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Over the Top (with Video)

2/28/2018

4 Comments

 
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My friend Barry and I put out the book, Cup It Up: Teambuilding With Cups in 2017 (paperback and digital versions) - and we're not done coming up with more. My Crew friends helped me work through my thoughts and get some video (below) on this activity, so a BIG THANKS goes out to them!!

FYI: If you haven't seen it yet, there is another cup activity (not found in the Cup It Up book), Flip Flop Tower (with Video) I posted here on the FUNdoing blog back in 2016. 
Over the Top can be played indoors or out - as long as you have a stable surface to place the 9-Grid set of cups. I developed this activity with the mind-set (facilitated objective) of focusing discussions around "roles and responsibilities". Of course, there can be other objectives planned. I also wanted to see what would happen with limited directions (listed below). Also, of course, you can add more directions to make the expectations clearer. (One of my mantras: More directions, less creative freedom.) Okay, let's go!

Needs: For every small group of 5 to 7 players, you need 1 Small Bowl, 9 Ping Pong Balls, 12 Cups and a timing device.
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Set Up: Divide your bigger group into smaller groups of 5 to 7 players. Give each small group the needed equipment. 
At this time, these are the only directions I provide (what I consider to be the fewest directions needed). You are (as always) free to add, subtract and change things to meet the needs of your groups.

Directions: 
  1. The Objective: Move all nine ping pong balls from the bowl into the 9-grid of cups as quickly as possible. 
  2. The bowl with 9 ping pong balls will be the starting point and a 3 by 3 grid of cups will be the finishing point of your activity. [You might want to set up a set of cups so the teams know what it looks like.]
  3. During ping pong ball movement, all players must be in-between the starting and finishing points.
  4. All players are required to take part in moving each of the nine point pong balls.
  5. The other three cups available are to be used to move the ping pong balls from player to player.
  6. The first player can pick up and move one ping pong ball at a time.
  7. The last player is responsible for getting the ping pong ball into the 9-grid of cups. 
  8. Ping pong balls are transferred from player to player overhead - the cup with the ping pong ball goes overhead and the player pours the ball into the cup of the player behind him/her. This process continues until the last player who is responsible for getting one ping pong ball into each cup. 
  9. Someone in each group will be required to time each attempt made. Time starts when your facilitator says, "GO" - the first ping-pong ball can then be picked up. Time stops when there is one ping pong ball inside each of the 9-grid cups. 
Notes: I give myself enough time on this activity for groups to make at least three attempts in order to improve their process (i.e., get a better time). I will start each attempt so each group begins at the same time - each group's timer starts their time when I say "GO". Then, they are responsible for stopping their time when there is one ping pong ball in each of the nine cups in the 3 by 3 grid. 

After each attempt, I lead a discussion about the different roles and responsibilities taking place in each group and what's important to know about each of the roles. We also talk more about the responsibilities of each person (in their role) and how they are able to manage their time - what can save time and what they focus on in order to save time. In general, we also talk about what's been working for the group and what they might want to do differently before the next attempt. 

When appropriate, I also will graph the times for each group so that we can collect data from the process. This data could lead to some collaborative sharing of ideas. 

Finally, before each attempt, I will encourage players to change roles if people want to experiment with other responsibilities. 
Things to Consider:
  • Add the Rule - If a ping pong ball touches the floor/ground, it must go back into the starting bowl. 
  • Have one cup for every participant. 
  • Establish the distance between the bowl and the 9-grid so players will need to leap frog to the back of the group to keep the ping pong balls going.
Let me know how it goes out there my friends. How do we make it better?

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
4 Comments

Mini Reflective Puzzle with CrowdWords

2/13/2018

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Recently I attended the ACCT Conference (Association for Challenge Course Technology) in Fort Worth Texas. I stepped into an activity workshop lead by Matthew Broda and Trevor Dunlop - their theme was, Doing A Lot with a little. (As many of you know, I like versatile props and equipment.) Matt and Trevor shared a wide variety of activities using a pack of 184 letter cards they call CrowdWords. 
Another thing you might know about me is that I love word building activities, especially ones you can play with Jumbo Banangrams. Here's Word Building and 3 Down, two of my posts with the jumbo plastic letter set. Needless to say, I was excited about learning more to do with letters.  
Mini Reflective Puzzle is just that, an activity we can use to reflect upon (or even frontload) an activity. This one, and several other activities Matt and Trevor presented, were new and FUN for me, so of course I have to share a little. 

Note: Your whole group just participated in a team building problem solving activity and you're ready to move into some processing over what just happened. You have the Mini Reflective Puzzle activity ready to go. 

Set Up: Place all 184 CrowdWords letters, face up, on the floor or on top of a couple tables  (like below) in an open area within your playing space - in the center of the room is a really good spot, but anywhere can do. Divide your larger group into smaller groups of 3 to 5 participants. 
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If you have the space to do so, set each small group around the playing area in a circle pattern (with the letter pool in the middle) - like numbers on a clock, each small group positions themselves at a different number. If you don't have the space, find a nice spot for every small group and then number off each group. 
Part 1: Two Words (Caveat: This is my rendition. Matt and Trevor have other nuances in their description found in their book, CROWDWORDS: Doing A Lot with a little.)

I will ask each small group to brainstorm (eventually two) words they would use to describe the activity they just completed as a whole group. You might even want to get more specific in order to focus your discussion (and being more specific might make word selection a little easier too). You might say, "Think of words related to leadership and what we just did," or "Choose words related to what was needed for you to complete the challenge you just did." 

Here's part of the challenge for each small group. The two words they choose must fit together into a small crossword puzzle (or Scrabble-type if you prefer) formation (see pictures above with three words connected) - all words must be connected together, reading top to bottom or left to right. ​

As I would play it, when a small group decides together on a word, someone from the group can go to the "letter pool" and pick the letters needed for that word and bring them back to his/her group. I will ask my groups not to form the word on the floor. Simply keep the letters together in a pile after spell checking.


Then, knowing the letters the group has, they will choose another word that will share one letter with the first word they picked so the two words will connect together in a puzzle formation. When the second word is chosen, someone can go up to the letter pool for the letters needed. 

Now, as Matt and Trevor note: "Depending on group size, it will almost be a guarantee that there will not be enough of the "right" letters to spell the words they selected. Prompt the individuals to start thinking creatively to find a way to represent their thoughts as closely as possible." 

Once each small team has the letters they need (after spell checking) to make two words connected together, sharing one letter, they can shuffle up all the letters and place them in one pile on the floor. Be sure to give a little reminder to each group - remember the two words you chose in case other groups need an answer. 

Note: Each small group has just spent some time "processing" their experience.  
Part 2: Solve the Two Puzzle

​Each group is now asked to move one spot to the right, gathering around a new pile of letter cards. (If you've numbered groups, each group moves up one number and the highest numbered group goes to the number one group pile of letters.)

The Challenge With this new set of letters, each group is challenged to figure out the two words that go together in the puzzle formation - two words sharing one letter - within five minutes. Remind the groups that the words are related to...(whatever the prompt was for picking the words). This reminder can reestablish the focus of the processing and thinking.

If a group can figure out the puzzle words before the five minutes is up, they can have a discussion about the meaning of the words in relation to the previous activity. If some groups are not able to come up with the solution to the puzzle, the group that created the puzzle can share the answer. Then, as Matt and Trevor suggest, "...take a moment to conduct a gallery walk so that all groups can see the work of their peers."  

After a few minutes of roaming the gallery, you could take some time to discuss some of the words that came up for the small groups as a way to explore some of the key learnings they recognized. 
Part 3: Three Words If there is time, and it seems appropriate, go through the same process asking each small group to now choose three words that can be connected into a crossword puzzle formation. (Or, conduct another team building activity and go through this Mini Reflective Puzzle in this way.)

First, have someone from each group return the letters from one of the two-word puzzles to the letter pool - face up - then return to his/her small group. Then, ask a prompt that will relate to something about the activity you (also) want to explore. Groups brainstorm and bring back their words, shuffle their small deck and place the pile on the floor. 

Part 4: Solve the Three Puzzle As before, groups rotate, maybe to the left this time, and then attempt to solve the puzzle in five minutes. After five minutes solutions can be shared, if needed, and the gallery walk opens up. Follow up with some discussion about some of the key words that were noticed. 
Here's what I like about this processing activity (or Reflect, as named in the book):
  • Smaller groups allow for more sharing of ideas (hopefully).
  • It's a nice group consensus process.
  • The thinking challenge, solving another groups puzzle, may lead them to other words that might connect to the topic at hand. 
  • There is some moving around and viewing other words that might spark some thinking. 
  • Overall, the groups are engaged in all three major learning styles - visual, auditory and kinesthetic. 

The one downside I see is that, as the facilitator, you will most likely not hear all the discussions going on when words are being considered and talked about. you'll have to "trust the process." 

Playable Note: If you have a set of Jumbo Bananagrams (and you're not ready to invest in CrowdWords just yet), you can lead Mini Reflective Puzzle with a smaller group - maybe three or four groups of 3 to 5 players. There might be a bit more rethinking over word selection, because of less letters to choose from, but certainly doable. 
Review in a nutshell: 
  • I love the four different color sets of letters - four sets of 46 letters.
  • The cards are fairly durable - made of heavy linen card stock and they come in a nice durable box for storage and transportation. 
  • The companion activity book has 26 suggested activities. Categories: Introduce, Cooperate, Collaborate and Reflect. There is a nice Matrix chart to find the right kind of activity for your needs. 
  • Each activities are VERY easy to read (bullet pointed details), nothing extra to slow you down. 
  • Over half of the activities in the book I have not seen, so I was excited about the "new" factor. (I'm also thinking there are more activities to come!!) 
BONUS
And at the time of this post, the letter cards and book are on sale over at Training Wheels (not sure for how long?)

Full disclosure - I do not share in the profits. My review is free and from the heart! 

DOUBLE BONUS
​Trevor sent me a PDF copy of another activity (similar to Mini Reflective Puzzle - it's actually a nice lead up into the Mini). CrowdWords Scramble. Here's the download: 
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crowdwords©_scramble.pdf
File Size: 45 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Thanks Trevor and Matt! I'm looking forward to my new activities. 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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    Blog Author

    Dr. Chris Cavert is an internationally known author, speaker, and trainer in the area of adventure-based activity programming and its relation to community and pro-social behavior development.

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    This blog is a space for hands-on programable fun - energetic activities and ideas that can be used as a means to bring people together; activities and ideas we as educators can add to our social development curriculums. 

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