Elevator Air
Filed under: De-inhibitizers, Ice-Breakers, Warm-Ups & Stretches
A gentle, yet experiential way to introduce the desired tone of your program.
At A Glance
People cross to the other side of the circle in which they are standing in the manner of various ‘mind-states.’
What You Need
- A flat, open area to accommodate a wide circle.
- Minimum of 10 people.
- 5 – 10 minutes.
What To Do
Everyone knows what it means to be in an elevator. You step in, no one looks at you, you press the button for your floor. Doors close, and you instinctively glance up at the numbers blinking above the doors as if it holds the answer to the meaning of life. Moments pass, and you glance up again and can’t believe that you still have 10 floors to go. You can’t wait to get out… you know how it goes.
Share a little of this with your group, to get them ready for the what’s next. It will often spark a chortle or two, perhaps even a few comments about how dumb this all seems. Which, if this happens, is just perfect, and I recommend you allow it to occur.
Starting with a large circle, invite every person to simply walk to the other side of the circle from where they are standing as if they had just entered an elevator. No talking, barely any eye contact, and certainly no interaction. Take note of what happens, how it feels, etc. This is ‘Elevator Air.’ Ask your group to comment on how it felt for them.
Okay, ask everyone now to return to their original spots in the circle, but this time as if they were entering a room full of people they knew and had not seen in a long time. This is ‘Long Lost Air.’ Again, observe what happens. Without even saying it, I can guarantee they will instinctively go out of their way to interact with one another.
Now, put it to the group, which atmosphere felt the most comfortable? Which atmosphere do you believe would be the most productive? You can probably see where this is heading, right?
Take just a few moments to establish what caused the difference, and to connect this to your program. Typically comments such as “it was safer”, “I felt trusted”, “I knew everyone better”, “I was able to take risks” will be offered. Fantastic! Suggest that this is exactly what you hope to achieve with your program, and importantly, you invite every member of your group to take responsibility for creating this atmosphere right here, right now. You’re ready to move on.
Variations
- If your group needs a little warming up between ‘Elevator’ and ‘Long Lost’ Air, try ‘Highway Air’ – you know, that generally friendly, safe and more curious way we are with others when we are driving our cars as we acknowledge others in the vehicles. But of course, avoid any ‘road rage’ suggestions.
- Add a further (final?) crossing in the manner of walking into a wild party. Discussion can still follow which looks at the impact of “being” this way with people. For some, this will be very positive / fun, but for others, perhaps scary.
Taken and adapted from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this ice-breaker, please add a comment…
Serious Play
Hi folks,
If you have ever thought (or hoped) that there was a connection between play and someone’s well-being, then you’ll love what I’m about to share with you.
The book ‘Play‘ by Dr Stuart Brown speaks directly to the connection between the critical importance of play and people’s well-being. As I’ve often wondered, Dr Brown’s research confirms that a state of play (as defined below) triggers the brain to embrace learning more effectively than most other tools.
You can listen to Dr Brown speaking at a conference here.
You can learn more about his book here.
Properties of Play (pages 17-18) – that is, what is it, distinct from other activity?
- Apparently purposeless – done for it’s own sake.
- Voluntary – the player deternimes their own level of participation, if any.
- Inherent attraction – as I say, fun is pretty hard to stand away from.
- Freedom from time – ever notice that when you’re fully engaged in something you like to do, time flies?
- Diminished consciousness of self – the focus is always on the doing, not on the who.
- Improvisational potential – rules rarely matter, and when used they are easily changed.
- Continuation desire – you wish you could play forever.
One of the most important things Dr Brown has to say is…
“Play is a state of mind, rather than an activity. Remember the definition of play: an absorbing, appearently purposeless activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of self-consciousness and sense of time. It is also self motivating and makes you want to do it again. We have to put ourselves in the proper emotional state to play.” (page 61)
This is SO true.
Play has little to do with the activity, and everything to do with what you bring to it. Geez, even washing the dishes could be considered play, IF you prepare a playful emotional state of play to it!! I believe this understanding could have an ENORMOUS impact on our curriculum, and in particular, the manner in which we teach it!!
Dr Brown has many controversial things to say, such as:
- There is a strong connection between a person’s ability to use their hands (at play) and their ability to solve problems;
- Social skills and intelligence is strongly related to a person’s propensity to play.
- The opposite of play is not work, rather it is depression!!
- The basis of human trust is established through human play signals.
What do you think (leave a comment below)?
I think he’s right on the money, and makes me even more passionate than ever to inspire people to integrate a sense of play into their curriculum / programs.
In conclusion, what does this all mean to you and me? Here’s what Dr Brown suggests (pages 206-216):
- Study your play history.
- Expose yourself to play.
- Give yourself permission to be playful, to be a beginner.
- Fun is your North Star, but you don’t always have to head north.
- Be active.
- Free yourself of your fears.
- Nourish your mode of play, and be with people who nourish it, too.
Have FUNN!
Madagascar Rescue
A creative group initiative that combines many problems into one.
At A Glance
A group standing on a large tarp must first manage to flip the tarp upside-down without touching the ground, and then rescue a series of objects strewn around them.
What You Need
- A large tarp (preferably non-rip material)
- One “stepping stone” per person
- Bunch of objects, such as soft toy animals
What To Do
This initiative is a classic example of how much fun it can be to combine two or more individual problem-solving activities into one. In this case, I am adding Turn A New Leaf to Stepping Stones.
Start by placing the large tarp (approx 2m x 3m works well for 15 people) on the floor, and randomly distributing a bunch of soft toys around the area. Now, ask your group to stand on the tarp entirely, that is, no overlapping of feet or other body parts. Distribute a piece of driftwood (stepping stone) to each person.
Set the scene by describing that the group is standing on the underside of a capsized ship which was bound for Madagascar (ie think of popular animated movie of same name). The ship was full of exotic animals, and sadly, they have now been tipped into the ocean, and will drown within 30 minutes (or other seemingly appropriate time-frame).
Explain that the group’s first task is to upright their vessel, and then, to rescue all of the animals using the drift wood they have been supplied.
In an effort to flip the tarp, the group is not permitted to step off or touch the ground at any time. Without giving too much away, most solutions normally involve twisting the tarp at one end and moving people from one side to the flipped-side. Dispense whatever penalty for outside touches seems reasonable, but I normally require the group to start over.
Then, upon uprighting the ship, the group’s next task is to rescue the strewn animals. Again, no one is permitted to step into the ocean (ground), but may use the drift wood (stepping stones) to traverse the area safely. But, two rules apply – every stepping stone MUST maintain total physical contact with the group at all times (ie if a stone is left untouched for even a split-second, for example, between steps) that stone will sink (ie it is removed from the game), and if someone happens to touch (or fall) into the ocean, they must return to the ship. Note, if a person should “fall” (requiring them to return to the ship) and no one else is touching the stepping stone at the time the first person fell, that piece of drift wood is also removed from the game. Yeah, I know, it’s brutal!
Clearly, there are tons of opportunities for teamwork, communication, leadership and problem-solving skills to be exhibited here. Game continues until all of the animals have been safely rescued, or… all of the stepping stones have sunk!
Variations
- Extending the scenario, explain that owing to tidal patterns, some animals may “drift” (ie change their location) relative to the ship at any time. Alter the tides at your discretion.
- Use a tarp that is too difficult to flip with everyone standing on it. This will invite the group to be creative, to discover perhaps that some members of the group will have to float on their drift wood (stepping stones) until the ship is righted.
- Rather than a higgly-piggly distribution of animals, place them in a zig-zag formation away “behind” the ship. Or, place the animals in an upside-down Y shape requiring the group to split left and right perhaps to complete the rescue.
(with thanks, and adapted from David Wright, NS, Canada)
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
One Duck
Another one in a long line of hilarious it-should-be-so-easy-to-do activities.
At A Glance
Sitting in a circle, each person recites one part of a four-part phrase which multiplies each time it is completed, until the group has recited each part five times in a row without mistake.
What You Need
- A comfortable, open space possibly with chairs.
- Minimum of 8 and up to 15 people.
- 10 – 15 minutes
What To Do
Form your group into a circle and ask the participants to repeat the words “One duck – fell in – the pond – kerplunk”. The punctuation is deliberate, and should be reflected in the way you recite the verse the first time, ie it goes something like this “one duck” (pause) “fell in” (pause) “the pond” (pause) “kerplunk”. Consider it a stanza comprising four parts.
Instruct the group that you would now like them to repeat this verse – one person at a time in a clockwise direction – saying only one part at a time. For example, the first person will say “One duck”, and the person to his / her left will then say “fell in”, and so on.
Now for the tricky bit. When you get to “kerplunk”, the verse is repeated again, but this time, each part of the stanza is said twice. So, the next person (ie fifth person in turn) says “One duck”, followed by their neighbour repeating “One duck”, then passing to the next person who says “fell in”, and the next repeats “fell in”, etc, etc. Keep going, until you get to the “kerplunk” and “kerplunk” parts.
No prizes for guessing what happens next (I told you this was easy). The verse continues around the circle, this time with each part being repeated three times, then four times, and to achieve the all-time world’s record, a climactic fifth time!! One duck, one duck, one duck, one duck, one duck, fell in, fell in, fell in, and so on and on it goes. If your group can make it to this level, you all deserve a huge round of applause, or a long lie down!
Explosions of incredulous laughter will break out when someone, typically, forgets how many of which part of the verse has already been uttered. It seems so easy to count to five, yet after many failed world record attempts, I totally understand why the record is so elusive. Give it a go.
Variations
- Have the verse circle the group in the opposite direction.
- Make up your own little verse, with perhaps five, six or even seven parts. Arghhhh…..
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Dead Ant Tag
A crazy tag that involves a little co-operation.
At A Glance
Upon being tagged, a person is obliged to lie on their backs with arms and legs extended into the air, and wait to be lifted by others to a designated spot, at which point they can return to the game.
What You Need
- A large, flat open space with boundaries.
- Minimum of 10 ants.
- 5 – 10 minutes.
What To Do
Make up whatever story you care to tell your group (such as “someone has just kicked off the top of an ant-nest, and all of the ants are now frantically searching for their home”), and then spread your “ants” all about your space. Then clearly designate one or more areas as “ant farms.” Ask for a volunteer who would like to be “it” first, and on “go,” this person runs around trying to tag everybody else. Pretty basic set up so far.
Next, explain that when a person is tagged, they are obliged to suddenly drop to the ground and, lying on their backs, wiggle their arms and legs into the air exclaiming “dead ant, dead ant” ad nauseam. This will act as an emergency signal to all other still-in-the-game ants to rescue one of their own. These paramedic ants (no more than four) will grab one or more limbs of the dead ant, and lift them gently to the safety of the closest “ant farm”. As long as the paramedic ants remain in contact with the dead ant, they can not be tagged by “it,” ie this is just one incentive to save souls.
Upon being gently placed (notice, I have used the word gently twice now!) onto the spot of the ant farm, the dead ant will experience a miraculous recovery and swing back into the game. And so it goes on.
Variations
- For really large groups, introduce two or more ants.
- Designate an area that is somewhat to the periphery of the action representing an “abandoned picnic”. Each ant is now called to visit the picnic –eating the scraps, so to speak – as many times as possible, by placing any part of their body inside the designated area. For each visit, the group gets a nominal point (or crumb), and collectively the group will work to earn as many points as possible. Of course, they must continue to save lost souls in the process.
- Just for the fun of it, call “dead ants” anywhere, anytime (ie long after you have played), and watch as people just drop to the floor and wiggle their way through a impulsive “dead ant, dead ant” chorus.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Clothes Peg Tag
Excellent for stimulating lots of energy and action
At A Glance
Armed with a swag of clothes-pegs, a person will aim to attach as many pegs on other people, while also trying to dodge extra pegs being pinned on them.
What You Need
- A big bag of clothes-pegs
- 10 – 15 mins
What To Do
Collect as many pegs as would supply 4 to 8 pegs per person. Then distribute this same number of pegs to everyone in your group, and ask them to pin them onto their clothing somewhere. The pegs need to be accessible, that is, somewhere on the upper torso, preferably on the back, front or arms of the clothing.
I doubt you will need boundaries for this activity, because the fun is always in the centre, but go ahead and set them if necessary. On “GO,” everyone aims to take as many of their own pegs off their clothing (one at a time), and attach them to other people’s clothing. To be clear, all pegs must remain on a person’s clothing except for the one they are trying to attach to someone else. Naturally, it’s not a one-way street; often when a person is not looking, they don’t suspect that someone is slyly pinning a peg on their back.
Run the game for as long as you feel there is energy, then stop and count each person’s stash of pegs. Pretty simple, the person with the least wins.
Variation
- Try it in reverse. Everyone aims to steal as many pegs from others in their group and attach them to their clothing.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
2010 Workshop Calendar Announced
Hi folks,
Good News – my 2010 Public Enrolment Workshops dates are now out!
NEW for this year is the Advanced Facilitation Skills workshop – two awesome days designed for a maximum of 12 people to try out their stuff and receive feedback on their programming, processing and facilitation skills. I promise you, this will be THE MOST significant learning experience that you’ll ever be a part of that WILL enhance your leadership skills. Space is limited, so sign up now.
See you soon, Mark
Moon Walking
The closest people can get to flying without wings
At A Glance
Two people holding the lower arms of a third person whose hands are on his or her hips, physically support the latter as he or she jumps into the air.
What You Need
- 2 – 5 mins
What To Do
Use a variety of Clumps, ending with “THREE” to form random groups of three people. Ask one person to place hands on hips (thumbs pointing backwards) and to hold this stance firm. Instruct the two others of this triad to approach the first person, and grab a lower arm each with their two hands, often placing one hand at the wrist and the other just below the elbow.
Upon engaging in this exercise, allow people to choose where is best for them to place their hands. What is important to stress, however, is gentle but firm grips, and that the middle person maintains a solid stance at all times.
Now, commence the countdown, and ask each of the middle people to jump high into the air. At the same time, their partners will lift their colleagues gently into the air giving extra support to allow for a jump which is higher than can normally be expected. Note, I said “gently” and “extra support” – not fling, heave or toss your jumper into the air!
Depending on your sequence, this could be one of the first occasions in which you have introduced some form of exhilarating physical rush for your participants. It will often elicit much applause and screams (of joy). Apart from the obvious merriment of jumping really high, this is also an excellent activity to introduce your group to the concept of taking care of others – which, in turn, contributes to building a feeling of trust, support and community.
Hence, your sequencing must be spot on. Do not introduce this exercise to your group unless they have already exhibited healthy levels of safety consciousness in your lead-up activities.
Variation
- Same set-up as above, but this time, invite the threesome to move forward five paces, stepping forward in rapid succession with each jump. It will almost feel like flying.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Great Egg Drop
A purposeful problem-solving team activity that comes with a thrilling climax
At A Glance
Groups are provided with identical resources to build a ‘vehicle’ for an egg to travel from a tall height to the ground, hoping that it will prevent the egg from breaking upon impact.
What You Need
- One egg (not hard-boiled) per team
- 20 plastic straws per team
- 1 metre (3-4’) of masking tape per team
- Paper and pens (optional)
- A large plastic sheet
- 1 -2 hours
What To Do
Like many group activities, you are encouraged to really ham the presentation of this exercise to the max! Develop whatever scenario you care to think of, but be committed and make it fun.
For example, introduce yourself as a famous astro-physicist, and explain that you are seeking the best way for humans to land onto the surface of Mars. You plan to divide your group into competing teams of engineers, who will be charged with the responsibility of building a space-craft that will not only transport humans safely to Mars, but more importantly, help them land in one piece. Whatever…you are now ready to present the task.
Each ‘team’ will be given identical resources – an egg, a set of straws, and a short strip of masking tape. The challenge is to build the strongest vehicle for an egg to safely travel a distance of 3 metres (10’). Why? Because, this is a prototype of the very spacecraft that will carry humans to Mars, of course! However, the distance will be gravity-fed, i.e., it will be dropped from a height, and land with a thud on the ground (that’s why you need the plastic sheet – it’s a landing platform).
Announce that each team’s vehicle will be judged on engineering quality, efficiency of resource use, aesthetics, and naturally, on the survival of the egg. Feel free to add other forms of criteria too. Once all of the questions have been answered, and you have distributed the materials, declare that their time has begun. Allow at least 45 minutes for each team to prepare their craft.
Finally, the program reaches a huge climax when each team returns and, under a veil of secrecy, submits their vehicle for testing. Leading with shouts of “10, 9, 8, 7…” and so on, you drop each vehicle from a height – one at a time (standing on a table works pretty well) – and await the results.
Typically, the egg will erupt with a fit of yellow and white splatter. Even a tiny flow of yolk will be sufficient for the crowd to go wild. Sunny-side up, anyone?
Variations
- Add a variety of materials to those above, such as balloons, rubber bands, cotton wool, etc.
- Ask each group, as part of their overall objective, to prepare a short presentation to accompany the launch of their ‘vehicle.’ Paper and pens can be used to design a ‘marketing campaign.’ Points are further awarded for creativity, originality and believability of their spiel.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Mintie Game
An awesome mixer that is as effective as it is delicious
At A Glance
Starting with 10 treats each, people aim to earn more treats by causing as many people as possible to say the word “YES” in their ensuing conversations.
What You Need
- 10 ‘Minties’ or other sweet treats (preferably wrapped), per person
- 5 – 10 mins
What To Do
Ohhhh, this seems so easy to do, but I swear the simple exercise of not saying “YES” is so hard.
I first played this game with ‘Minties’ (refreshingly chewy mint lolly), but it works just as well with any sweet treat. Distribute an exact number, say 10, to everyone in your group, and then just as quickly, tell them not to eat them – just yet!
Now, invite your group to mix and mingle with each other, engaging in conversation as often as possible. Encourage them to introduce themselves, exchange pleasantries etc, etc, and then engage in the fine art of conversation. But this is not just any form of conversation; your goal is to cause the other to say the word “YES.” Every time your partner utters this pleasantly uncomplicated word, you gain a Mintie. The person with the most Minties at the end ‘wins.’
My favourite line to gain a quick Mintie? I spy anyone on their own, approach them and calmly ask “Do you have any Minties left? “Yes I do, er…arghhhhhh..” Works like a charm.
Variation
- Substitute the word “YES” with other colloquially popular words such as “LIKE,” and if you want to make it really difficult – the word “AND.” It’s near impossible!
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work!
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Clumps
Zany, fast-paced energiser designed to mix people frequently
At A Glance
People quickly form a series of temporary groups matching the number called by the leader.
What You Need
- 5 – 10 mins
What To Do
This is so simple, yet so good. Gather your group around you, and explain that, in a moment, you will shout out a number – any number from, say one to ten (the bigger your group, the bigger you can make the top end). Immediately, everyone must form a group consisting of that number of people. In my experience, groups get very huggy at this point, and form little fortresses with their bodies to prevent others from joining their little huddle.
Naturally, you will often get a few poor souls left over, the so-called remainder, if we speak in the language of long division. At this moment, you have several options. You can eliminate these folks, move them to the side, and continue with the next shouted number, and so on until you get the lucky ‘winners.’ This is fine; however, I think it’s best to simply shout another number. It keeps the energy up, is much less competitive, and more fun for everyone. And the look on the faces of the ‘dejected’ when they hear the next number called (‘I’m saved’) is priceless.
Move from five to three, then up to nine and back down to four so that a high degree of mixing occurs. Shout “ONE!” just to see what happens.
Variations
- Add the proviso that when a new number is called, a person cannot form a group with anyone who was in their previous group (as much as is possible). This tweaking of the rules will spoil the plans of those crafty individuals who prefer to stick together, simply opting to ebb and flow in terms of their membership number at any point in time.
- Form a group according to a simple, easily-accessible category, such as dark-coloured tops, brand of running shoes, gender, colour of eyes, etc. Similar to Categories.
- Once formed, instruct the newly-created groups to use their collective bodies to make the shape of a letter of the alphabet, or numeral, or object, e.g., table, house, car, etc.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Quick Shuffle
A good introductory, success-oriented exercise.
At A Glance
A group works together to re-shuffle seven people back to their original positions of a line in which they were standing prior to the group closing and then re-opening their eyes.
What You Need
- An open space.
- Minimum of 10 people.
- 10 – 15 minutes.
What To Do
Be careful not to reveal too much in this briefing, lest you give your group a clue as to what’s about to happen. It’s not critical, because you can always up the challenge, but it’s good to preserve the adventure for as long as possible.
Ask seven people from your group to stand in one line, side-by-side, in front of the rest of your group, and then ask the latter to simply look at the former for about 10 or so seconds. Now, instruct those who are doing the looking, to close their eyes for 15 to 20 seconds, during which time the chosen seven will totally shuffle their positions. No one leaves the line, each person simply moves to a new spot within it.
As you will have guessed, the group now opens their eyes and is charged with the responsibility of re-shuffling the group back to their original configuration. It is quite likely that not even the seven people will recall their original positions correctly – because they didn’t see what was coming either, and that’s OK.
The guts of this activity is about the looking group working together co-operatively to solve the problem. Like most initiatives, it’s not always about getting the right answer. To this end, and to prevent a “hero” from doing all of the shuffling, be sure to frame this simple exercise as a “group” problem, and suggest that every “looking” person takes a turn in making one shuffle at a time. The chosen seven should remain silent at all times during the shuffling process.
Of course, after the first round, everyone is attuned to memorising the formation of the line when the activity is repeated, but there’s still plenty of room for disagreement. Naturally, applaud the idea of using pen and paper, but disallow it!
Variations
- If you have a large group, create several sets of seven, with matching groups of three to five people to do the looking and re-shuffling.
- Experiment with larger look-at-me lines, of say 10 or more people.
- Moving only one person at a time, record how many moves it takes for a line to be correctly reshuffled.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Toe Tag
A hop-step-and-jump tag game that quickly raises the energy of your group.
At A Glance
Starting back to back, two partners spin around on “go” and try to “tag” the toe of their partner before they get tagged.
What You Need
- A flat, open space to accommodate lots of frenetic activity.
- Minimum of 2 toe-taggers.
- 2 – 5 minutes.
What To Do
This is a perfect 2 minute filler that has the power to transform your mopey group into a ball of energy.
You need groups of two people. Ask everyone to start with their backs to their partner, and on an appropriate signal like “go”, both partners spin around 180 degrees to face one another and engage in a dance-like combat. Each person attempts to “tag” the toe of their partner gently before one of their own feet gets tagged.
Be sure to remind your group that you said “tagged” and not “stomped” – this will make all the difference between many fun rounds, and a lot of sore feet. Play best of three rounds, but if you lose the first two, better make it five!
Variations
- If too much energy is expended chasing your partner, a less aerobic version is to start by facing your partner and holding their hands.
- Form a circle with your group holding hands. Each person attempts to “tag” the feet of their immediate neighbours. As soon as a person has had both feet tagged, they retreat from the circle, the group re-joins, and the game continues until the final two “toe taggers” duel.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this tag game, please add a comment…
Do You Have Something To Share?
Hi folks,
This space is reserved especially for people like YOU to give and receive feedback about my books and PD workshops. If you like them, great – tell everyone about the value you’ve gained. If you don’t, say that too!
So, if you’re thinking of purchasing No Props or Count Me In, or attending one of my Public Enrolment Workshops, this space would be an awesome spot to learn what others have been saying before you make a decision.
Or, if you already have my books or have been to one of my workshops, keep it short and simple, and write what you think other people oughta know.
<< TO ADD A COMMENT >> Click the ‘Comments’ link located directly above. The most recent comments appear at the bottom.
Thanks for sharing,
Mark
Mirror Image
Filed under: De-inhibitizers, Warm-Ups & Stretches
Excellent for stimulating mutual co-operation and plenty of unself-conscious stretching.
At A Glance
Facing each other, one person will reproduce the “mirror image” of the moves of their partner.
What You Need
- A flat, open space.
- Minimum of 2 people.
- 5 minutes.
What To Do
Ask people to find a partner who is about their height, and gather around. Start with a demonstration, inviting a volunteer to face you standing about half a metre apart. You initiate the action while the other person becomes your “mirror image”. Get that, it’s a mirror image, so if I extend my left arm out to my left-side, my partner will extend their right arm out to their right-side.
The intention is to make your movements interesting and slow enough for the other person to mime as if they were a full-length mirror. The enjoyment level is definitely enhanced by an initial zany presentation of unself-conscious stretching. Try not to succumb to typical “star jump” types of stretches – rather, for example, invent an innovative and fun morning “wake up” routine that includes having a shower, dressing in stretchy trousers and a long-sleeve angora sweater, etc.
Got a few laughs, it’s now time to turn it over to the group. The facial and physical gymnastics that result lets you see people like you’ve never seen them before. Swap roles after an appropriate time.
Variations
- After each partner has had their turn, ask them to try the anti-mirror (or reverse) image – during which the follower tries to mime exactly the opposite of their partner’s movement. Classic moves and total confusion are sure to follow.
- Repeat in groups of three or four people (all but one are the mirrors), but not too many more lest people get a little self-conscious.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this stretch, please add a comment…
Pairs Compass Walk
Filed under: De-inhibitizers, Problem-Solving, Trust Exercises
Marvel at people’s amazing ability to completely lose their sense of direction.
At A Glance
A blind-folded person attempts to walk directly in a straight line towards a target about 50 metres away.
What You Need
- A wide, open but not necessarily flat space.
- Minimum of 2 people.
- 10 – 20 minutes.
What To Do
Ask your group to divide into pairs. To start, one person identifies a distant object from across the space – a tree, a rock, a door, etc – and announces the object to their partner. With their eyes completely closed (no peeking) they begin to move directly towards it. Their aim is to walk “straight” to the object, in pursuit of the lofty ideals of accurate distance and direction.
To ensure a safe arrival, the sighted partner follows the blinded silently from behind. They can not verbally or physically assist their partner, rather their role is to prevent them from encountering any “unplanned” obstacles by stopping them just short of a collision, ie they are a spotter.. To this end, it may seem to make more sense to protect one’s partner from the front or side, but in my experience, this practice tends to crookedly influence the blind person’s direction and is therefore not recommended.
This activity works best if the targets are at least 50 – 100 metres away. Instruct the “spotters” to observe and note the tendency for their partners to veer either left or right, and to what extent. The looks on people’s faces when they discover how far off they were from their target is worth bottling. Full circles are not uncommon.
Follow-up with a good-natured discussion about what helped and hindered the process of travelling to the target and the consequential development of trust. A typical result – if your compass says to go one way, and your gut feeling strongly suggests another, trust the compass!
Variations
- Ask two people (possibly with opposite biases) to walk hand in hand. In this case, their original partners will walk directly behind these two co-joined people and note and ensure their safe progress.
- See Group Compass Walk (No Props p149), where you bring your entire group together in an attempt to walk as a group “blind-folded” towards a common object.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Let Me Introduce
An exercise where you introduce everyone else but yourself
At A Glance
Each person approaches as many people as possible within a specified time limit, introducing each of them to another person in the group.
What You Need
- 2 – 5 mins
What To Do
I’ve found this simple re-working of the traditional form of introductions a brilliant way to rid my group of a lot of that tension that most people experience when they first get together. It won’t evaporate all of the awkward feelings, but it is fun and is guaranteed to create a ton of energy.
With your group milling about, ask them to casually approach any other person in the group – whether they know their name or not – greet them, and ask for their name. Embodied with a lively demonstration, it will sound something like this. “Hi, what’s your name?” The doe-eyed person you have just approached says “Simon,” and you reply with “Hi Simon, come with me, I’d like to you to meet somebody.” At which point you lead Simon with you over to another unsuspecting group member, and say “Hi, what’s your name?” and it might be Vijay this time. “Hi Vijay. I’d like you to meet Simon. Simon this is Vijay.”
Having done the job of the Introducer, explain that each person now moves on to either seek a new person to greet, or submit to another person’s invitation to be part of their introduction, and so on. Get the idea?
In principle, the person arranging the introductions need not say their name, but we are so accustomed to doing so in our culture, it often happens anyway!
To give the exercise a little vivacity, announce that your group has three (or whatever) minutes to introduce everyone to everybody else. Won’t happen, but that’s not the point.
Variation
- Following on from the basic set-up, one of the two people who have just been introduced to each other, now leads the other to a new person. For example, Simon leads Vijay over to meet and greet with Rachel.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment …
Categories
The perfect ice-breaker – ideal for mixing people in a fun and non-threatening manner
At A Glance
Your group splits into a variety of smaller groupings, according to a series of categories you announce.
What You Need
- 10 – 20 mins
What To Do
Ask your group to separate according to the categories or groupings you are about to announce. For example, if the category is “Colour of your pants,” everyone wearing blue jeans will group together. Sometimes, individuals may find themselves alone, but in most cases, small groupings of commonality will develop. Upon identifying each of the groups, announce the next split. You can keep splitting folks for as long as they are having fun, or you run out of ideas.
For mixing purposes, alternate between two-group splits and multi-group splits. The idea is to invite your group to meet as many new people as possible. To this end, if you have the time and the inclination, as soon as the groups have formed, give the participants a few moments to say hello to one another, or perhaps share something of relevance to the category, e.g., “What was so cool about being the oldest / youngest / in-between child in your family?”
Here are just a few sample and fun group categories. There are simply hundreds of them out there, so please, don’t hesitate to make up your own, or tempt them from your group.
Simple half-half splits:
- Arm that ends up crossed over the top of the other, when folded on your chest.
- Leg you put into your pants, shorts, underwear, etc. first when dressing.
- Preference for cooking or cleaning up.
- Preference for washing or drying dishes.
- Position of your thumbs, that is left or right on top, when you clasp your hands together so that your fingers interlock.
- Last digit of your home telephone number. All the odd numbers – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – get together, and the even numbers do the same.
- When presented with a ‘good news / bad news story,’ which do you prefer to hear first?
- Preference for the way toilet paper spills off the roll – like a waterfall, over the top and forward, or against the back towards the wall.
- Number of street you live at – odds and evens.
Simple multi-group splits:
- Month / zodiac sign in which you were born.
- Number of continents you have visited.
- Number of siblings in your family, including yourself.
- Colour of your eyes, hair, socks, etc.
- Type of shoes you are wearing (not necessarily their brand).
- Which shoulder(s) you hold a carry-bag – right, left or both shoulders.
- How often you shave each week?
- Distance you have travelled to get here (use clumps of distances, such as 0-5 km, 5-10 km, etc.
- Number of items you recycle at home, e.g., plastic, glass, tin, paper, etc.
Variation
Use to divide a large group into roughly random and even teams. If you are looking for an even split, and just don’t seem to find a category that fits, simply use the old scientific method of indiscriminately moving a few people (“Hey, you and you, move over here.”) to even out the groupings.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Count Off
Looking for a fun two-minute filler – this is it.
At A Glance
A group attempts to count from 1 to 20 in one shot, where people at random say one number at a time, without establishing a pattern or speaking over another person.
What You Need
- A comfortable, open space.
- Minimum of 5 people.
- 2 – 5 minutes.
What To Do
Invite your group to get comfortable wherever they are, and explain that you would like them to count to twenty. Sounds simple enough, but there are a few catches.
In an effort to count from one to twenty, an individual can only call out one number at a time, ie they can’t call out two numbers in succession, but they can call another number later. Also, any time one or more people call out a number at the same time, the count goes back to zero. The biggest catch is that the group is not permitted to establish a pattern, nor is anyone allowed to indicate / gesture / motion to another that they should call the next number. The sequence of calls is purely determined by chance. That’s what makes this game so contagiously fun.
The glee that strikes a group when two (or more) people speak at the same time after a long silence is what the game is all about. Within a few minutes, you group may not have reached twenty, but some spontaneous fun was had, and you successfully filled in a few moments.
Variations
- Ask your group to close their eyes during the activity.
- Choose any list to recite, such as the alphabet, the chemical tables, months of the year, and numbers of seven (eg 7, 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, etc).
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Cocktail Party
A quick name reinforcer, and welcome segue to a drink’s break.
At A Glance
People mingle about shaking hands and greeting people by name as quickly as possible.
What You Need
- A flat, open space for mingling.
- As many party-goers as you can muster.
- 2 minutes.
What To Do
Looking for a quick way to wrap up a session, perhaps reinforce a few names people may have just learned, and throw to a drinks break? This is it.
Invite people to bunch around you, capturing the image of palatial surroundings, evening gowns, black ties and cocktails. Suggest that each person holds in their left hand an imaginary drink, or cocktail if they choose. Then, on your signal, everyone is encouraged to meet, shake the hands of and greet as many people at the party as possible, in say, 43.5 seconds (this is not a magic number!).
On “go”, it will sound something like, “Oooohh, darling, so good to see you Peter. I’m having a frightfully good time…..”. Chat for a few moments, discuss drinks, recent holidays to the Swiss alps, and then in typical cocktail party fashion, interrupt the conversation with a “O, petal, must keep moving”. Air kiss, kiss (these are not mandatory), and “…bye bye” off you go to greet another party guest.
Suggest to your group that they should use the other person’s name as often as possible, enquire about the other person’s drink (remember, they are holding on to it), but not spend too long with any one person. For a bit of fun, ask someone for the time and see if they spill their drink!
When you feel like the heat has started to dissipate from the party, quell the action and ask your group what is odd about this activity. Someone usually will remark that “there is no drink in their hands”, which is your cue to say….let’s remedy that situation – time for a break.
Variations
Imagine you are in a swanky Food Hall. Invite people to mingle as they treat themselves to the extraordinary array of fine foods available on people’s trays.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Who am I?
Hi, I'm Mark Collard.
This blog shares some of the most successful group games, team-building activities & programming tips I know.
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