(About a 7-minute read.)
'Pick and Choose' was one of my go-to's when I was getting started in the adventure education world. I first discovered it in the 1984 edition of Silver Bullets, by Karl Rohnke (it was the first 'Adventure Games' book I encountered in 1990). Over the years it solidified in one of my mental models that we always use buckets and tennis balls (cause that's how I learned it). Here is the Silver Bullets picture that's imprinted in my mind:
To make a relatively long story short (and you know I love long stories), I ran into a variation of Pick and Choose involving marbles and tape. I made the jump to 'paper snowballs' after an 'Ask' podcast I did with Michelle Cummings (Episode 57: Team Building with Paper) and a new mental model was born - Snowball Pick-N-Choose.
Snowball Pick-N-Choose
Set Up: The picture below is the set up in the video (above). This is a good configuration for a group of up to 10 players. IMPORTANT NOTE: I used a combination of targets - hula hoops and masking tape - in order to demonstrate options. If I'm traveling light and playing inside, I'll just bring paper, masking tape, and an activity rope. The hoops are great if you have them on site or if you're okay traveling with them.
Set Up: The picture below is the set up in the video (above). This is a good configuration for a group of up to 10 players. IMPORTANT NOTE: I used a combination of targets - hula hoops and masking tape - in order to demonstrate options. If I'm traveling light and playing inside, I'll just bring paper, masking tape, and an activity rope. The hoops are great if you have them on site or if you're okay traveling with them.
If you have a larger group of 11 to 14 players, add another Snowball receptacle behind the line and more Snowballs - about 3 Snowballs for every player in the group (e.g., 12 players 36 Snowballs divided between the two receptacles). Then your first target row will have four targets, the second row will have three targets and the third row will have two targets.
Distancing: The first row of targets is about 8-feet from the throwing line, the second row is about 13-feet from the line, the third row is about 18-feet from the line. NOTE: Paper Snowballs do not go very far when thrown. An 18-foot distance to the highest points is doable, but not easy.
​Scoring: You can choose any combination of scores for your targets. My first row is worth 15 points, my second row is 30 points, and the third row is 50 points (I want to make the farthest target(s) enticing). I put little point markers (index cards) at each distance but it's not necessary.
Distancing: The first row of targets is about 8-feet from the throwing line, the second row is about 13-feet from the line, the third row is about 18-feet from the line. NOTE: Paper Snowballs do not go very far when thrown. An 18-foot distance to the highest points is doable, but not easy.
​Scoring: You can choose any combination of scores for your targets. My first row is worth 15 points, my second row is 30 points, and the third row is 50 points (I want to make the farthest target(s) enticing). I put little point markers (index cards) at each distance but it's not necessary.
Objective: Score as many points as possible in 90-seconds. (Karl's original version is 2-minutes, which can be a good cardio workout if needed.)
Play:
Play:
- The configuration of the equipment may not be changed. Only the Snowballs can be moved (by being thrown).
- A team will require at least two roles to be covered during play - Throwers and Retrievers. (Other roles can be created if needed.)
- Throwers must stay behind the throwing line and only the Snowballs (paper) can be thrown.
- ​Throwers can only take Snowballs from the receptacles behind the throwing line.
- There is no limit to the number of Throwers.
- Retrievers can move anywhere - near the targets and behind the throwing line - around the playing area to pick up Snowballs.
- Retrievers may not 'influence' Snowballs into the targets.
- There is no limit to the number of Retrievers.
Allow time for your group to plan and practice before each attempt. Be sure they understand and follow the rules. You can keep and call the time. And I like to record, in big numbers on flip chart paper, the scores of each round. Three or four rounds work well to notice some change in a groups process.
Why I like This One
Wonderings
Have fun out there my friend!
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
Why I like This One
- The rules are super-simple.
- To be successful a group must realize they need a lot more retrievers than throwers (but everyone wants to be a thrower to get points). How do they go about letting go of the glory for the good of the group or goal?
- Its high energy in short bursts. Does/Can everyone give their all in that short burst?
- 'Problems' are easy to identify (there aren't that many) and solve - if people are willing to do the hard work (running around).
- Hard work is involved. What else is hard work for people? What can be good about hard work? How do we want to handle hard work together? What's possible when we work on something together that is difficult?
Wonderings
- Will a group uncrumple the Snowballs (paper) and make paper airplanes to fly into the distant targets?
- Will a group uncrumple the Snowballs (paper), tear them in half and double their throwable Snowballs? Will a half-Snowball make it to the farthest target?
Have fun out there my friend!
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
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