Small Group Activities

GRAVITY POLE

PROPS: Half-inch PVC tubing

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 16 – 20

Directions:

1. Line up in two rows facing each other.

2. Introduce the Gravity Pole, a long, thin, lightweight rod (I use half-

inch PVC tubing from Home Depot). Ask participants to point their

index fingers and hold their arms out.

3. Facilitator lays the Gravity Pole gently on his or her fingers. Get

the group to adjust their finger heights until the Pole is horizontal

and everyone's index fingers are touching the stick.

4. Explain that the challenge is to lower the Gravity Pole to the

ground.

5. Important: Each person's fingers must be in contact with the

Gravity Pole at all times. Pinching or grabbing the pole in not

allowed – and no touching from the top! It must rest on top of

fingers.

6. Reiterate to the group that if anyone's finger is caught not touching the Pole, the task will be restarted. Let the

task begin....

7. Warning: Particularly in the early stages, the Gravity Pole has a habit of mysteriously “floating upwards” rather

than coming down, causing much laughter. A bit of clever humor can help - e.g., act surprised and ask what are

they doing raising the Gravity Pole instead of lowering it! Participants may be confused initially about the

paradoxical behavior of the Gravity Pole.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

This activity makes terrific debrief topics such as cooperation, trust, blame, focus, teamwork, leadership.

ZOOM

PROPS: Picture book "Zoom" by Istvan Banyai. You must separate the picture pages of the book into one page sheets

and laminate, or place in clear plastic sleeves to protect them and prolong usage.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 16 – 30

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make sure you have an equal number of laminates and

participants. Place the pages on the floor facedown, so

no one can see the pictures.

2. Allow each participant to grab a laminate and hold face

down against his or her chest. Explain that participants

may only look at their own pictures and must keep the

pictures hidden from others.

3. Now, allow everyone to look at his or her own picture.

No one else will ever see that picture but the individual.

4. It is simple: By explaining verbally what is on your

picture (and never showing it to anyone), arrange

yourselves in one straight line, according to the logical order of the pictures.

5. Participants will generally mill around, talking to others to see whether their pictures have anything in common,

usually starting in pods. Eventually, they will merge as a team, and when the group believes they have all the

pictures in order (usually after ~15 minutes), and are in one straight line, have them lay the pictures down on the

floor in a straight line.

6. Allow everyone to see the pictures and encourage participants to sort out any mistakes, to correct the order.

7. Let everyone walk around and view the pictures in sequence so they can understand the full story.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

Big picture vs. detail-oriented people, communication

styles, leadership styles, listening, clarity, strategizing,

cooperation, problem solving, etc.

LYCRA TUBE One of the most fun activities in my treasure chest of goodies!

PROPS: Nylon Lycra sold at most fabric stores, 5 yards with a width of 48 – 60 inches. Use nylon thread and stretch the

Lycra as you sew it. I cannot sew, so I hire a professional!

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Minimum of 4

DIRECTIONS:

1. Four people must get inside of the Lycra tube

to begin the activity. Your partner is the person

across from you.

2. Each set of partners will change sides,

alternating as they go along.

3. Very important to discuss with your partner

what side you are passing, as there will be a

slight slingshot action as each person bounces

off. That is what makes it fun!

SAFETY MUST BE USED INSIDE LYCRA TUBES:

Play on a soft, grassy area, free of any obstacles. Make sure the Lycra tube is above the shoulders at all times. Observe

closely, as people may get wild and reckless.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

I do not usually debrief the Lycra Tube activity. Some activities are just pure fun. I like to use it after lunch so participants

will not nap.

Large Group Activities

SWITCH, CHANGE, ROTATE PROPS: None

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 12 – 200

DIRECTIONS:

1. You will need a large, open area for this one.

Scatter participants throughout the room, then

ask everyone to get into groups of four, and

stand in a single-file line facing in the same

direction (groups of three or five will work if there

are extras or not enough people).

2. This activity involves the facilitator giving specific

commands. The teams of four are asked to

follow the commands to the best of their ability.

3. First, you will want to practice with the small

groups standing in one place.

4. The first command is, "Switch." The player at the front of the line peels off and goes to the back of the line

(practice).

5. Next, say "Change." All four players are required to turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction (practice).

6. Next is "Rotate." This command requires the front and back players to exchange places (practice).

7. Spend a little time practicing with each command while the groups are stationary.

8. At this point, you start the activity by adding the command, "Chug-a-lug."

9. On this command the groups start walking (it does not need to be fast) around the room within the established

boundary area in their single file line formation, the head of the line being the leader.

10. The lines may weave around, as long as each small group stays together.

11. The last command you will need to give the groups is "Freeze." This obviously stops the action, and gives the

groups all the commands they need.

Here is the ultimate challenge:

Always start with "Chug-a-lug." Then begin using the commands “Switch”, “Change” and “Rotate” as the groups walk

around. Play a little background music if possible. Give the groups enough time between calls to get into the correct

formation.

Remember:

Mix up the "commands" so the groups do not know what order they will be given! After a few minutes, the groups should

have everything down pat.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

This activity delivers excellent leadership topics, along with cooperation, teamwork, helping others, asking for help, trust

and lots more.

MOST OUTRAGEOUS PROPS: None

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 16 – 120. Teams of 2.

DIRECTIONS:

For this activity, I typically ask the boss to pair up participants the day before the event. This is done to help those who do

not know each other as well, those who need to work better together, or those who have issues with each other. This

prevents people pairing up with friends and forming cliques or alliances. I then put the list on the wall for all to see.

1. With your partner, find a quiet place in the room where you and your partner can talk. For the next few minutes, I

want you and your partner to “FIND THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS THING YOU HAVE IN COMMON!”

2. They will immediately ask what you mean by “outrageous.” Do not tell. It is up to them to decide!

3. They will soon find out that they need to ask many good questions to find the answer. During the process, you will

get lots of laughter and some frustration. For the frustrating moments, remind them to ask better questions!

4. After about 5 – 8 minutes, have them sit down next to their partner for the debrief.

5. Ask each pair to stand up and share their answers.

6. Watch the reactions of everybody as they share. It is hilarious.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

Most importantly, this activity breaks down walls and builds unity. People find out things about each other in 5 minutes

that would normally take five to 10 years!

HUMAN ZIPPER

PROPS: NONE

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30 - 200

DIRECTIONS:

1. Ask participants to form a human gauntlet by creating two lines, facing each other. Let this “human zipper” wrap

around the room with turns and straightaways.

2. Starting at one end, each person enters the gauntlet one at a time. Every five seconds or so, send a new person.

3. Here is the catch: everyone in the human zipper line will wave his or her arms up and down the entire time! Of

course, tell them not to touch any participant walking the gauntlet. They have to time it so each arm just misses.

4. There will be lots of laughter and non-stop energy.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

During the debriefing, discuss juicy topics such as trust, trust and more trust.

FOREHEAD

PROPS: Decks of cards with Jokers.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30 - 200

DIRECTIONS:

For my cards, I go to Toys-R-Us and buy several large print/cartoon decks.

1. I shuffle the cards thoroughly, then place them on the floor facedown. I then ask each participant to grab a card,

NEVER looking at it, and place it on their forehead (so we can see it, and they cannot).

2. I explain they are on their honor NEVER to look at their own card. Only other people can see it. The lowest cards

are 2s, 3s and 4s, while the highest cards are Kings, Aces, and Jokers. The rest are in between.

3. Ask them to walk around the room and treat people according to their card.

4. That is it. No explanations, no questions. I time the game for about 3 – 5 minutes and observe the variety of

reactions.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

I allow them to sit down, look at their cards, and discuss their experience. You will typically hear raving comments for the

highs, average comments for the middle cards, and less-than-flattering comments for the lows.

What they hopefully realize is that we all have invisible cards on our foreheads. We allow - or not allow - people to treat us

a certain way, depending on how we treat ourselves. Juicy discussions include children in the classroom, adults in the

workplace and life in general.

BACK-TALK

PROPS: Lots of chairs, flip chart, & marker, 5X8 index cards, and Sharpie Fine Point Markers.

Number of participants: 20 - 200

Directions:

For my cards, I go to Toys-R-Us and buy several large print/cartoon decks.

1. Create teams of four people each (three or five

is okay if there are too little or too many). Have

each team sit in a line of chairs, one person

behind the other, facing the same direction (see

above photo).

2. Give the person at the front of each line five

index cards and one Sharpie marker.

3. Give the whole group the following directions:

“In a moment, I’m going to ask the last person in

the back of each team to come to the front of

the room, where they will watch me draw a

picture on the flip chart (of course facing away from the whole group).

4. “Only these people may view the picture. Once they see the picture, they return to their seats, where they will

then use their finger to draw the same picture on the back of the person sitting in front of them. That person will

then draw the picture on the person’s back in front of them, who will then draw the picture on the back of the

person in front of them, and so on.

5. “The person at the front of the line will then draw the picture on the index card using the Sharpie. Once each

team is done, we will compare final drawings with the original drawing.”

6. The first person is the only one with index cards and a Sharpie because they draw what they feel on their back

on to the paper. They then place the picture upside down on the floor, until everyone else has finished. Then,

share!

7. Important! After each round, have people rotate positions in their teams by moving up one, so everyone can get

a chance at being the first person.

8. REMEMBER: People cannot discuss the drawing itself, but they can talk.

9. REMEMBER: They can draw it on the backs as many times as they want.

GOALS & DEBRIEF:

This makes for a juicy debrief, especially when discussing how it relates to communicating in the workplace! How one

participates in this activity is exactly how one communicates at work. Ask which is more important: the giving OR receiving

of information? Groups will often discuss issues this, the importance of clarity, and how messages get turned upside-down

in short order.

Occasionally there will be a person or two who attempt to “cheat” by looking at their neighbors to see how they are doing.

I do not concern myself with this behavior because what often happens is they end up getting erroneous information (i.e.

their neighbor is doing it wrong). This provides for an interesting debriefing topic, too.

It is important for the sender to communicate in a variety of different ways because people have different learning and

communication styles. It is also the responsibility of the receiver to ask for clarity and give feedback.

VARIATIONS:

I use the following 5 pictures in this order (increasing difficulty):