Blog Posts

Word Circle Puzzles: April 2019

4/11/2019

It's been a while since since I've posted new Word Circle Puzzles (WCP) - so, here you go! If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles, go HERE for a good start (and more puzzles - HINT: Click on the picture at the post to enlarge it enough to see five puzzle card sets). Also, to find all the WCP posts, search 'Word Circle Puzzles' using the Search feature to the right. And, don't forget to check out the first Picture Word Circle Puzzle HERE - this is the advanced version of WCP.

Here are the new puzzle. They are out of order in case you want to give them a try before checking out the answers below. The Gist: Write out each word of a puzzle on a separate index card, then put them ALL together ending in a circle of words - each word is connected, in a searchable answer, to the word before it and after it.

Blue, Egg, Rest, Bird, Head, Code, Nest, Area, Jay (9)
Stone, Shade, Dance, Storage, Top, Key, Shed, Lime, Hat, Pass, Cold, Hall, Tree, Light (14)
Iron, Lift, Frog, Bird, Weight, Start, Work, Kick, Lime, Cast, Tree, Song, Night, Up, Shade, Light, Off (17)
Square, System, Office, Block, Kind, Float, Building, Red, Out, Letter, Carpet, Law, Man, Error, School, Deal, Plane, Prone, Ticket (19)
Clean, Boat, What, Some, Cat, Way, Green, Side, Even, Come, In, Hall, Walk, Ever, How, House, Show, Break, Bean, So, Awe, For, Town (23)

Want the FULL SCOOP on Word Circle Puzzles: Print-N-Play Word Circle Puzzles Starter Kit - ALL the details about Word Circle Puzzles, 12 different presentation ideas for using the word sets and 18 puzzles, ready to print, laminate, cut and play, at the FUNdoing Store.

Print-N-Play Picture Word Circle Puzzles, Volume 1 - Six more full-length picture card word circle puzzles ready to print, laminate, cut and play, at the FUNdoing Store.

Teambuilding with Puzzles - Both the Word Circle Puzzles & Picture Word Circle Puzzles kits are included in this online, study at your own pace, team building activity course. Check it out HERE.

Spoiler Alert! Answers are Below

Answers:

Rest, Area, Code, Blue, Jay, Bird, Nest, Egg, Head
Hall, Pass, Key, Lime, Stone, Cold, Storage, Shed, Light, Shade, Tree, Top, Hat, Dance
Shade, Tree, Frog, Kick, Start, Up, Cast, Iron, Work, Song, Bird, Lime, Light, Weight, Lift, Off, Night
Man, Kind, Red, Carpet, Square, Deal, Out, Law, School, System, Error, Prone, Float, Plane, Ticket, Office, Building, Block, Letter
Awe, Some, How, Come, Clean, Break, Even, So, What, For, Ever, Green, Bean, Town, Hall, Way, Side, Show, Boat, House, Cat, Walk, In

Have FUN out there my friends!!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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Objectable Human Knot

3/27/2019

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(Spoiler Alert my team building friends! I have yet to see the successful completion of this challenge! Want to be the first in the record book - send in a short video clip of the last two minutes leading to success. We would love to see if this is possible!)

These were the first attempts to my eyes (two groups at a conference workshop) of, Objectable Human Knot. In the video you will see us set up the Human Knot with buddy ropes in a way that will lead to a single circle solution.

Once the tangles were set a beach ball was placed atop each set of ropes.

The Challenge: Without human contact with the beach ball, untangle the rope knot without letting go of the ropes or dropping the ball. (With this set up, everyone should be standing next to the person from the initial circle of the set up - this would be the expectation of "untangle.")

During these Beta Testing attempts, the groups placed the beach ball back on top of the ropes right away if it fell to the ground. In "real life" team building, we decided, if the ball drops, the group would have to reset the tangle from the beginning before placing the ball back on top of the ropes. (Just a thought so far.)

We also talked about letting some of the air out of the beach balls so they didn't roll around as much (to make the activity easier), use different objects like a small cardboard box or stuffed animal and allowing for a certain number of drops (e.g., three) before resetting the tangle.

Give this a try. Help out the cause. Is the task even possible - we would love to know! (And, see a video of a successful conclusion.)

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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Phraseology Cards, Set 1 (Print-N-Play)

3/14/2019

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Something new. Let's try this out together. Before you read the description, I suggest you take a look at (and/or download) the cards you get!

Phraseology Cards

phraseologycards_set1.pdf
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Welcome to Phraseology Cards – a norming and processing activity about "meaning" and making meaning. In some educational theories it's said that we should start with what we know before venturing into the unknown. Using Phraseology Cards can help us practice this idea before diving deeper into new social learning experiences.

Activity Objective: Using all the cards, pair them up so that two cards make a phrase that has a particular (Part 1) or new (Part 2) meaning.

Facilitated Objective: Explore prior knowledge (and why this might be useful), and practice behaviors related to communication, sharing voice, community knowledge, and building rapport.

Needs & Numbers: Print out the 38 Phraseology Cards below on copy paper or card stock paper - go with a color other than white to spice it up a bit (or, maybe a few different colors). For long-term use laminated the cards if you are using regular (thin) copy paper. Card stock holds up well on its own. One set of 38 cards works well with a group of two to 16 participants.

Time: 15 to 20 minutes at any time during a program – maybe a little longer if you plan to use the phrases for a processing session at the end of a program (depending on the number of players of course and how much they like to talk).

Set-Up: Spread out the cards, words-side up, on a tabletop or floor, so all the cards can easily be read.

Procedure: (This is a brand-new activity, so help me add to the use of the cards.) Here's what I have so far:

Part 1: Ask (challenge) your group to match two cards together that make up a known (documented) phrase that is known to have a particular meaning. (The Meanings Key below includes one or two historical meanings for each phrase.)

When someone identifies a pair, discuss what meaning the phrase has for people. Depending on the diversity of the group, there could be a wide range of meanings. Then, find out if the phrase might have a particular connection to the group or might it have any influence on the group as they work together - could it be a "norm" the group wants to adopt?

There will be some phrases (I'm betting) that will be unknown to the group. This can be a good time to talk about "unknowns" that might show up during a program. You can use the "Meaning Key" to share a meaning and discuss how this impacts the group.

Does the group need to match up all the cards? Maybe? Maybe not?

If there is time, move into Part 2. Or, after working together for a while and "trying out" some of the phrases, put out the cards again and try Part 2 - make some new meaning.

Part 2: The group has already matched the cards into the common form. Now, make new meanings by matching two (or more?) cards into an uncommon form and define the phrase. These could end up being fun, silly combinations or more serious, norm-relevant combinations.

Making new meaning might be a good conversation (processing) topic. Run with the energy of the group.

Processing with the Cards: You could pull the cards back out at the end of a program and find out, by putting cards together, which phrases really stood out for the group during the program.

Facilitation Notes: As the group works through Part 1 (or later in Part 2), they may notice the boarders of the cards and realize one type of boarder (solid lines) is the first part of a phrase and the other boarder (dotted line) is the second part of a phrase.

If they recognize this, will it be easier? Maybe? Maybe they never realize this. No matter. It's just another form of data that can be useful or not needed. This can relate to the work you do together. When we "look" or "pay attention" we might see something that will help. Looking is a learned skill that can help us in many ways.

When we look, we have the opportunity to uncover more meaning and make more meaning. This activity is all about making meaning together as a group. And, know that it's okay to share your understanding of the phrases as well - it doesn't "mean" you have the right answer, it's only "an" answer.

Have FUN out there my friends!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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ReuseYourGear Games

2/27/2019

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Have You Ever...
worn two helmets on your head at the same time? On the way out the door, literally, from the ACCT Conference in Denver, I ran into Jeremy Sterndale and friends re-using retired climbing gear for some FUN in the hallway. Of course I had to find out what was going on - and play a little bit.

Last year Jeremy started the blog: reuseyourgear.blogspot.com

His site, "is an effort to repurpose, recreate, reimagine, and rediscover. I want to help out "re" in the forefront of things, thoughts and processes in the challenge course and outdoor facilitation worlds."

He's also posting ideas on Instagram at ReuseYourGear

During our super-fast game session, I learned about making rope discs, rope darts, monkey fist knot tossables and fashioning two helmets together for a target. Use hot glue to fasten the coils and helmets together. (I'm guessing a gorilla glue will work too.) In the short video above you'll see some different views of the gear so it makes more sense. For rope "darts" (rope version of Lawn Darts), simply tie a stopper knot (i.e., half barrel) at the end of a length of rope - start with at least 20 inches of rope. (I didn't get specifics - so you can experiment.)

You can use this gear, among other things, to play a static version of corn hole and a dynamic version (shown in the video). And, this is just the beginning I'm sure. So, what would you do with this gear? Leave your idea in the Comments below and/or head over to the ReuseYourGear blog to contact Jeremy about your idea. I know he's looking for more!

A BIG thanks to Jeremy for sharing and starting something fun and beneficial! Everyone has those "things" around that can find new life. Share what you've done and what's possible.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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The A-Files #2 (and Professional Development)

2/14/2019

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Here's the second installment of The A-Files. (HERE is the first one if you missed it.) I run across short activity snippets in my files (both paper and digital) all the time - activity ideas with little information. Just the basics. I always say to myself, "Chris, you need to do something with these." Okay, so, again, here's me doing something with these.

If you are interested in picking up some Professional Development credit, read below. If you want to just pick up some new activity ideas, skip down to the descriptions.

NEED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS? (I know Challenge Course Practitioners need them!) Click the Professional Development link below - this link takes you to the (super secret) PD Information and how to start your "Decoding" adventure. (With the two A-Files posts available, you can pick up two professional development hours.)

Professional Development

Where Do I Stand (Get to know others, from a workshop notes)

Needs & Numbers: One long activity rope for 10 to 30 players.

Description: Place a long activity rope on the ground in a straight line (or, maybe a circle - that would be fun). Designate one end as, "Not me at all!" and the other end as, "That's Really Me!" Then, the facilitator (at first), asks preference-type questions to the group. After each question, players place themselves on the rope depending on how they fit between, Not me at all! and That's really me! After the facilitator asks some questions, open it up to the group members to ask questions. Examples:

I love to travel.
School/work is fun for me.
I get my schoolwork done right away.
I am an outdoorsy person. I'm into reading.
I follow the news.
I love to cook.
I'm a risk taker.

(What are some other good ones?)

Someone Like Me (Name Game & Ice-breaker, from workshop notes, then I changed it up a bit from what I saw - adding, break up lines when there are more than three players.)

Needs & Numbers: No props needed. Play with at least 20 and up to 50.

Description: Circle up the group and count off by threes - 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 - until everyone has a number. Now, mingle around as a group for 15 seconds, saying hello, maybe share some head-nods. After 15 seconds, the facilitator says, "Shake!"

At this time, everyone starts shaking hands with others in the group. Their shaking must equal the number they gave themselves - a 1, 2 or 3. So, if I am a three, I shake a person's hand three times. When a shaker finds someone shaking the same number of times, they stay together (they can hold hands or link elbows).

Staying together, they continue shaking with their free hand (someone will be offering a left-handed shake, this is okay). When they find a like shaker, they stay connected. When a line of shakers gets longer than three players, this line divides in half (or close to it). The smaller lines go off to shake some more. Play until everyone is connected to a line. Celebrate people like you and move on....

Letters with Friends (Name Game & Warm-Up, from a Mike Spiller booklet)

Needs & Numbers: No props needed. Plays well with 20 to 50 people.

Description: Players mingle around the room sharing high-fives (or fist bumps) with other players, as they do this they say the name of the player they are connecting with - or, ask the name if unknown and say "hello" to this person.

Every 10 seconds, or so, the facilitator will call out a letter. Players get together in groups of three or four and form the letter using their bodies - challenge everyone in the small group to be a part of the letter.

When everyone has achieved the lettering, the facilitator calls, "Mingle" - all players jump up and mingle around again sharing high-fives and learning/saying names.

Easier Letters: A, C, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, T, U, V, Y, Z
Harder Letters: B, G, J, O, P, Q, R, S, W, X

Add it Up (Group Challenge, adapted from a Mike Spiller workshop activity - I added the group adding, instead of just adding in pairs.)

Needs & Numbers: No props needed. I think 10 to 14 players in a group would work (I haven't tried this one yet. Let me know....)

Description: This is a timed activity. During this challenge, no planning is allowed - it's meant to be a jump-in-it challenge. Only throwing numbers and counting are allowed. (Maybe some telepathy can be allowed??)

Circle up your group - designate a "start" player and a "finish" player - these two players are standing next to each other. On, "1, 2, 3, throw" (rock, paper, scissors style), each player "throws" out a number in front of them, zero to five with one hand.

The "start" player calls out his/her number, let's say, "Three!" (At this point, the stopwatch starts.) The next player (going in the direction away from the "finish" player) adds his/her number (let's say, four) to the first number, and says, "Seven!" The next player adds on and shouts the sum and so on around the circle until the "finish" play shouts the final sum of all the numbers added together. Time stops!

If someone catches a mistake, they "BUZZZZZ" the group. Restart. Try a few rounds to see how fast they can get. Change the "start" and "finish" players each round.

Cross the Divide (Problem Solving, conference workshop notes from 1992!!)

Needs & Number: Something to designate a start and finish line - something the groups will not trip over. This one works with 12 to 24 players.

Description: Designate a start and finish line - about 20 feet apart. Players get into groups of two or three behind the starting line and stand side-by-side and foot-to-foot (sides of the shoes touching).

Challenge each small group to cross the space between start and finish keeping their feet/shoes connected at all times (end players will not be connected by their outside foot). If the feet/shoes separate, they start again.

When everyone makes it across, combine two (four to six player) groups together in a line and have them go back across. How did the activity change after making the group larger?

Super Challenge: The whole group crosses in one long line.

Keep me posted my friends! Have FUN out there.

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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Flip and Find (with Playing Cards)

1/31/2019

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Hello Team Builder! I'm sticking with the playing card theme for this post. After you play the Ice-Breaker "Who Am !" from the LAST POST, you can play Flip and Find.

In the video above, you will see the large group version of Flip and Find (small group version below). This large group was participating in a Team Olympics - there were about 60 players in the room. Points were awarded for the top three places. So, how does it play?

Set Up:
Establish a starting line (I suggest cones or masking tape. If you use a rope, players might trip on it.) We used Jumbo Playing Cards in the Olympics (video), but any cards will work. You need a suit of 13 cards for each group of 6 to 8 players. Mix up (shuffle) each suit and then set them down in a vertical line moving away from the starting line - the first card is about 10 feet from the starting line. The further the cards are apart, the more running involved (and the more challenging they are to see from behind the starting line - if teammates are watching/ helping).

The Objective:
Turn the cards over in sequence - starting with the King and ending with the Ace - as quickly, and safely as possible.

Directions:

One person from each group can be in the "card field" at a time (over the starting line).
One card can be turned over during each turn into the card field.
If the card turned over is the first one (the King) or the next one in sequence (after the King), it can stay turned over - face up. The card must stay in the same place on the floor (or, ground).
If the card is not the one in the sequence, it must be turned back over, face down in the same place on the floor.
All players must take one true before any player takes a second turn. All players must take a second turn before anyone take a third turn, and so on.
Players can talk to each other during the activity - they can help each other remember where certain cards are positioned.
When the Ace (the final card) is turned over, the player to turn it over lifts the card into the air to signify completion of the task (jumping up and down is okay too!).

Depending how you play, there can be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, or go by time - play two rounds and add time together for the overall place in the game.

Small Group Version

Set Up: Depending on space, you can set the cards up vertically (like in the video) or horizontally (like in the picture). When I set them horizontally, the line of cards is about 20 feet from the starting line (the closer they are the easier the cards are to see - make it easy or more challenging depending on the group). Notice, there are two groups in the picture, one is playing down the other side of the porch. I set it up this way so the two group could collaborate.

The Objective:
Turn the cards over in sequence from King to Ace.

Directions: The activity plays the same (see directions above). However, in the small group version I give each group three attempts so they have the chance to improve on their process (and, hopefully share ideas with other groups in play). A super fast time comes down to creating roles and responsibilities and relying on each other for help.

Let us know how it goes! Leave a Comment below.

Have FUN out there,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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Team Building a la Card, by Jon Grizzle

1/16/2019

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I was gifted this new book by Jon Grizzle (from Jon himself) when I was attending the Association for challenge Course Technology Conference last year. (This year The ACCT Conference is in Denver Colorado, my backyard, Feb. 7-10. I'll be leading a pre-conference on Portable Team Building Activities - I get to bring ALL my props - and a couple other activity workshops during the conference. If you are in the area, it would be great to see you - let me know you follow the FUN so I can thank you properly!)

I have really enjoyed learning some new card activities and variations from the book. Along with the new activities I've picked up, Jon opened my thinking about using cards as boundary lines and borders (literally in one case) - perfect. There are some really good adaptation of well-known team building activities as well, that substitute the standard props with cards - like a card Spider Web. Clever! (You've got to build it, but we all know I like it when we build stuff.)

I put an Amazon link below to Jon's book if you're interested in picking it up.
(To help me supplement my professional blogger income, I'm now an Affiliate for Amazon. If you buy the book after using the link below, I get a little - super little - piece of the action. Every "little" bit helps.)

Here's one from the book I've already used, with a little addition from me:

Who Am I? (A nice tried-and-true ice-breaker - take out the index cards with names on them and use playing cards)

Have everyone randomly select a card without looking at the face value. Then, break into pairs (I, Chris, always ask my participants to raise up a hand, look for someone else doing the same thing, and get together.)

The goal is to discover which card they are holding by asking each other ONLY five "yes" or "no" questions. It's perfectly okay to ask more if needed, but the challenge is getting it in five questions or less.

Having multiple rounds will allow people (pairs) to begin strategizing. (Excerpted from the book.)

Here's the way I've used this one:

After giving everyone a card - asking them not to look at the face - I hold the remainder of the deck in my right hand, face down, and call it the draw pile. The same goal - discover the "rank" of the card you are holding (that's the number, letter or face card - no need to guess the suit), without looking at it. The additional goal: As a group, discover the rank of as many cards as possible in 3 minutes.

"When the activity starts, hold your card out in front of you, mingle around and ask other players questions that can ONLY be answered with a "yes" or "no". After you ask a question of someone, and get your answer, you must go off to ask someone else a question. You can always return to someone you've questioned before, you just can't ask more than one question at a time.

Once you have discovered the rank of your card, find me (the facilitator) and place your card, FACE UP in my left hand - my left hand holds the discard pile - and then take a new card from the draw pile in my right hand - don't look at the face. Then, get back out there to ask more questions. (Discovery - participants get some good cardio when doing this.)

The activity begins when I say, "GO" - time starts - and ends when I say, "FREEZE" - when time stops."

As Jon notes, multiple rounds will allow participants to develop strategies. (Discovery - I set the countdown timer on my phone to "BUZZZZZZ" after three minutes and had to put the phone in my pocket since my hands ended up being full of cards.)

Thanks for the inspiration Jon - GOOD STUFF!

HERE'S a link to Jon's book if you want to add it to your library.

(I was a guest on Jon's Card Talk - Team Building FUN with Cards. You'll see in the video (Episode 5), we added some Cups to Card Throwing. Check it out!

Do you have a favorite card activity? Leave us a Comment below.

Have FUN out there!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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CUPple-a-Points (with Video)

1/3/2019

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First and foremost, I want to thank the wonderful team building facilitators at BRIDGES for trying this activity with me (for the first time ever). And, a BIG shout out to the creative mind that gave us the name for this one. (It was fun watching you all work!)

Context Note: The footage was taken at a day-long team building facilitator training. I kept in the "learning" conversations. I thought some of you out there might benefit from the thinking that went on during this discovery process. (Alfie Kohn might call this, taking the facilitators, and you, "backstage" for some Deep Modeling as a way of learning.)

More Team Building Activities with CUPS! Check out CUP IT UP

CUPple-A-Points (here's what we have so far):

Set Up: Place 10 nested stacks of 30 cups each (300 Cups), inside a hula-hoop (or maybe even make a small box shape on the floor with tape).

Objective: Gain as many points as possible in two minutes. Every cup that is not touching the floor after two minutes earns you a point.

Directions: If you have time, and the planning dynamic is part of the group's program objective (e.g., practicing planning behaviors), allow for unlimited time to plan and practice before the first official two-minute build. If you don't have unlimited time, give them, say, three minutes to plan and practice before the first build, then maybe, two minutes before the second build and one minute before the final third build.

Note:

Round 1 Footage: Participants can be used as resources/props.
Round 2 Footage: Participants CANNOT be used as props.

Rules: (Applied to either Round 1 or 2 set up. Each round, or variation, includes three building attempts.)

After two minutes, only cups outside of the hula-hoop will count for points.
Any nested cups, one or more cups inside of each other, will not count for points.
After two minutes, all "hand" must be off the cups. Then, after three seconds, "1, 2, 3," the cups that remain off the ground can be counted for points. (It might be faster to count the cups NOT off the floor, then minus this number from 300 for the score.)
When you (the group) are ready to start an official two-minute building, let your facilitator know. The facilitator will keep time and inform you about time remaining.

To reiterate, there are two different presentation variations so far (shown in the video - they are noted as "Rounds") - one where participants CAN BE use as resources/props, and one variation where participants CANNOT be use. We tried both to get some film of each.

Also, at this time, I would choose one of the variations and take time for three two-minute building sessions in order to see how the evolution of the builds turn out. What will be "success" for the/your group?

Let us know how it goes. Leave a Comment below.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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Tools for Team Builders: Game Spots

12/13/2018

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The start of something new!
Tools for Team Builders.
Welcome to the first episode - Game Spots.

Hello Team Builders, I'm getting starting with my "instructional" filming (working on my first online course right now as well) - there is a fun and interesting learning curve to be sure. I look forward to your feedback - any and all, I can take it - as I move through this adventure. Leave a Comment below or fill out and send the form in the Contact tab at the top of the page.

In this first episode, I share my ideas (and preferences at this time) on game spots. Heads Up! This instructional format is a bit longer than my activity videos (at this point). Below you'll find Blog Notes for the video and four links to posts I've made in the past that include game spots.

Blog Notes

Poly Spots: Flaghouse has a nice selection.
HERE are the 9-inch Spot Markers in a variety of colors.
HERE are the poly spots with numbers on them (I've used these a lot - I highly recommend them. Downside: If one goes missing you cannot order a single replacement.)
HERE is a set with a variety of shapes and round spots.
(Note: Once you know the kind of spot you're looking for, there might be better prices at alternative sites.)

Livestock Tags (numbered spots):
HERE is a link to Premier 1 Supplies. Lots of choices and sizes. You choose how many numbers you want. You could even put the name of your program on them (if it's a short name).

Shelf & Drawer Liner: (non-skid spots, great on hard surfaces and washable if you use them outside)
HERE is the Bed, Bath & Beyond link to the brown Con-Tact shelf liner (I didn't see the white or blue??). Free shipping for orders over $39 at the time of this post. And, if you happened to be a BB&B member, the rolls are cheaper! (Of course, if there's a store near you....)

Rope Lengths: (I usually use P-Cord from my rope lengths, but other nylon types of rope work too. Be sure to safely burn the end so they don't unravel.)
HERE is the link to West Coast Paracord - my go to place for easy shopping. And, I buy enough for free shipping. I cut my rope at 4-foot lengths. Others have told me they like 5-foot lengths.

Questions: If you have questions about any of the game spots talked about in the video, leave a Comment below or fill out the form under the Contact tab at the top of this page.

Activities Using Game Spots Found on FUNdoing Blog Posts

Crazy Eights Players move around spots in a figure eight pattern. Groups of any size.

Card Quad Jam (with Video) While standing on a pattern of spots, move playing cards to their correct place in line. Up to 52 players.

Double Group Juggle Two tossable objects in play with lots of moving from spot-to-spot. Groups of at least 10 and up to 18 players. Multiple groups can be in play at once.

Switching Places Spots are all you need (or use the playing card version). Players switch around based on a categorical topics. Any size group can play.

Have FUN out there my friends!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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The A-Files #1 (and Professional Development)

11/29/2018

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Here's something new I want to try (not sure I can make it last, but let's try). I run across short activity snippets in my files (both paper and digital) all the time - activity ideas with little information. Just the basics. I always say to myself, "Chris, you need to do something with these." Okay, so here is me doing something with these.

I wasn't feeling 100% about simply typing them up in short form. So, how about we (meaning you) decode them?! What is "decoding", you might be asking? Well, in a nutshell, it's taking an activity in short form and putting it into long form. Reading a summary and then writing it out in a way that someone new to team building could read and lead.

NEED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS? (I know Challenge Course Practitioners need them!) Scroll down below the activities and find the Professional Development link - clicking this link takes you to the (super secret) PD Information and how to start your Decoding adventure.

DON'T NEED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS? Well, then, just jump right down to the snippets below and read on.

Marilyn's Game (From a Laurie Frank Handout, year unknown)

Needs & Numbers: One deck of standard playing cards for every 5 to 7 players.

Description: Get into smaller groups of 5 to 7 - each group gets a deck of cards. Within each group, deal out the cards and no one looks at them. Go around the circle and have everyone say his/her name (if needed). Everyone has his/her pile of cards face down in front of them.

On a signal, at the same time, everyone turns over the top card of his/her pile. If anyone has a rank (number or letter) that matches with someone else, he/she says the name of the person that has the match. Whoever says the name first gets all the turned over cards from his/her group. These cards are added to the bottom of the "winner" pile.

This is My Nose (From a Laurie Frank Handout, year unknown)

Needs & Numbers: No props. 8 to 14 players.

Description: Circle up players. One starts by saying, "This is my nose" while pointing to a different body part (e.g., ear). The next player to the starters left points to another body part (e.g., knee) and says, "This is my ear" - saying the body part the first player pointed at. The next players in turn, while pointing to a new body part, will always say what the last player pointed at.

Passing Gas (From hand written notes, by Chris Cavert [way back in the day] attending a Karl Rohnke workshop)

Needs & Numbers: One balloon for each player and several permanent markers. (If you have a big group) Divide any size group into smaller groups of 16 to 20 players.

Description (decoded from my notes): This game can be done standing or sitting. Give each player a balloon [be mindful of latex allergies] to inflate to the size of their own cranium - and then tie off the opening. Pass around the permanent markers so each player can write his/her first name on their balloon. The Challenge: Time how fast all the balloons can get around the circle back to their owners - each player is required to pass along every other balloon in the circle. Play multiple rounds to achieve the fastest time.

Easy Line Up (From a hand written note, by Chris Cavert, attending an AEE workshop - no note about what workshop this was (??). Easy Line Up ended up in Challenge Energizers in the book, The EMPTY Bag, Cavert & Hammond)

Needs & Numbers: No props needed. 12 to 24 players.

Description: Line up in alphabetical order by first names with your eyes closed.

Free Professional Development

Even if you don't officially decode these snippets, I'd love to hear about the "variants" you add to them. Leave a Comment below!!

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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