FUNdoing - Activities for Team Builders
  • FUNdoing
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Books
  • Trainings
  • Ricochet
  • Contact
  • Store

The A-Files (Vol. 1)

11/29/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

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. 
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. 
0 Comments

Teambuilding with Index Cards (and More!) from Jim Cain

11/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

My good friend Dr. Jim Cain just released his new book, Teambuilding with Index Cards. (Training Wheels has them discounted this week HERE - get your copy today!)

Here's the tag line: 180 activities for teachers, trainers, facilitators & group leaders of all kinds that turn ordinary index and playing cards into extraordinary teaching tools. (Full transparency: Jim has packed his new book with LOTS of activities - about half of them use Index Cards and Playing Cards. The other half are team building activities that utilize other props.) 
STORY CARDS Here's a fun Icebreaker I found right away. Give each participant an index card (I like the bigger cards) and supply a variety of colorful writing tools. (Other supplies can be fun too, like stickers, glitter and glue, and even magazines so people can cut out pictures and words to glue on their card.) 

Next, invite everyone to draw on their card (or create) five events from his/her life and then be prepared to share and discuss these illustrations (creations) within a small group of four to six people. So, this one can be done with any size group if you have enough creative materials. 


(The story behind my card above: I'm an only child [the number 1] - I had an amazing mother. Summer camp and camping changed my life after moving "up north" from Milwaukee Wisconsin to Lake Five - country life was much kinder than the BIG city. I discovered my calling as an adventure educator and never looked back. And, finally, I've been able to travel all around the world, and have met some incredible people with their own wonderful stories.)
Crossword Names (in Jim's book) is another index card favorite of mine. When Jim requested activity submissions for this book, I gave him this one. It's written up HERE (I call it, Name Letter Opener) if you haven't seen it yet. You can play with any size group and with anyone able to write their name. 
All the best my friends!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

NOTE: Received some feedback about font size - "...can you make the font bigger?" Well, yes! Thanks for asking. What do you think out there? How's this font size? 

0 Comments

Immobile Chopsticks (with Video)

11/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

If you know me, you know I love team building with noodles!! Noodles are one of the most versatile activity props on the planet! My good friend and team builder Sam Sikes and I wrote a couple of books on the subject - you can find 50 Ways to Use Your Noodle and 50 More Ways... HERE. 
Immobile Chopsticks is from our book, 50 Ways... It's a variation of the classic Pipeline activity. (I've written about Pipeline Variations in the past. And, another related, called Bridges & Traits.) 

In this noodle version here, it takes two players to make the channel needed to allow the tennis ball to travel from one point to another. And, multiple pairs of noodled players to get somewhere. Here are the basic rules in this version (video below) of Immobile Chopsticks.

Rules: 
  • Each player is allowed to touch/use one, and only one, noodle prop.
  • Tennis balls (six of them), start 60 feet from a set of six cups (Volcano Tops) circled together - cups are open-side down. (You'll see the configuration in the video.) 
  • If a tennis ball is touching a players noodle, that play may not move his/her feet in the direction of the cups. So, no tennis ball touching your noodle, you can move in any direction.  
  • Only one tennis ball is allowed to touch a pair of noodles at any time.
  • If a tennis ball drops to the ground/floor, this tennis ball is returned to the start (a player is allowed to pick up the ball and return it to the start). 
  • When all the Volcanos (cups) have been capped, you have successfully completed the task. 

Adjustments:
  • The closer the cups are together in a circle, the more challenge.
  • Players can move their feet if they have their eyes closed. 
  • Turn the cups over and drop the tennis balls inside (a bit easier) - if they don't let the cups tip over.   
Why I Like This Team Building Activity: 
  • You can run this one with any size group - if you have enough equipment. 
  • I can break the group up into smaller groups, from four to twelve in a group. 
  • I can use it as a competitive activity - First, Second & Third places. 
  • I can use it as a cooperative activity - "All the Volcanos in the room must be capped as soon as possible." 
  • I can vary the replacement of the cups (Volcanos) - in a small or larger circle, or randomly around the room. 
  • And, noodles make anything fun!! 
Let me know how it goes. Leave us a Comment below. 

​Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
0 Comments
    JOIN
    FUNdoing
    Fridays
    Team Building Activities sent to your email every two weeks! 
    Picture
    FREE Processing Activity just for signing up! 

    Picture
    Processing for Beginners
    FREE Mini-Course

    Click for Information

    Some Team Building Tools at the STORE! 
    Picture


    Details & Purchase
    Picture
    Details & Purchase
    Picture
    Details & Purchase

    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.

    Blog Purpose

    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. 

    Categories

    All
    Activities
    A Files
    A-Files
    Challenge Course
    Chiji Cards
    CUP Activities
    Ed Tech 4 Adv Ed
    Facilitation
    Fun Props
    Lessons
    Let's Talk About
    List Play
    Noodles
    On Pedagogy
    Print N Play
    Processing
    Programming
    Puzzles
    Read This
    Repurposed
    Resources
    Small Group Activities
    Tools For Team Builders
    Top 10 Activities
    Variations
    Videos
    Virtual
    What? & Why?

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly