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Team Tower Turning (with Videos)

3/26/2023

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(About a 10 minute read.)
A friend and fellow team builder, Linda Williams, recently showed me her version of Team Waterwheel (from the book, Cup It Up: Team Building with Cups which Linda edited). She adapted Waterwheel for a training with over 300 people. Her design purpose was to work on the concepts of 'planning' and 'task implementation' with participants from a world-wide organization. I've used it now over a dozen times and I really like the versatility and outcomes. 

Linda provides a set of directions (PDF download below) for each Tower Turning team that includes general info and some goal setting (Tower Height Goal and a Building Quality goal - which is the number of 'collapses' the team will allow themselves along the way), and Team Tower Build Operational Procedures. There is also a Team Tower Turning Reflection Questions handout for you - a variety of questions to choose from to bring out the learnings from the experience (these Reflection Questions could also be given to each group to work through on their own during the designated reflection time). 
Team Tower Turning Participant-Directed Handout
teamtowerturning_2023.pdf
File Size: 81 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Large Group Facilitation: When Linda worked with the group of 300, the participants were seating at round tables. All the building supplies and instructional handouts were preset at each table. During her introduction to the activity she used slides to emphasize the main points (some of her slides at the right) - one of the slides had an embedded video of the 'turning' process. My largest 'turning' group so far has been 72. I didn't use technology, just verbalized the instructions and showed them an example of how to start and how the turn is done. 
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Here are the basics of the activity to supplement the handout: 
​
Needs & Numbers: You'll need 12 plastic cups and 15 - 4 by 6 inch index cards for each group of four to six participants. 

Time: This one can take up to 40 minutes depending on the amount of time available for the reflection phase. Breakdown: 5 min. to introduce, 10 min. of 'required' planning time to read through the 'Operational Procedures' and set Goals, 12 min. of building time, and at least 10 (to 20) min. of reflection time. 

Note to Facilitator: It is important to include enough time to debrief the activity with your participants. See the sample Reflection Questions in the handout to consider including in your after-activity discussion. Feel free to modify or add questions that will best suit your participants and the desired outcomes of your session.

Group Reflection: Read through the Reflection Questions in the handout to see the learning possibilities in the activity. 

Why I Like Tower Turning: 
  • ​Easy to find and use props (and there is so much more you can do with CUPS!)
  • Self-Directed instructions provide more decision-making and problem-solving for a group.
  • There is a clear picture of success and failure - when the tower falls, the group has the opportunity to identify and then solve the falling problems. 
  • It can be scaled to almost any size group (if you have the cups and a way to project your voice).
  • When I want to go deeper, I have groups take about 5 to 10 minutes to identify the attributes of a good working team and write these findings on the index cards (you'll need some markers). And then we can use this attribute 'data' to consolidate a take-away list of behaviors the whole group wants to focus on after their team building program. 

​Let us know how this one goes for you! Leave a Comment below. 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
P.S. Tools for Team Builders Bonus Video: Tube Turning
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Word Circle Puzzles: Self-Guided

2/15/2023

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(About a 7-minute read, but then there's a little work to be done.) 
If you're a Word Circle Puzzler, you'll pick up on this 'self-guided' version quickly. If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles I suggest you, at least, jump over to the Silent Word Circle Puzzles: Variation FUNdoing Blog post to pick up the basics.

(If you get hooked and want to explore, work through the links below. You could also pick up the Print-n-Play Word Circle Puzzles Starter Kit at the FUNdoing store with 18 ready to print puzzles, 12 ways to use the puzzles during team building programs and detailed directions about everything Word Circles.) 

Self-Guided Word Circles
I like to use this self-guided process with large groups (and it can be done with one small group as well). For example, say I have 118 participants. I ask them to get into groups of 9 or 10 people - no more, no less. Then I ask that every group send me one person to pick up their supplies "for the next activity." 

Supplies: One Word Circle Puzzles kit for each small group (or grouplet). Each kit contains at least three Word Circle Puzzles sets and the self-guided directions sheet (PDF download below). So far I've used a small plastic bag to contain the puzzles sets and directions.
wcpuzzles_selfguidedhandout.pdf
File Size: 129 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
After the supply pick up, each person returns to their group. Someone in the group opens the kit, removes and reads the directions to their group and the adventure begins.
​
WC Puzzlers, that's all the info you need to carry on as long as you have some numbered puzzles ready to go. 
Need Puzzles? 
​If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles I'm going to set you up with everything you need. Use the links below to access lots of free puzzles from previous FUNdoing Blog posts. When you get to the puzzles you'll need to make the sets. The easiest way to make your sets is to pick up some index cards (any size will work) in a variety of colors. Using a marker of your choice write out one puzzle per color and put the 'number' (of words in the puzzle) down in the bottom right corner. (Imagine the example in the header above is made with index cards.) Put three or four puzzles (of different lengths and colored index cards), into small zip lock bags and your kits are ready. 

Answer Cards You will also need to make an answer card for each circle puzzle set. When groups believe they have the answer to a puzzle they will come to you for the answer card (as noted in the Directions handout). 

If you have a bit more time to invest you can create a digital document of Word Circle Puzzles and then print, laminate and use over and over. (The Circle Puzzles Starter kit - mentioned above - has sets ready to print.) 

There's a little leg-work up front, but then you're set to play for years and years!

Word Circle Puzzles on the FUNdoing Blog
Word Circle Puzzles: January 2013 (Need to figure out the Answers)
Word Circle Puzzles: June 2013 (What's Missing version)
Word Circle Puzzles: December 2013 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: June 2014 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: December 2014 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: July 2015 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: February 2016 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: January 2017 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: April 2019 (Answers Provided)

Advanced Circle Puzzles
Picture Word Circle Puzzles - Collaboration (Answer Provided in the Download)
ICON Circle Puzzle 1 (Answer Provided in Download)
ICON Circle Puzzle 2 (Answer Provided in Download)

Please reach out to me if you have questions.
Have FUN out there. Keep me posted! 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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QWERTY (a.k.a. Hunt and Peck)

4/15/2022

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If you've been following the FUN for a while, you know I like using letter tiles for team building activities (see 26 Word Builder and Pangram Project for just two FUNdoing Blog examples). Recently one of my colleagues introduced me to what she calls, QWERTY. She learned it at a conference from my friends Matthew Broda and Trevor Dunlap (you may recognize the names from the last FUNdoing Blog post Onezies to Fivezies). 

​A few years ago, Matt and Trevor introduced the world to CrowdWords: Do A Lot with A Little (see this Mini Reflective Puzzle post for more about CrowdWords. The letter tiles in the picture above are CrowdWords - about 4 by 4 inches). Basically, CrowdWords is a set of large letter tiles and the "Do A Lot with A Little" activity guide gives us 27 different ways to use the tiles - super-fun stuff. (Get more details and your set of CrowdWords at Training Wheels. This tool is a bit of an investment, but worth it due to all the activities you can program with the cards. And the lamination is heavy-duty, so your letter cards will last a lifetime.) 

A Quick Note: I like the title 'QWERTY' - it rolls off the tongue nicely. It's actually the name of a keyboard type, signified by the first six letters on the left of the top line of letters on the keyboard. Did you know there was more than one type of keyboard? It was news to me just a couple of weeks ago. Anyway. Matt and Trevor call it, "Hunt and Peck" in their CrowdWords activity guide, in case you want a trackable reference. 

QWERTY
Context and Set Up: My introduction to QWERTY involved a group of 11 participants. We used three rectangular tables: One in the center of the area - the Letter Pool - and two others for the Keyboard Tables about 12 feet from the center table (see below). 
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If you are working with more participants (say up to 20), use two tables in the middle of the area, side-by-side, for the Letter Pool and add two more tables at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. (The first two tables above are at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock in the diagram above, just as a reference - but you knew that.) The set of CrowdWords has four complete American Alphabets, so four groups is the limit. (Unless of course you make your own alphabet sets, then more teams are possible. And you also have figured out you can use any alphabet of choice depending on your context.)

​The letter pool looks something like the picture below - have the letters spread out a bit more for Part 1 and then push the extra letters together into the middle of the table(s) for Part 2 - you won't need them anymore.
Picture
Part 1: 
  • Divide your group into teams of four to five participants. 
  • Ask each team in play to create a typing-style keyboard of their choice - any type is fine as long as everyone on the team agrees to it.
  • Give all teams no more than 8.5 minutes to create their keyboards using the 26 letters they need, found in the Letter Pool (remember, a CrowdWords set only has four complete American alphabets).
  • Restrict the use of any outside resource to reference a keyboard - they must create their keyboard from group memory. (NOTE: This part was interesting for me to watch. Pretty much everyone uses a keyboard on a daily basis, but it's difficult to recall where the letters are positioned. Note above, the QWERTY keyboard in the header picture has two errors. But it's the keyboard one team used during my first encounter with QWERTY.)​
  • Reflection: After all the keyboards have been created (within 8.5 minutes), hold a short discussion about their experience recalling keyboard information and how this might be related to recalling other information in their lives. 
  • NOTE: At this point, do not verify the accuracy of the keyboards - the ones created will be the ones used in Part 2.  
Pre-Part 2 Note: In my first experience watching my colleague lead this activity, we spent some time at the beginning of the program asking participants what they believed was an important characteristic of a high quality team (the group was a newly formed team). Each of the participants shared one characteristic - my colleague was taking notes. She used these quality team words in part two of QWERTY. (A very nice tie-in and some additional connection to previous information.) Here are some of the words on the list, from shortest to longest words:
  • Fun
  • Trust
  • Respect
  • Competence 
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
You can also have words pre-chosen that you plan to use for QWERTY. In this case, you can create your index cards ahead of time for the verifyers. I know you're thinking to use words that are related to the group's goals in some way. Great minds!!
Part 2:
  • Preparing for Part 2, have all the teams gather around the Letter Pool table and push all the letters towards the center of the table(s) so they are out of the way. 
  • Each team in play is asked to stand with their backs to their keyboard, each person placing both of his/her hands on the table in front of them. 
  • (My colleague said,) "Remember those words you came up with to describe a quality team, well, now we are going to spell out some of those words using our keyboards." 
  • When a word is called, each team sends one person at a time to 'tap' one letter key on their keyboard. When one person returns to the table and places both of his/her hands back on the table, the next person can go, and so on, until all the letters of the word are tapped out in order. Verbal communication within teams is not limited in any way. 
  • The team whose last person returns to the team table first and places both hands on it, wins a point for his/her team. (Yes, this can be a respectfully competitive activity, so be mindful of how and when you use this one.)
  • (Something I'm adding) Before each new word, one member of each team will be designated to verify the spelling of a word tapped out by another team. This 'verifyer' is sent over to another team's keyboard, standing out of the way, to watch as the letters are tapped. If an incorrect letter is tapped, the verifyer calls "foul" and the tapper must tap the correct letter before returning to his/her table. (NOTE: I'm thinking of writing out words on index cards for the verifyer to relieve some spelling pressure.) 
  • Play out five or six words before calling this one done. (NOTE: playing an odd number of rounds will end up with a 'winner.' Playing an even number of rounds could end in a tie. Just saying.) 
  • Process the experience in relation to the goals of your group. (I'm going with: Roles and Responsibilities; Helping out the team; Making mistakes and fixing them; Competition - how do we compete?; Winning and Not Winning - what does if do for a team?
The "Something I'm adding" part above is in relation to verification. The game I observed moved very fast and errors were made, but not recognized. Since there were two facilitators, we each watched a keyboard. Then, at the end we gave a thumbs up or down to indicate a correct or incorrect spelling of the word. If you are the only facilitator is will be difficult to verify correct spelling (quality assurance). So, a verifyer from another team is my initial solution to this aspect of the game. 

Overall, I really liked watching the interaction of the groups and how they helped each other play the game. The adults I observed were very respectful which made the game fun for everyone - so it appeared to me. So, be mindful about the groups you use this one with. Competition can change the atmosphere and might undermine the "team" work you are doing. 
Variations: 
  • (From Matt and Trevor) After a few Rounds/Words, the group needs to rotate the letter cards in a manner so that no two consecutive letters are in the same orientation before the next words are given. (How do we manage 'difference?')
  • What about a number keyboard, 1 to 24 (using the number sets from your Key Punch activity) and some mathematical symbols. Each team can create whatever keyboard they think will be of use to them. Then, shout out a number for teams to 'solve?'
Let us know how it goes. Leave a Comment and if you can, send us a picture of another kind of keyboard. 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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Onezies to Fivezies (Macro Tenzi) with Video

3/22/2022

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Speaking of FUN! I have been having so much of it learning how to use some the "board and table-top" games on my shelves in new ways, from the new book, Teambuilding from the Toy Aisle by my friends Matt, Michelle and Trevor!

And recently I attended a fun-tastic ACCT workshop presented by Matt, Michelle and Trevor. We spent 90-minutes playing some of the gems from the book (don't get me started on "Dude!"). 

I grabbed some video (below) of the Macro Tenzi game that was super-fun to watch (don't know Tenzi? HERE are some videos.)
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Onezies to Fivezies (A Competitive Game)
NOTE: For this game you'll need some dice - 10 dice for every group of 4 to 5 people. I loved the large foam dice used during the workshop. However, you'll find, after a quick search, the large foam dice are an investment. You can certainly go with smaller dice. How about this. HERE'S a free die template so you can make your own using card stock. (If this one is no longer there/free, I'm sure there is another one out there on the web.)

Numbers: I plan to play this one with 12 to 50 participants (3 to 10 teams), middle school age and older. (If elementary ages are ready for 'friendly' competition, go for it.) It can take a while to get to the winning team. The game is full of surprise wins - the underdog is never out of the race!

In Teambuilding from the Toy Aisle, the trio calls this one, "Onezies, Twozies, Thumbsies, Singsies." I'm simplifying it a bit. Here's my take - just Onezies to Fivezies:
  • Divide your group up into smaller teams of four or five players.
  • Provide each team with 10 dice. (The dice do not need to be all the same color, but it does help when dice roll astray.) 
  • First Round: When you say, "GO!" all teams begin rolling their dice. Every team is going for 'Ones' in this Round. When a one is rolled it is set off to the side. Non-ones are picked up by anyone on the team and rolled again. When all the dice of one team are ones, they yell, "Onezies!" All rolling stops. If there is a verifiable tie, declare the tied teams winners of the Round. 
  • Next Round: On this next Round, the winning team(s) from the first Round will be rolling for twos - or, Twozies. All the other teams are still rolling for ones - or their Onezies. Teams don't move up a number until they win at the subsequent number. 
  • The Next Rounds After That: I think you get the idea. Comebacks are possible. The journey can be long. Teams don't advance to the next number until they complete the number they are on. When a team calls, "Fivezies" the game is over.
  • Optional Challenge: Change up the way all teams must roll during the Round: Rolls must be tossed from above the hips; Rolls must be tossed from above the shoulders; Rolls must be done with only one hand - the other hand covers one eye; Rolls can only be made with fingers - press your thumbs into your palms... 

"Rematch" they call!! If you've got the time....

Processing Ideas
(Even though this is a competitive game, there can be lots to talk about - if it's part of the plan.) Here are some concepts to consider:
  • Planning and Strategies (what worked and didn't work)
  • Respectful Play (any sabotaging)
  • Team Camaraderie (how did teammates treat each other)
  • Skills and Abilities (was everyone all in, or just partly in)
  • Winning and Losing (how do we manage with the feelings of each)
  • Underdogging (did you hang in there every Round of give up/in)​
The video below was the First Round at the ACCT Conference Workshop. Tons of Thanks to the players and presenters. So much energy. So much FUN!

Keep me posted!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.  
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Collaboration with Picture Word Circle Puzzles (Reprise) Print-N-Play

9/30/2021

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Back in December of 2016 I shared the first set of Picture Word Circle Puzzles (PWCP) and noted that I had yet to try them with a group. (You can find links to more information about Circle Puzzles at the 2016 post.) Fast forward almost 5 years now and I can tell you, this particular set of PWCP is one of my go-tos when I'm working with a group on collaborative behaviors. I've used this one with 8th graders on up. 

When I first started using PWCP, I felt the need to show my groups how Word Circle Puzzles (WCP) worked (the first iteration of Circle Puzzles). We would play out one or two WCP as a big group, then I would divide the larger group into smaller groups of three or four participants to solve this picture puzzle. Recently, I've chosen to skip the WCP introduction, adding a little more challenge to the cognitive aspect of the task - struggling a bit with the big 'picture' so to speak. 

Set Up and Play
Each group working around a table (or a group of desks) is ideal, but they can all work the cards around on the floor or ground if you don't have the table/desks option. 

First you'll need to print out the PWCP (find the PDF download below). Each small group of three or four participants will need a puzzle (this puzzle includes 16 picture cards). NOTE: I laminate my puzzle cards for long term use. The card set also includes eight Help Cards.

Choosing the number of Help Cards to put in play will determine the level of challenge. If you put 12 Help Cards in play the puzzle will be pretty easy to solve - if the group collaborates by sharing information and not 'waisting' the Help. Putting 10 Help Cards in play is a little more challenging, groups have to make more educated guesses (ideally together,) and they can still collaborate without using Help Cards. Putting eight Help Cards in play makes it a pretty difficult challenge, but the puzzle can be solved if all the small groups work together by sharing information and strategically using Help Cards. 

An Example of Play: Let's say you have 24 participants. You divide them into six groups of four and direct each group to move into an area away from other groups (separating the groups with some distance - when possible - is purposefully done so it's a bit more challenging to see and share information - look up 'activation energy' for some psychological connection.) You give each group the Picture Word Circle Puzzle saying:

"I'm now going to give each group a puzzle to solve. Each puzzle has a set of pictures. Your objective is to first name each picture using one word. Then, figure out how to connect each word, picture card, with another word, picture card, so that all the picture card words form one circle of connections. For example....." (If needed, you'll want to do a little research on Word Circle Puzzles in order to explain how to describe the process - intro info to Word Circle Puzzles is HERE. BTW: There are TONS of FREE Word Circle Puzzles at the FUNdoing Blog - use the Search feature - put in Word Circle Puzzles - to find them.) 

You've decided to use 10 Help Cards - five of each kind (see the header picture above for the two kinds). You distribute two Help Cards to four groups and one Help card to the remaining two groups (the distribution of resources is not always 'fair'). Explain that the groups can use the Help Cards to ask you the question on each card at any time during the challenge.

Be sure to provide time for the groups to ask you confirming and clarifying questions before getting started. Be careful not to solve any problems for them at the onset. You can use my favorite response when appropriate, "I'll leave that up to the group to decide." If they ask the 'Golden Question' right off the bat, they're ahead of the game: "Can the small groups work together on this?" I respond, "That is not against any of the rules." 

Be sure to set a time limit for the task to add a little pressure. I believe it can be solved in five minutes or less if all groups work together and share resources. However, I've yet to see this occur. Giving them 20 minutes is a good length of time to pull out a lot of learnings. 

A Nudge
Solving this Picture Word Circle Puzzle is very difficult without 'Help' or sharing ideas with other groups. I'm still fascinated by the resistance of the participants to use their resources in order to move ahead. The resistance to working together with others is fairly common in team building activities when there is a perceived notion of competition - we see it all the time.

This leads me to a tool I use as an educator whenever the groups are still struggling after 15 minutes of working on the task and have yet to share ideas with any of the other groups. I take a countdown 'time-break' to get their attention. I ask a few questions about how it's going, what's working, what isn't. Then, I start up the time again and share, "You are all working on the same puzzle." Sometimes this turns on lightbulbs, other times it doesn't.

Processing
As always, be observant of behaviors and make note of the questions related to the groups' behaviors. Here are some that always seem to surface for me:
  • What were the resources available to you during the task? 
  • How well did you utilize the resources you knew about? 
  • How long did it take you to utilize your resources? 
  • What prevented you from using your resources? 
  • Once you heard you were working on the same puzzle, what, if anything, changed? 
  • What advice do you hear about on a regular basis? Who gives you this advice? What influences your decision to follow, or not follow, someone's advice? 
  • What resources in your life are useful to you right now? Which ones are you not using? What resources might you be overlooking? 

Extension
Here's something I'd like to try in the near future. After the groups have gone through an enlightening processing session over this first Picture Word Circle Puzzle (??!!), I want to give them another attempt. I'll set up the same task, in the same way, with a different Picture Puzzle. Will they use their recently acquired information/knowledge to successfully complete the task in less time? (Want to try it? You can find the Picture Word Circle Puzzles Kit, with six more Picture Puzzles at the FUNdoing Store. Let us know how it goes.) 

Here's The First-Ever Picture Word Circle Puzzle:
picturewordcirclepuzzle_set1.pdf
File Size: 6000 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
All the best! 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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Build Something Project

9/9/2021

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Raise your hand if you are a team builder who uses 'build something' activities! Yes. Me too. PVC piping and connectors are my favorite building materials. Building something together as a group is a great way to open up discussions about 'project' work. 

Recently, I got to do some team building with some 6th Graders during their first week of the new (2021) school year. One of the objectives was to explore how they worked together as a group and what they want to remember during the school year so they can be more successful together. 
Cube Build
Years ago (with the blessing of, The Cube creator Earl LaBlanc) I developed The Expandable Cube. I took Earl's original hanging Cube creation (i.e., Floating Spider Web), added a few extra PVC connectors and ended up with 20 (so far) team building activities - everything fits into a yoga mat-sized bag. (You can find the The Expandable Cube Guidebook - building directions and activity instructions - at the FUNdoing Store.)

For my 6th grade group, I used 12 long tubes (1/2-inch by 24-inches), 12 short tubes (1/2-inch by 18-inches), 12 couplings (1/2-inch) and 12, 3-way corners (1/2-inch). All of these materials can be found at many of the big-box hardware stores in the States (the 1/2-inch 3-way corners can now be found with the PVC fittings in the plumbing section). NOTE: If you can't get your hands on PVC, use any other type of (larger) building materials you can get for this activity - the process should work the same. ​
Set Up
I laid down all the PVC materials on the ground in one big pile. 

Directions
Part 1: First Attempt - We circled around the PVC materials for the directions. I told them, "in a moment, but not yet," they would be challenged to build a cube using all the PVC materials provided - nothing could be left out and nothing else could be used. But first, we needed to spend a little time confirming what a cube was. Done. 

Before they began, I reminded them to be careful about moving the tubes around - "You don't want to hit anyone in the face with the PVC tubes!" Then, I told them to begin. NOTE: I also timed the attempt, but I did not tell them I was timing it. No time pressure, just build a cube.

As is the case with this activity (with just about every K-12 group I ever do this with), some collapse right to the ground to get building. Others hover over them grabbing what they can and share ideas and some float around the outside of the group watching the chaos - never getting their hands on any of the PVC. 

Part 2: Mid-Brief 1 - The Cube is built and we all stand around it. (Sometimes the three-dimensional structure is not a cube, so I require it to be fixed before we move on.) For this brief, I simply ask:
When you do a group project for a class, what do you like to see happen from your group-mates? 
I capture these desires on some paper so I can reference them. I ask, "How many of these things happened during the initial build of the cube?" Some, but typically, not all. Especially the one where "everyone takes on an equal share of the work." (This ALWAYS comes up.) 

Part 3: Second Build - Now, I challenge the group to build the cube again and this time, "do your best, as a group, to include all the components of group work you like to see." Before they can begin, I ask them to take the cube apart so that all the pieces are disconnected. While they are doing this, they are free to plan their next build attempt.

Before they can start the second build I ask them to explain their plan to me. I compare their plan to the components of group work they developed. If something is missing we work together to incorporate it. When the plan aligns with the list, I tell them they can begin. NOTE: Again, I'm timing this attempt, but I don't tell them. 
Part 4: Mid-Brief 2 - After the second build we talk about the group work components they developed and if they took place during the second build. More components usually occur, but some still need some nurturing. By this time, we've discussed, at some level, the group work components three times. This gives the group a nice list and some experience with the list that they can take with them into the school year. 

Part 5: Third Build - I tell the group they have another chance to build the cube. This time it will be for a grade. I share the two times I have for them from the first and second builds and then ask them how fast they can build it this next time.

​Now, with your best intuitive educated guess, you need to decide what grade you will give them for the time they propose. You might think the time is okay, but they could do better, so you say you'll give them a 'B' for that time. Now, as in most cases, groups want the 'A' so they propose another (lower) time. This is a nice chance to bring up the concept of negotiation and how it works. As the 'teacher' you are evaluating their work and setting some expectations for growth and excellence. Something to strive for. Then, of course, there can be re-negotiation. In the end, set a time the group will try to meet or exceed (or, fail to meet). 

Before the third build, the cube is dismantled and the group must share it's plan with me so I can evaluate the group work components they are working towards. When all is ready, I say, "GO" and officially start and stop the time. 
Depending on your desired outcomes, you may have time to let the group try another build if they did not get the grade they desired. Simply repeat Part 5 (and call it, Part 6). If they get the grade they were after, move to the Debrief.

Part 6: Final Debrief - When I get to this point with my group, we've had some good briefing time. So, I don't plan to spend too much time here. I simply ask, "If you can remember and use the group work components you came up with, during group projects this year, what are some of the outcomes you can predict?" NOTE: It's good to be realistic here as well. If no one points out any of the possible struggles that occur in group work, no matter how well they plan things out, be the voice of reason and ask them to consider what else could happen and what will they plan to do about the mishaps. And, be sure to write this stuff down and get it to their teacher (unless of course, you are their teacher!). 
Let us know how this works out for you!! Leave a Comment below. 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

P.S. And to all the teachers out there, thank you for what you do. The world truly needs you! 
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Micro Cup It Up Activities: Flip Flop Tower & Reverse Pyramid Build (with video)

8/13/2021

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

2/7/2021

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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. 
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BUILDZI - Two for One Team Building Activity

12/18/2020

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If you are a gift-giver around this time of year, or any time of year really! (even giving gifts to yourself), here's a fun one you can give to your family and and then 'borrow' it to use for your team building programs. (Or, maybe it's the other way around?)

BUILDZI, comes from the creators of Tenti. (Tenzi is one of my favorite dice games - you can play with any number of people - well, maybe up to 12 around a table - as long as everyone has 10 dice. If you have or pick up Tenzi, don't forget the Cards Deck, 77 Ways to Play Tenzi, with Tenzi challenges). 
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(UN-SHAMELESS MARKETING: I love repurposing - especially toy aisle games like BUILDZI!! My amazingly creative friends, Michelle Cummings, Trevor Dunlap & Matthew Broda are going to help us out. They are releasing their book, Team Building from the Toy Aisle, in early 2021. I can't wait to see what they've come up with. You can pre-order your copy today at the Training Wheels website - link above.)
Most likely, if you've been team building for a while, you've done a communication activity that involves partnering up players, then each has his/her own set of matching supplies (e.g., playing cards or Dominos). Partners sit back-to-back, one builds something with his/her supplies and then communicates this build to his/her partner - hoping the outcome of the communication to be a 'match' (as close to identical as possible). This has always been a go-to for me when I want to discuss communication behaviors with my groups - everyone is doing something. 

BUILDZI can be used for this kind of team building activity. The 'game' includes four sets of building blocks and a deck of long cards (see above). (So, up to 8 players per game is what I would say - four pairs.) In this way, when partnered up, one player has a card, the other has the blocks. And, you can play where partners can be face-to-face or back-to-back depending on the conversations you want to have. (I've found that we can bring up more about 'helping' when face-to-face because we can get visual feedback from our partner if we can see what he/she is doing.) And, what about starting back-to-back and then going to face-to-face? How does the experience change? 

Other options of BUILDZI that I love: There is a 'silhouette' of the structure to build. Each card has a colorful block side and the silhouette of the same structure on the other side (see picture above. FYI: two different cards are show). And, you can have players build the structure flat on the ground/floor or vertically. Perfect for changing up the challenge.
Have fun out there! (It IS possible, even during these interesting times....)

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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Liner Quotes: Growth Set - Macro Version (Print-N-Play)

12/3/2020

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This is another generous share from Karen Whittaker (she shared Life Skill Memory Match a couple posts ago). She transformed the Liner Quotes: Growth Set cards (SEE THIS POST for specific details about the Growth Set of Liner Quotes), into a more visually appealing experience. (PDF Download below). In this transformation, she also made each card bigger (full sheet) so the writing is easier to read while we are safely distancing.  
The Growth Set of Liner Quotes cards is one of two sets at the moment. The original Challenge Set (set 1) has been the free processing tool for joining the FUNdoing Fridays email list. You can sign up for FUNdoing Fridays below to get some FREE Team Building Resources delivered to your email every two weeks and get Set 1 of Liner Quotes, FREE. (I do not share or sell emails.) If the information in the emails is not your cup of tea, simply Unsubscribe and keep the Liner Quotes - no questions asked. 

If you're on the FUNdoing Fridays list and have misplaced your free gift (Liner Quotes, Set 1), email me and I'll send you the PDF (chris@onteambuilding.com). 

Below is the full write up for Liner Quotes (either set) so you can see the versatility of the tool. And now, with Karen's version, they are even more engaging!! THANKS KAREN.  
linerquotesgrowthset_fromkarenwittaker.pdf
File Size: 614 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Welcome to Liner Quotes – a fun insightful way to get your groups talking. If you find this tool useful please tell your colleagues, friends, and family where to find it – available only at FUNdoing.com. Thank you so much for supporting my FUNdoing adventures!
 
Over the past few years I have been listening to music a bit differently. It all started when it occurred to me that certain lines in musical lyrics would be great for previewing, midviewing, and reviewing teambuilding experiences – these lines could inspire/remind participants of important moments ahead or moments that happened during their program. To get these “lines” out there to the masses Liner Quotes: Reviewing Cards emerged. You can also find a more detailed description of the Liner Quotes activity in my book, Portable Teambuilding Activities (2015). For the Print-N-Play version, here is what you’ll need to know about using the cards.
 
Activity Objective: Participants are encouraged to choose and talk about a quote card that, to them, best relates to the experience that is about to take place (previewing), one that is taking place (midviewing), or one that has already taken place (reviewing).  
 
Facilitated Objective: Explore behaviors related to trust, communication, empathy, voice, community, challenge with choice, risk, fear, and rapport.
 
Needs & Numbers: Print and cut out the 32 Liner Quote cards below on light blue paper (I’m suggesting light blue paper to identify the “reviewing” Liner Quotes sets from the “growth” Liner Quote sets that I suggest printing on green paper – green being for growth). For long-term use I advise that you laminated the cards or get the quotes printed on card stock. One set of 32 cards works well with a group of two to 16 participants.
If your pre-planning and/or programming include giving away the Liner Quote cards to the individuals in the group you might not want to incur the lamination cost. When giving away the quotes you could have participants pick a quote that best represents what they want to remember or take away from the program, or you can have the group as a whole, through nomination or another process, pick a card for each person in the group. In any case, when your cards are printed, you’re ready to go.
 
Time: 15 to 20 minutes at any time during a program – maybe a little longer for a reviewing 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 quote side up, on a tabletop or floor, so all the quotes can easily be read.
 
Procedure: Since my initial set of cards was created, here are a few ways I’ve used them:
  • Ice-Breaker: Ask each person to choose a quote that reflects a certain value or belief he or she holds. Ask participants to mingle around the room sharing their quotes and the meanings they have with one person at a time.  
 
  • Previewing a Program: Ask the group to choose, by consensus, an important quote (or two) that will help to remind them of an underlying principle or concept they want to remember throughout their program. You might call this quote the “group motto” or “purpose statement” that will frame the group’s actions.
 
  • Previewing an Activity: Ask each person to choose a quote he or she believes will be something important to remember as they move forward into the next part of the program, or the next activity.
 
  • Midviewing: There might be times when your group could benefit from a discussion/check-in break during an activity. For example, if they are struggling to move forward. Scatter the cards out, quotes up, and see if any of the quotes inspire some thought around what the group is experiencing and/or might consider doing in order to move forward.
 
  • Re-Viewing: At the end of an activity, or your program, ask each person to choose a quote that reminds them of something important/significant that happened during the activity or program. Taking turns, have participants share his or her quote and the meaning it has for them.
 
  • Blind Find Reviewing: (after an activity or program) Set the cards out with the quote sides facing down for this one. At the end of an activity, or your program, ask each person to choose a card that is intuitively “speaking” to them – like picking that fortune cookie that speaks to you. After reading their card each participant is asked to interpret the meaning of his or her quote in relation to the activity just completed (or the overall program) and any relevant learning it may hold. Taking turns, have participants share their quotes and the interpretations. If a participant is struggling to interpret his or her quote it can be opened up to the group for its possible – at-the-time – meaning.
 
Facilitation Notes: The first opportunity I had to put out my complete set (at the time, 52 cards) I found my group more interested in discovering all the quotes than they were at choosing a quote related to their experience. In retrospect there was just too much information to choose from. Minimizing the choices (32 cards) seems to lend more focus to the task.
Be Well!!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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    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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