Category: A Files

The A-Files (Vol. 4)

2/14/2025

Here's another installment of The A-Files. I run across short activity snippets in my piles and files (both paper and digital) all the time, from conference workshops to ideas generated in that space between asleep and awake. Some fast (short-form) fun that might catch on. Check out the others volumes: Vol.1, Vol.2, Vol.3

What You Say – Courageous or Play It Safe

What You Say is a staple icebreaker in my programming repertoire. It's a tell-things-about-yourself experience with some 'challeges' by choice built in. I often use it to frontload a program to talk about the adventures ahead, the opportunities everyone has to choose their level of challenge along the way, and the chance to explore ones comfort zones in a supportive environment. My friend Jon shared another challenge he includes with this one. (Jon told me he calls this Brave or Play it Safe. I use 'courageous' in order to weave in some of the work from Brene' Brown. See below.)

Using a deck of standard playing cards, take out the face cards and then scatter out the Aces through 10s on top of a table or on the floor, rank side up (making a pool of cards). Before getting into the instructions of the activity, frontload the experience with a discussion about the concepts of courage and playing it safe. (Brene' Brown talks about 'ordinary courage' – the fact that most people make courageous (i.e., brave) decisions every day. Being courageous is not always about epic deeds. Just getting up each morning and facing the day can be a courageous act.) Then, provide the instructions and share this final directive with everyone before they choose a card: "Before you choose a card, I'd like you to make a choice. For this first round, will you choose to play it safe, or be courageous? If your choice to play it safe, and remember this is your truth, your choice, choose a lower number. If you want to step out of your comfort zone a bit, be courageous, choose a higher number. Once you've picked up a card, pair up with someone in the group to share the information about yourself. If there is still some time left after sharing, ask each other questions about what you heard your parter tell you."

After the first round (e.g., 3 to 4 minutes), discuss with your group some of the reasons people chose the card/number they did. Be mindful about lining up this discussion with the program objectives of the group. After the discussion, collect all the cards, return them to the pool, mix them around, and then ask everyone to choose another card – playing it safe or being courageous. Play out a second round and then discuss the choices they made this time, and why?

Note: I've used this version of What You Say a few times now. However, I've placed it in the middle of my program sequence, reasoning that participants should have some time interacting experientially with each other before they are given a choice between being courageous and playing it safe. Using this one too early could force them to choose a higher number than they really want in order to 'save face' and not look 'weak' or 'chicken.' Build up some psychological safety and group support behaviors before this didactic choice and make the conversations meaningful.

Rope Challenge

I love to find (and develop) team building activities using webbing or rope. I found this energizer (my distinction) at the Develop Good Habits website (not a fan of all the adds, but I do run into content I like at this site from time-to-time).

Needs & Numbers: Use a 15-foot webbing (Raccoon) circle with groups of 4 or 5 or a 50-foot ropes circle with one group of 10 to 20.

Process:

Make a circle (tie the ends) out of your webbing/rope for each group in play.
Each group lays out their circle on the ground or floor.
Each group stands inside their circle and sets up their webbing/rope so it is taut on the back of their ankles.
The challenge, for each group in play, is to move the webbing/rope up from their ankles to their wrists without touching the webbing/rope with their hands.
When the webbing/rope reaches waist level, everyone in the group must raise their arms/hands up over their heads and keep moving the webbing/rope until it reaches their wrists.

'Hummdinger'

My circle of fun grew recently. My new acquaintance Silvio reached out and shared one of his adventures with me – the "Activities and Games by Silvio" YouTube channel. He's just getting started – you know I Subscribed. In his current batch of videos I found 'Hummdinger.' Love it! A nice interactive group clustering activity requiring audio communication – Humming. Do check out Silvio's video and explanation (link above).

Quick Synopsis: Provide and practice, by humming, four well-known songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; The Alphabet Song – "A, B, C, D, E, F, G....; Queen Songs, ABBA Songs, or Songs from musicals – anything popular with your group. Have some fun practicing the songs so everyone is humming loudly in preparation. Then, ask everyone to quietly choose one of the songs – don't tell anyone. When ready, ask everyone to start humming their chosen song, mingle around the group and find others in the group humming the same song. Same songs stay together, humming and gathering up others humming their tune. When everyone is in a group, go around and let each group hum a few lines of their song to identify themselves to everyone – nice and loud.

One Breath Feedback

I'm often asked about how to prevent (or limit) over-sharing (i.e., talking to much), especially during a reflection session when time is limited. Here is a crafty way to set a boundary on talking (click on title above for full details). I found this idea at the SessionLab Post 1/21/25 (This particular activity is way down in the 'Check Out and Recap' section of the page – I thought you might like to see the entire post. LOTS of activity ideas.)

Quick Synopsis: After sitting down for a reflection session, ask your group a question that will highlight some learning from the last activity. Tell everyone to quietly THINK about the question, then SHRINK down their thoughts into the important points, and then (breath deeply and) SHARE their highlights with the group using only one exhaled breath. After everyone has had the opportunity to share, ask another question participants can respond to in one exhaled breath of time.

Thank you for the work you do. Be courageous out there!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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The A-Files (Vol. 3)

2/10/2022

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I run across short activity snippets in my files (both paper and digital) all the time - activity ideas I jotted down containing brief information about something I thought would be useful and/or fun to try. I always say to myself, "Chris, you need to do something with this." Okay, so here is me doing something with these. (Volume 1: HERE, Volume 2: HERE)

Shark Tank (This is a version of Mine/Obstacle Field I picked up at an International Physical Education Conference. Sorry to say, I did not document the speakers name, I was watching from afar while in the convention center. But, after a little resource research I would bet the presenter was a FlagHouse rep based on the gear he was using).

At the time my mental model with Mine Field (I, personally, don't use 'Mine' any more, but it is the traditional vernacular), was that everything inside the Field was something negative. Another "A-Ha" moment and so simple. (And, I liked the frontload/metaphor of a shark tank instead of mines.)

The 'tank' (a large square rope shape on the floor) was full of game spots, stars and SHARKS. (HERE is the FlagHouse link to the set of spots used. FlagHouse also sells just the Sharks.) Here is what I wrote in my notes: A blindfolded person [who is guided by someone outside the tank] is given 3 Oxygens before heading into the tank. Step on a shark, lose one oxygen. Step on a star, gain one oxygen. Step on the other stuff? [You can decide what you will for, "the other stuff."] NOTE: Of course, if you can't invest in the FlagHouse spots, you can designate a certain obstacle in the Field as a shark and another certain obstacle as an oxygen. And have lots of other "stuff" in the Field.

The one extension/rule option I'm thinking about right now is that when a 'star' (could be any type of spot/object in the Field) is touched, it goes away. So, how will the group as a whole manage the 'positive' resources? Another idea: What if sharks can move? Or be added? (The facilitator can move or add them during the action.)

Pipeline Prop

Here's another quick note I had on my phone (inspired by a Facebook quote by J.K.). Use 'Twisting Balloons' (those balloons used to make balloon animals and other fun shapes) as a super-portable prop for Pipeline. (HERE is the Amazon link associated with the picture.)

Adventures: Blowing up these little skinny balloons is not as easy as you might think - could be the most challenging adventure of all. Once blown up keep them straight for the pipeline activity. You'll need 6 to 12 marbles as well - easy to carry around. (HERE is a video of Immobile Chopsticks - the macro version of this idea using noodles.) Then, use the inflated twisting balloons to build 'The Tallest Tower.' Twist and turn the balloons together as a team to build a tall structure. "We are all a part of the bigger picture." (Clean Up: If popped before discarded, be sure only those with rubber gloves clean up the fragments.)

What You Say (without props)

This was an idea that came to me a while ago, but have yet to try - I think it should work. First, check out THIS FUNdoing POST from 2018 to get the basic idea using playing cards (and yes, this is still my all-time favorite Ice Breaker) and then come back to this no-prop variation.

When participants pair up, there are two ways you can have them play. 1) Each person holds up fingers - 1 to 5 fingers - indicating how many 'things about themselves' they are willing to share about themselves with her/his partner. Or, 2) The number of fingers held up - 1 to 5 - is how many things the person wants her/his partner to share about her-/himself. Depending on the version, it comes down to asking yourself to do something or asking someone else to do something. 'Something' interesting to explore. (Example: You give yourself one thing to share, but you 'make' someone share five things.) After each person shares the numbered information, each person then (virtually) takes her/his partner's number and goes off to find someone else to share with. (If you try this one, please share your results. I'd love to collect some data on this idea.)

Be well my friend. Keep me posted.

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

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The A-Files (Vol. 2)

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.

Where Do I Stand (Get to know others, from some unknown 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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The A-Files (Vol. 1)

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.

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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The A-Files (Vol. 4)

The A-Files (Vol. 3)

The A-Files (Vol. 2)

The A-Files (Vol. 1)

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