truly one of the most versatile team building prop (in my opinion). My two favorite decks of images are Chiji Cards (above) and Climer Cards (both physical and virtual decks). And, one of my favorite projects to do with long-term groups (e.g., school-based classes that meet regularly), is to make our own set of image cards (digital resources and magazine cut-outs, laminated).

Recently, I was searching for resources for a curriculum development project. One of the curriculum's themes is 'Diversity' so, naturally, I picked up my copy of Diversity in Action: Using Adventure Activities to Explore Issues of Diversity with Middle School and High School Age Youth by Chappelle, Bigman & Hillyer (an amazing book!). Digging through the book I came across the activity, Human Camera (Rohnke, Silver Bullets). In the Diversity Skills section of the activity the authors state, "This activity lends itself well to discussions about how each of us perceives the world differently."

Based on the environmental context where the curriculum was going to be delivered (the school's indoor and outdoor spaces), I knew Human Camera was not going to be as 'rich' as it needed to be. How could I do something similar to make the point about perceiving the world differently? Image cards came to mind. Here's what I'm thinking (another Beta Test my friend!):

Image Perspectives

Set Up: Scatter out your set(s) of image cards, images up, on the floor or a few tables. When working with six or more participants, form small groups of three or four in a group. (This is a good activity for small groups of six or less.)

Frontload: (Using some of the language from Diversity in Action) "This activity lends itself well to discussions about how each of us perceives the world differently. People who look at the same 'image' often see it differently. Let's try out this idea."

Directions:

Sit together with your small group around in the program area. Give yourself a little space away from other groups so you can carry on a discussion without interrupting each other.
One person from your small group is invited to find an image from the pool of cards that is the backdrop for a story that happened in the person's life.
The image/card chooser returns to her/his group and shows the image.
First, each of the choosers group members is invited to share a story this image brings up for them - something from their lives. [In most cases, I'm guessing, something will come up for everyone. If someone needs to "Pass" it's okay.]
The person who choose the image/card will then tell the story about what the image means to her/him.
After this sharing, each small group is given the opportunity to discuss the similarities and differences between their stories. Their perspectives of the same image.
Then, someone else from the small group is invited to choose an image/card from the pool that tells a story for him/her.
The process continues for each participant within each small group. (If others are still working through their first turn, the groups done with their first turn can invite someone from their group to take another turn - pick a new image/card that tells another story.)

Group Processing (These two question are what I would like to explore with the whole group. Inspired by the Human Camera activity in Diversity in Action):

How do our different perspectives, or stories, about the things we see influence how we react to the world around us?
Please share some first hand examples of this idea?

Let me know if you try this one. How did it go? What did you change?

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

ICON Circle Puzzles (mini kit 2)

4/9/2021

ICON Circle Puzzles are the latest evolution of Word Circle Puzzles. A few posts ago I shared a couple ICON Puzzles and I recently was moved to create a couple more - I wanted to add more to my ICON set so I can have challenge options when showing this version. (Puzzles sizes now include: 8 cards, 9 cards, 10 cards & 13 cards.) In this Kit 2 I added a separate HELP Cards page so we can print this off on different colored paper - I like to print my HELP Cards on light green paper.

For Your Reference:

ICON Circle Puzzles Mini Kit 1 - FUNdoing Blog with play details and Word Circle Puzzles links and a link to the second evolution of circle puzzles - Picture Circle Puzzles.
Use the 'Search' feature (top of this blogs right column) to find TONS of 'Word Circle Puzzles' ready to use.
TheNounProject - This is where I get my ICONS (free for some ICONS, pay $40/year for unlimited).
Circle Puzzles Print-N-Play Kits - Check out the Circle Puzzles Kits, both Word and Picture Word Circles Kits at the FUNdoing store. PDF downloads ready to print and play!

ICON Circle Puzzles - Kit 2

iconwordcirclepuzzles_set2_kit.pdf
File Size:	575 kb
File Type:	pdf

Have FUN out there...

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

ReZOOM the Order (Face-to-Face & Virtual)

3/18/2021

Before the video conferencing platform ZOOM became a household word, there was ZOOM - the book by Istvan Banyai. I included a short historical reference in my book, Portable Teambuilding Activities (2015) about how the pages of ZOOM were used as a communication-focused team building activity as far back as 1999. More recently, I included two different FUNdoing Blog posts about using ZOOM Basics and ZOOM On the Spot (including a video).

Recently I was working on the sequential one-page answer sheet to Banyai's followup to ZOOM, ReZOOM. A single page answer sheet is nice to have along with the picture pages for quick reference to the answer (and a quick check to see if any pages are missing before leading the activity). I've included this PDF for you below. (If you haven't (book) ZOOMed yet, be sure to read the ZOOM Basics post linked above before reading the new variations I'm presenting below.)

New Ideas for ReZOOM & ZOOM

During my construction of the ReZOOM answer page (link below), a couple of ideas floated into my awareness - happens a lot, for better or worse! One is a small group ZOOMer (emanated, no doubt, from the last FUNdoing Blog post on Small Group Activities) and another is a virtual idea.

ZOOMing from Memory (with small groups)

I have yet to try ZfM, so this is an idea in the making (help me out with the details). I'd say 5 to 8 participants. You'll need one ReZOOM (or ZOOM) page for each participant. For example, if you have 6 people, 6 sequential pages from the book. (I'm staying with sequential pages at this time.) You'll need an activity spot (or a chair) for each person. Set the chairs out in a nice big circle. Shuffle up the ZOOM pages and put one, picture-side down, on the top of each spot/chair (like the diagram shows).

Initially, ask each participant to stand behind a chair, pick up the picture (ZOOM) page on their chair, look at it for 30 seconds and then place it back, picture-side down, on their chair. Then, have the group form a small circle inside the circle of chairs (as show in the diagram) - each person is standing about 10 feet in front of her/his chair. Tell the group that all the pictures in their set create a sequential storyline. At the moment the storyline is out of order. Their task is to put the pictures in sequential storyline order.

RULES (so far):

Participants may only talk to each other when they are standing together in the center circle - we'll call this the 'talking circle'.
Each person may look at her/his picture page 6 times during the activity - we'll call this, 'data gathering'.
No more than 2 people may look at their picture page at one time.
Picture pages may not be shown to anyone - only verbal descriptions can be used.
Only 2 people are allowed to swap picture spots (activity spot or chair) at a time. This swapping must take place moving around the outside of the spots/chairs. Participants then take their new spots in the talking circle (in front of her/his picture page).
Once all participants have used up their 6 data gathering turns or time allowed is up (e.g., 20 minutes), picture pages may be adjusted, but not looked at, for another few minutes if needed.
When everyone agrees, reveal the pages in order to see the result.

The main dynamic I'm going for here is listening and talking. Depending on how they use their data gathering turns and talking circle time, who will be able to listen to what is being shared while trying to remember her/his picture page data (description).

Out of Order (virtual idea)
This idea involves creating a Slide (the one above was created in Google Slides) like the one at the header of this post. I took (pictures of) 6 sequential pages from ReZOOM and then placed them on the Slide out of order. When I lead this activity, I'll share my ZOOM (video conferencing platform) screen with this opening Slide:

I will explain to the group that they will be placed into Breakout Rooms of 4 to 5 people after they initially get to look at the 6 pictures for 30-seconds. Then, they will have 90-seconds in their Breakout Rooms to discuss the Task with their group. After 90-seconds everyone will return (forced-return) to the main room to look at the 6 pictures again for 30-seconds. Then, 90-seconds in Breakout Rooms again with their group. These 30/90-seconds cycles will go on as long as needed until one group claims they have an answer.

After an answer is reached by at least one group (I'll be asking when participants returns to the main room), one more cycle is completed - 30-seconds with the pictures, 90-seconds in Breakout Rooms. All groups are asked to come back with their numerical answer after this last 90-seconds.

Based on the way the Task Slide is worded, there are two possible answers - whether pictures are ZOOMing in or out. I've created Slides with both possible answers. My guess is, depending on how each person is decoding the pictures, there could be some miscommunication and problem-solving that needs to take place before arriving at an answer.

All Beta testing at this point.

If you get the opportunity to try either of these ZOOMs, let us know how it goes! Leave a Comment below.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

ReZOOM Answer Page

rezoom_answer.pdf
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Small Group Team Building: Mini FUNdoing Blog Index, Vol. 1

3/5/2021

One question I'm asked a lot (most recently by Dawn C.), is about what team building activities can be done with small groups - always accompanied with, "Is there a good book I can purchase?" Cutting to the chase, I don't know of a 'team-building-focused' book that is specifically written for small-group work (this would be a useful resource if someone put it out there!!). However, as you might already know, there are lots of good small-group activities scattered among the plethora of team building activity books available to us.

A way I can help answer this question right now is to share some of the team building activities already posted here at the FUNdoing Blog, ones that can be done with smaller groups. They will be posted in this one, and other, 'mini-indexes' initially and then end up in the Master FUNdoing Blog Index I'm working on as we speak. A 'Small Group Activities' Category has also been added to the Categories located in the right sidebar of this blog in order to include new small group activities posted in the future.

As always, we would love to hear about your favorite small group activities. Leave a Comment below.

Small Group Activities: Mini-Index Volume #1:

Flip Flop Towers - (Video Included) I've used this one successfully with (middle school age and older) groups of two to four. Multiple groups can play at the same time. Each group needs a set of 30 Plastic (e.g., Solo) Cups. Great for working on the 'Success/Failure' paradigm, taking risks and process improvement.

Word Circle Puzzles - 'Puzzles' of all kinds are nice small group team building activities. The link here takes you to the basic idea of Word Circle Puzzles - including several puzzles to start with. Use the Search feature at the top of this blog page - type in Word Circle Puzzles - to access LOADS of free Circle Puzzles. For a more challenging version of Circle Puzzles, go to the free (and first) print-n-play Picture Word Circle Puzzle. (You can also pick up the Word & Picture Word Circle Puzzles Print-N-Play Kits at the FUNdoing Store. The Word Circle Puzzles Starter Kit has 12 Presentation Ideas and over a dozen puzzles to print and use right away. There is also an Assets Package from a Virtual Circle Puzzles training I presented - How to use Circle Puzzles in virtual settings.)

Play Time Puzzle Cards - Here's another easy puzzle to present to small groups. This one takes a lot of collective wisdom to get through.

Team Building Cards - Here is a (print-n-play) set of 24 team building behavior cards that can be used with small groups to prompt conversations about, well....team building. They can help a group create norms for themselves, solve a current problem or bring to light new behaviors they might want to incorporate. The cards can be brought out any time some team thinking will be useful.

Box Cards - All you need is a deck of cards and at least two players. It's a timed challenge that I've done with fourth graders and older. Lots of communication and planning. Then, process improvement through compromise and practice.

The Big Question - This one is a community building activity for any size group. In most cases, when I'm working with a large group, I divide them into smaller sub-groups of two to five people. Each group can be handed a list of Big Questions to talk through or all the sub-groups can be given (verbally) a Big Question to discuss for a certain amount of time - say, three minutes. After every three minutes (in either variation) stop to let sub-groups report out some memorable findings. There are question suggestions in the post, or, of course, create Big Questions relevant to your particular group(s).

I hope this initial list is useful. Please share a small-group favorite of your own - add it into the Comments below to grow our list. And, there's at least one more mini-index on the way - maybe more.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Distancing Sticks: Three Team Building Activities with PVC (video)

2/7/2021

Late last year I participated in a ZOOM call with Karen Whittaker and her super-staff. They wanted to share some of the team building goodness they have created for there in-person groups. (Karen has shared some FUN content with us before: Macro Liner Quotes (print-n-play) and Life Skills Memory Match (print-n-play).

Here is the first installment of activities from the call (more on the way). Karen and Staff share three activities using 1-inch PCV piping - 10-feet long, schedule 40 thickness. I've dubbed them, Distancing Sticks.

Activities on the Video (Karen's Names):

Egyptian Pyramid - Use the pipes to build a standard pyramid out of milk crates.
Chop Sticks - Move Orbs from point 'A' to point 'B' by rolling or tossing (played like Loops: Toxic Waste Removal - using the PVC pipes is a great lead into the LOOPS version).
Letter Opener (picture above) - Create a Scrabble-like puzzle manipulating wooden letter tiles with the PVC piping (use all the tiles provided).

Do check out the video below. If you have any questions about how to set up and play any of these activities, send me an email: chris@onteambuilding.com

Thanks again to Karen and the super-staff!!

If you have any distancing sticks ideas, include them in the Comments. We would love more!!

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.