OUTDOOR EDUCATION e-xperience book
edited by:
Marija Borg Mifsud Vincenzo Lotito Sandro Salvatore Accogli
OUTDOOR EDUCATION E-XPERIENCE BOOK
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
SEYF - South Europe Youth Forum www.seyf.eu Edited by: : Marija Borg Mifsud (seyfmalta@gmail.com) Vincenzo Lotito (vincenzo.lotito@seyf.eu) Sandro Salvatore Accogli (sandro.accogli@seyf.eu) Tutti i diritti riservati
“Outdoor Education - e-xperience book� by SEYF - South Europe Youth Forum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.seyf.eu.
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Index ZERO INTRODUCTION, 5 ONE ENERGIZERS AND ICE-BREAKING ACTIVITIES, 9 TWO TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES, 21 THREE TRUST CYCLE, 38 FOUR COMMUNICATION, 45 FIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, 53 SIX EVALUATION, 65
CONTACTS, 73
Chapter Zero
Introduction
I. PREFACE
This e-Book contains the activities carried out during the training course on Outdoor Education ‘Let’s Meet The Sun’ held in Malta from the 02 – 08 June 2013. All the activites, the games and the workshops mentinoed in the current ebook were taken from the webpage www.salto-youth.net, training books and from during different seminars and training courses attended by the members of South Europe Youth Forum Network.
II. THE PROJECT “Let your walks now be a little more adventurous” Henry David Thoreau
Let’s Meet The Sun was a training course on outdoor education that was held in Sliema, Malta, and lasted five days. Thirty-two youth workers, youth leaders and facilitators that came from Hungary, Italy, Malta, Turkey, Netherlands, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine participated in this project. The project was developed in response to the EU strategy to invest in young people and give them more responsibility, especially when it comes to the structured dialogue involving the development of the theme “socio educational animation”. The objectives of the project were to promote more non-formal outdoor education as an alternative way to develop strategies and non-formal learning methods that will be an instrument to reach more European and Caucasian youth. Amongst the activities that were planned there were role-plays, energizers, ice breaking games, team building and intercultural learning activities. Most of the activities were held outdoors and in various locations around Malta in order to raise awareness amongst the participants of the potential of various open-air areas that one can use for outdoor activities. In this eBook, one can find activities proposed and new activities created by participants.
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The logo of the project
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The team of the training Course Let’s Meet the Sun during an Outdoor Excursion in Gozo Island
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Chapter One
ENERGIZERS AND ICE-BREAKING ACTIVITIES
“It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves” André Gide
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Some onergizers befor activities
I. I AM Game Categories: ďƒź Ice Breaker Team-building ďƒź Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To help break the ice in a creative way at the beginning of an activity.
Group Size: Any Time: 1-2 minutes per person Materials: None Instructions Invite participants to form a circle and ask each person to prefix their name with another word that describes them, a hobby or interest of theirs. The only rule is that the initial letter of their name must be the initial letter of the characteristic. For example Comical Colin, Domestic David, Adventurous Alison. Once they have thought of their new name they are to introduce themselves and explain why they have chosen that particular characteristic to the whole group.
II. GESTURES Game Categories: ďƒź Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To help participants to introduce themselves to the group. Group Size: 20-30 Time: 20-25 minutes Materials: None Instructions Ask all the participants to stand in a circle, with a short distance among each of them. Each participant will have to say his name, country and associate her/himself to a gesture. After that, each participant has to repeat the name and gesture of all the previous participants in order of presentation and finally introduce her/ himself, associate her/himself to a gesture. The rest of the participants will do the same, repeating all the names and gestures, which preceded them. The game will end once the first participant to begin will be also the last to end.
III. SPEED DATE Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To get to know each other and learn about the others on the team.
Group Size: 20-30 Time: It varies according to the group size Materials: None Instructions Split the group in half and ask the two teams to line up facing each other forming line A and B. (It is important that both teams have the same number of participants). Participants in Line B only will be moving. The facilitator will give subject and 1-minute time so the participants can disclose something about themselves with the person in front of them about the subject given. After 1 minute, the trainer will ask line B to change partner by moving 1 place and continue, like this until the persons will come again in front of their first partner.
Possible Subjects: Family – Hobbies - Work/study - Favourite food – Music – Sports – Films -The best country you’ve visited - The country you wish to visit - Your future dreams
IV. FACEBOOK PROFILE Game Categories: ďƒź Ice Breaker Team-building ďƒź Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To get to know better the participants and to stretch our comfort zones by laughing at ourselves
Group Size: Any Time: 5 - 10 minutes Materials: A blank sheet of paper for all participants and Markers Instructions Ask participants, to sit in a circle and write their names and country on a blank paper. Then ask them to stand-up and leave the paper on his/her chair and start moving in a circle while the music is playing (20-30 sec). When the music stops, participants have to stop immediately next to the closest chair they are standing. As instructed by the trainer, they have to start drawing the face of the owner of this paper. It continues in the same way; drawing eyes, mouth, nose, hair etc. until the face is complete.
V. SHOUT OUT Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To regroup and reenergize at the start of the day, after a break or lunch.; To stretch our comfort zones by laughing at ourselves and being willing to risk making a mistake
Group Size: 20-30 persons Time: 5 - 8 minutes Materials: A Blanket Instructions Ask two volunteers to hold the blanket up, creating a wall. Split the rest of the team in half. Have half the team go on one side of the blanket and half go on the other. Each team sends a person up to the blanket—taking care that the people on the other side of the blanket cannot see who is chosen. The volunteers count, “1, 2, 3, drop!” Then they quickly lower the blanket to the ground. The person who says the other person’s name first acquires that person to his or her side of the blanket. (The volunteer blanket holder’s act as judges and their decisions may break any ties that occur.) Continue for about five to eight minutes. Lift the blanket at the end and say, “Now we are all one team again.”
VI. GET KNOTTED Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: This team game is a good way to start a session around trust and friendship and encourages young people to start to work together to achieve a group goal.
Group Size: 20 (for larger groups divide into smaller groups) Time: 20 minutes Materials: None Instructions Ask the group to make a circle and then request everyone to close their eyes and take a step forward into the circle. Then make two or more steps forward until everybody is standing very close to each other almost in the middle of the circle. Ask people to put their hands in the air and, without opening their eyes, to find a free hand of other person to hold. As a facilitator, you can help to connect opposite sides of circle. Once everyone is holding onto two other people, ask them to open their eyes and their task now is to form a circle again but without breaking hands. You should end up with the whole group back in a circle, though not necessarily all facing the same way!
Debriefing
Although Get Knotted is an activity intended as a warm-up, it may be useful to ask the group how they found the experience. Was it comfortable? How did they feel about getting so close to other people? You might use this as an introduction to a discussion about the issue of “personal space” and cultural variations.
VII. DANCING ON PAPER Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: This energizer is useful to regroup and reenergize the participants after a break or before beginning of an activity.
Group Size: 30 persons Time:15 minutes Materials: Newspapers and Music Instructions Facilitators prepare equal sized sheets of newspapers. Ask participants to split into pairs. Each pair is given a piece of newspaper. The task is that while the facilitator plays music they have to dance on their sheet of newspaper without touching the floor. When the facilitator stops the music or clapping, every couple must stand still on their sheet of newspaper. The next time the music starts, the pair has to fold their paper in half before standing on it. After several rounds, the paper becomes very small by being folded repeatedly. It is increasingly difficult for two people to stand on. Pairs that have any part of their body on the floor are ‘out’ of the game. The game continues until there is a winning pair.
VIII. STATUE SHOP Game Categories: ďƒź Ice Breaker Team-building ďƒź Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: This activity is to energize a team before an activity, to be creative.
Group Size: 20 (for larger groups divide into smaller groups) Time:10 minutes Materials: None Instructions Form the group into two concentric circles with members facing each other. Those on the outer circle are sculptors, and those on the inside are the raw material. Invite the sculptors to form the material into a shape that is pleasing to them. The sculptors are free to work together too. Then ask the sculptors to move around one space clockwise and to look at the sculpture facing them, changing it if they wish. After a few rounds, explain that the circles are changing roles and now the participants in the outer circle are becoming the raw material and the inner circle are the sculptors.
IX. THE RING Game Categories: Ice Breaker ďƒź Team-building ďƒź Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: This activity aims to energize the team and overcome challenges.
Group Size: Split into small groups of 10 or 20 Time:15 minutes Materials: One hula-hoop for each team Instructions Have participants form a circle and hold hands. One team member will have the hula-hoop placed in his/her arm. The objective is to move the hula-hoop from where it is around the rest of the circle of people without the participants letting go of their hands. The team is free to move in whatever way they choose to achieve success as long as they maintain their connection. If anyone on the team breaks, a connection (stops holding hands), reset the team and the hoop, and start the activity again.
X. WORM RANGING
Activity suggested by the Let’s Meet The Sun group of participants working on warm up activities.
Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building ďƒź Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To warm-up and get to know something more about the participants
Group Size: 20-30 persons Time:15 minutes Materials: None Instructions Participants have to form a circle with the chairs and then ask them to stand up on the chairs. Explain that their task is to correctly place themselves in the order that their birthdays occur (Date, Month & Year). The participants are not permitted to do any talking or touch the floor during this activity. The facilitator will indicate from where January, or the first criteria, will start and end. When participants are ready, then the facilitator will go around the room, and the participants state their birthdays. Instead of birthdays one can use other criteria like names, shoe size etc.
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Chapter Two
TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES
“A journey is a person in itself, no two are alike. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip, a trip takes us” John Steinbeck
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team building activities
I. PENGUIN ISLAND Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: The scope of this activity is for the people to stay closer to each other as much as they can and not feel embarrassed in staying physically near to other people.
Group Size: Any group, divided in subgroups of five-six people. Time: 20 minutes Materials: Newspapers Instructions Split the group into groups of five or six people. Each group stands on an island made of newspapers by themselves. Story: “Islands are icebergs; you are penguins - in the sea there are sharks so you have to, at all costs, stay on the island. Then the weather starts getting warmer. The icebergs starts melting…” The facilitators will start tearing off pieces of newspapers so that the islands become smaller and smaller. Continue as much as you can.
Debriefing 1. How did you feel in stay on the iceberg, cooperating with your friends? 2. Did you succeeded staying on the iceberg? 3. How did you feel in staying physically closer and closer to your friends? 4. What did you feel in leaving the iceberg, with your friends still there?
II. T.E.A.M – TOGETHER EVERYONE ACCOMPLISHES MORE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To enhance the understanding of working in multicultural teams To create a safe learning environment; o facilitate participants’ communication on different levels; To work actively together as a group; To discuss about importance of group and group learning
Group Size: Any group, divided in smaller groups of 10 persons Time: 90 minutes Materials:
Papers, old newspapers, scotch tape, glue, plastic bags (for the items they pick) and task sheets, Imagination…
Instructions Give each group the tasks sheet for the “Mission Accomplished” and explain the rules.
Debriefing 1. How do you feel? 2. Are they satisfied with the results of their mission? 3. Did they participate actively? Are they satisfied with the level of their participation? 4. Were there any leaders? Was it good? 5. What would they change? 6. How can they link this exercise with the real life?
7. Can they give any recommendations for working together in the coming days and in the future? The facilitator at the end of the debriefing, placing flipchart papers on the floor can invite participants to write what they think it is important for their work as a group. Everyone in the group can afterwards sign this.
GROUP SHEET Rules: You have 10 tasks that you should complete in 45 minutes as a group. It is up to you to organize your time. Note that everybody has to be involved in the mission. You will have to present the results of your work after 45 minutes. Tasks: • 1. By the end of the session the whole group should be able to say a sentence in the mother tongue of where the activity is taking place • 2. A to Z; During the given time collect 26 items, each one starting with a different letter of the alphabet (The English alphabet!). All the items must fit together in the plastic bag! • 3. Find (name of a famous monument or building where activity is taking place) and take a group photo. • 4. Ask local young people to tell you about their favourite locations • 5. Name 5 interesting facts or information your know about (name of locality where activity is taking place) • 6. Answer the questions below. • 7. Count on how many YOUTH projects have you been involved in total (as a whole group) • 8. How many squares do you see? (see shape below) • 9. Make a birthday’s list of all people in the group. • 10. Make a funny group portrait Answer the following questions: 1. What is the absolute last thing both men and women take off before getting into bed? 2. Which word does not belong, and why? noon peep radar racecar worm level HOW MANY SQUARES DO YOU SEE?
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ANSWERS 1. What is the absolute last thing both men and women take off before getting into bed? Their feet off the floor 2. Which word does not belong, and why? Worm. It is the only word that is not the same when spelled backward HOW MANY SQUARES DO YOU SEE? 30 Squares: 16 small, 9 medium, 4 large, 1 big square
III. THE ISLAND OF MONOMULTI Game Categories: Ice Breaker ďƒź Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication ďƒź Topical: Diversity
Objectives: To raise awareness of diversity and consequences; To start the discussion about how to deal with differences; To experience a multi-cultural situation
Group Size: 20-30 persons Time: 90 - 120 minutes (incl. evaluation) Materials: Cartoon, scissors, glue, pencils, role cards (for each group), 3 x observation questions
Instructions Split the group in three (3) groups. Each group gets their role card and they have 25 minutes to prepare their culture as described on the role card. On all role cards is said that they should practice it very profound. After this preparation, the whole group comes together. Then, the trainer will narrate the following (5 min.): An enormous storm in this area has caused that your ship went down to the bottom of the ocean. You managed to reach this desert island. It seems also other ships wrecked because you have already noticed that groups from other ships managed to get here. The island is very mountainous and there seems to be only one spot where it is possible to live. This means that you have to live together with the other groups
that reached the island. Because of the location of the island, it is not expected that help will arrive before the end of next month. Therefore, you have to survive for at least five weeks. Food does not seem to be a problem. There are lots of fruits growing and all kind of animals to hunt. The first concern is to build a shelter where all people can sleep and hide in case of heavy rain and storm and which can protect you against wild animals. It is important to do this as fast as possible because this area is known for sudden changing weather conditions. You will have to do it together with the other groups because there is not enough space and material to build more than one shelter. The material for building the shelter: cardboard, scissors, glue, rulers and pencils. The shelter must be stable and should at least be 100 cm high and 150 cm wide. It should have a roof and of course a door. You have 25 minutes to build the shelter.
Questions for Observers: (Each culture has one observer) • How do they ‘practice’ their culture? • Are there any differences, how people practice their role in this culture? • Are they successful in working with the other cultures? • What main problems do they meet in dealing with the other cultures? Observers give feedback (max. 2-3 min.) about their personal notes to their cultural group during evaluation in the small groups.
Evaluation Culture groups – 15-30 minutes • How did you feel during the simulation? • What do you think about the construction-process? • Were there moments where you felt insecure or not respected? • What do you think are the characteristics of the other cultures? • 3-4 minutes feedback from observers
Debriefing in plenary
Bring back their symbols and any short comments to put in the middle
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Can you see a link between this simulation and reality? What can we learn from this simulation? – put results on flip chart optional: focus on facts, feelings, interpretations
ROLE CARD 1: COLDONIA In your culture ‘intelligence’ and ‘hard working’ are the central issues. Other cultures consider you as ‘cold’. However, you see yourself as a very successful and wealthy country, mainly because of your very effective way of working. You do not discuss feelings, you like intellectual debates on logical arguments. Showing your feelings is considered childish. Self-control is seen as an important quality. Religion totally disappeared in your country and is considered as ‘stupid’ and ‘a waste of time’. You greet other people by looking in their eyes. Freedom of space is very important in Coldonia. That is why you never touch people while greeting or communicating and you do not like to be touched. Touching other people is only used as an invitation for sexual intercourse; in Coldonia, it has little moral implications and is mostly done as a relaxing and physical exercise. Your body language reflects your culture. You only use small gestures, your back is straight and you stay always calm. It is very normal in Coldonia to interrupt another person whenever you feel the need to do that. An important characteristic of Coldonians is that they are very willing and see it as their task to teach and train other cultures in order to help them to become as efficient and as successful as you are. Whenever you have the opportunity to teach other cultures you do it. Coldonia is famous for building big oil-platforms and huge bridges. Because your behavior is natural to you, you cannot explain it to strangers. Now you have 15 minutes to prepare yourself in your own group. Practice the behavior! Also, make sure that there is one thing that shows in your appearance that you are from the same country. (E.g. the way you dress, the way you do your hair etc.) It is very important to practice well because you will need it in the follow-up.
ROLE CARD 2: TURTELINA
In Turtelina ‘friendship’ and ‘taking care of each other’ are important values. Turtelinians show their feelings all the time and personal feelings are always the central issue in communication. Your face and your gestures show how you feel. You always touch each other. When you talk to someone, you hold his or her ear. You stand close to the other. A distance more than 30 cm is considered as rude. When you greet somebody, you put his or her hand on your heart. Any reference to sex is taboo and considered offending. Time is very important in Turtelina. You are never in a hurry. You like to take your time. When you work together, you first want to be sure that the atmosphere is good. Therefore, you ask the others all the time how they feel and you inform them about your feelings. Interrupting people when they are speaking is considered impolite. You wait until they have finished their story. When people interrupt you, you feel rejected and you react very emotionally. Turtelina is well known for their round shaped colorful buildings. Houses are always built in round shapes because this reflects friendship and harmony. Because your behavior is natural to you, you cannot explain it to strangers. Now you have 15 minutes to prepare yourself in your own group. Practice the behavior! Also, make sure that there is one thing that shows in your appearance that you are from the same country. (E.g. the way you dress, the way you do your hair etc.) It is very important to practice well because you will need it in the follow-up
ROLE CARD 3: SMILIA In Smilia, ‘politeness’ and ‘friendship and harmony’ are the most important values. You do not like conflicts; you consider arguments as impolite behavior. That is why you do not know the word ‘no’. Even when you do not agree you say ‘yes’. You always smile at people, also when you do not like their attitude. When you are working together and somebody asks you to do something you don’t want to do, you say ‘yes’ but you always find a way not to do it. Smilia is a very religious country. In daily life, this means that you pray often. Every five minutes you stop whatever you do to come together to worship your gods. You do that by sitting together and whistling. The Smilians greet each other by rubbing each other’s legs. While speaking to each other your feet or legs are always in touch with the other ones feet or legs. You do not touch each other up from the waist; for example, it is not allowed to touch shoulders, heads, hands or arms. You have very strict rules towards tools and materials. Cardboard and scissors are male and cannot be used by women. Rulers and pencils are female and cannot be used by men. Glue can be used by both sexes. Smilia is famous for its paintings and interior decorations. Because your behavior is natural to you, you cannot explain it to strangers. Now you have 15 minutes to prepare yourself in your own group. Practice the behavior! Also, make sure there is one thing that shows in your appearance that you are from the same country. (E.g. the way you dress, the way you do your hair etc.) It is very important to practice well because you will need it in the follow-up
IV. LITTLE HUMAN BEING Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical: Diversity
Objectives: Learn more about group dynamics and inclusion while doing a task, problem solving, communication, teamwork and breaking down barriers to working together.
Group Size: Any Time: 30 minutes Materials: Per group: 3 sheets of A4-paper, a piece of scotch (about 100cm) and scarf.
Instructions 1. Divide participants in groups of 4 persons. One observer per group. The observer cannot help the group in carrying their task. 2. Explain to the whole group that the task for the each group is to create a human being from the material provided following the rules and instructions. To complete the task the groups have 15 minutes. Rules: • You do not need to use all the material but you cannot add anything. • The Human Being must be tall the height of the A4 paper in landscape orientation and able to stand on its own.
3. Each person in the sub group will have a characteristic. (Role card for each group below) 4. After the 15 minutes have passed, all the groups gather and present their human being to the entire group. Facilitator checks if they managed to accomplish the task.
Debriefing: 1. How did you make decisions? Did every one participate? 2. How difficult it was for the persons who had a characteristic to express/explain themselves to the rest of the group? 3. For the persons who had no characteristic how difficult it was for them to understand/ explain themselves to the rest of the group? 4. For personal reflection: What did you do? What did you not do? How could you improve your work in a group?
Role Card:
The youngest person is blind
The tallest person is with no hands
The person with the longest hair cannot speak and have no hands.
One person has no characteristic.
V. PENARELLO ROSSO
Activity performed during the training course by Damla EldeleklioÄ&#x;lu, Cem Vucut, David Caruana, Mamuka Tsilosani, Graziana Di Noja, Tea Bulia, Konstantin Gareev, Gurgen Kanetsyan
Game Categories: Ice Breaker ďƒź Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical: Diversity
Objectives: For cooperation and coordination between participants and to trust each other in the group.
Group Size: Small groups of 5-7 persons Time: 20 minutes Materials: Per group: A3 Paper, A3 Thick Cardboard, Marker, Tape and Copy of the drawing
Instructions Ask participants to form a circle. Participants have to place the A3 paper on the floor. Participants have to put the marker through the middle of the A3 cardboard. The task for the participants they have to all hold the marker, and together without talking they have to manage to copy and draw the image on the A3. When they are ready, reveal the A3 paper and check if the group successfully managed to draw the image.
DRAW:
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Chapter Three
TRUST CYCLE
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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The trust cycle implemented during the project
I. FALLING STONES Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical: Building Trust
Objectives: To develop trust between team members. Group Size: Any Time: It varies according to the people involved Materials: None Instructions Have the participant’s pair up. It is important that the weight of the participants working in pairs have to be almost the same. The activity consists in participants letting themselves drop into a fellow’s arms: in a vertical position, with folded arms, united feet and closed eyes. The companion, bent on his/her left knee, touches the shoulders of the ‘falling’ partner in a reassuring way, he/she talks, gives trust and confidence, that he/she is ready to receive and welcome the partner. The activity starts with the following dialogue, between the two participants: A- (The person falling) “Are you ready?” B – (The person receiving) “I’m ready!” A - (The person falling) “May I fall?” B - (The person receiving) “Let your-self fall!” A - (The person falling) “I fall!” He/she falls, and he/she is taken by the partner (by the forearms), in a position
easy to cushion and absorb the fall, that can be backwards and forwards. Afterwards, they change roles.
Debriefing 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
How did you feel? What was the first challenge? What did you help in reaching the goal? Did you have similar experiences in your real lives? What can you transfer, in your realities, of this experience:
Variations There could be a “3 people version�, the participant in the middle let him/herself drop, respectively backward and forward, for several times. Afterwards, they change roles.
Tips for Facilitators It is important to make sure that all the safety regulations are respected. Keep on high the sense of responsibility and make sure that there is silence and concentration amongst participants.
II. YURT CIRCLE Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication ďƒź Topical: Building Trust
Objectives: To increase the comfort level, as well as the level of trust, within the team.
Group Size: Any group, divided in smaller groups of 10 persons Time: IAny group, divided in smaller groups of 10 persons Materials: Rope per group ( each rope 5m long) Instructions Have the team form smaller groups of ten and ask them to stand in a circle, around a rope closed by a knot. All the participants keep the rope in their hands near the chest and with closed feet. The aim for the group is that they has to stay balanced with the rope pulled tight. The participants have to be equidistant among themselves and, progressively, have to overbalance on the external side. The continuing movement is done in order to create a new balance: all the participants in the group have to be comfortable. There could be several attempts, looking for new balance of weights until the aim is reached. The activity is finished when the group manage to find balance with the rope pulled tight.
Debriefing 1. 2. 3. 4.
How did you feel? Did you feel sure sustained by the others? What is for you the meaning of the rope? What did help in balancing (communication, sensitiveness)?
Tips for Facilitators It is important to make sure that all the safety regulations are respected. Ensure that there is silence and concentration amongst participants. He/she falls, and he/she is taken by the partner (by the forearms), in a position
III. GUIDE ME
Activity suggested by the Let’s Meet The Sun group of participants working on trust building activities
Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical: Building Trust
Objectives: To build trust among the members of the group Group Size: 20-30 persons Time: 25 minutes Materials: Blind folds, items to be tossed on the floor to create obstacles Instructions Facilitator prepares before the activity the obstacles on the floor. Have the participant’s pair up. One person from each team should be blindfolded. The task for the other partner is to guide the blindfolded partner through the obstacles on the floor. Afterwards, they change roles.
Debriefing 1. How did you feel? 2. How did you feel being blind or a guide? 3. In which role did you feel more comfortable? Why? 4. What similarity do you find to real life? 5. What it meant for you this activity? Was it helpful to build trust?
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Chapter Four
COMMUNICATION
“The mouth is made for communication, and nothing is more articulate than a kiss” Jarod Kintz, It Occurred to Me
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The activity ‘Sketch it out’ performed outdoor by the participants
I. ACT OUT Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To consider what it takes to be understood; to encourage effective communication
Group Size: Minimum 10 participants Time: 20 minutes Materials: Slips of paper, pens Instructions Each team will collaborate with another team, so split the group into teams of five to seven (this game works best if all teams have the same number of participants). Pass out slips of paper and pens to each team. Ask each team to come up with an animal and a common task. Have them write it on their slip of paper as a sentence (e.g., “An elephant driving a car,” or “A dog brushing his teeth.”). Have two teams line up facing the same direction. The two teams will work in conjunction. Have the last persons in each line exchange slips of paper. After this point, the rest of the activity is carried out nonverbally. The last person in each line is the only person allowed to see the slip of paper. His or her job is to convey this message to the person ahead in line by acting it out.
Therefore, the person ahead of the last person turns and looks on while the last person acts out the scenario written on the slip of paper. The second to the last person then acts it out for the person ahead in line. This continues up to the first person in line. The first person in each line acts out the scenario so participants from both small teams can see. Have each team guess what it is they have been acting out. How close do they come to the original scenario?
Debriefing 1. How effective was your communication? 2. What helped you communicate effectively? 3. Was it easier to communicate nonverbally than you thought it would be? 4. How powerful is nonverbal communication? 5. How effective is nonverbal communication?
II. SKETCH IT OUT Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical
Objectives: To consider the disadvantages of one-way communication; to encourage participants to clarify their understanding when receiving messages.
Group Size: 10 participants, for larger groups split into small groups Time: 10 - 20 minutes Materials: Copies of the drawing handout, blank paper, pens Instructions Have all the participants stand one behind the other in a single line. Briefly show the original drawing to the last person in line. With his/her finger, he/she “draws” the picture on the back of the person in front of him/her, who then draws on the back of the person in front of him or her, and so on down the line to the first person. When the first person in the line finally gets the “message,” he or she draws it on a sheet of paper. Compare all the final drawings with the original to see how many different messages were received.
Debriefing 1. When does communication start to break down? 2. What are some reasons for our communication breakdown?
3. What can we do to make sure our message is understood? 4. What did you learn about communication that you can take back to the workplace?
DRAWING HANDOUT
III. MESSENGER Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation ďƒź Communication Topical
Objectives: This game is to raise awareness and show how both the sender and the receiver play important roles in the communication process.
Group Size: 10 (for larger groups split into smaller groups) Time: 20 minutes Materials: Prepare the Story (an example story attached) Instructions The group stays out of the room and the facilitator calls the first person, and without the rest of the group hearing, tell him/her a short story. Then call the next person and the first person will tell the story to the next person. This will continue until the last person receive the story. If there is more than one group, when the groups were ready, the entire group come together and the last person from each group that received the story from each group narrate the story. Afterwards the original story will be read to the whole group so they could see how different the story arrived from the first person until the last person.
Debriefing 1. How well did you listen? 2. What does it take to be an effective listener? Is our communication always as effective as it could be? 3. What are some barriers to effective communication?
THE STORY Every now and then, I look out my window and watch this man across the street. His curtains are always open, and he likes to walk around naked. He is very fat and very ugly. I do not know why I watch him, but I do. I watch him wash the dishes or sweep the floor. He never does anything fun, and I never see him leave his apartment. Yesterday I stole his phone bill so I could learn his name: Ernie McMillan.
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Chapter Five
PROBLEM SOLVING
“If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” Albert Einstein
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The activity ‘Toxic Waste’ realized outdoor (public park) by the participants
I. TOXIC WASTE Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication Topical: Problem Solving
Objectives: Toxic Waste can be used to highlight almost any aspect of teamwork or leadership. This is a popular, engaging small group initiative activity which always provides a rich teamwork challenge for about 30-45 minutes. Involves thinking, imagination, action, fantasy, risk and an attractive solution
Group Size: Any group, divided in smaller groups of 7 to 9 persons is the ideal Time: 50 minutes Materials:
2 x toxic waste receptacles (1 small, 1 large bucket), 1 x rope to create a circle for the radiation zone, 1 x bungee cord loop,8 x cords, water (to represent toxic waste)
Instructions Equipped with a bungee cord and rope, a group must work out how to transport a bucket of “Toxic Waste” and tip it into the “neutralization” bucket. Toxic Waste can be used to highlight almost any aspect of teamwork or leadership. Use the rope to create a circle at least 8 ft in diameter on the ground to represent the toxic waste radiation zone. The larger the radiation zone, the more difficult the activity. • Place the small bucket in the centre of the radiation zone and fill it with water or balls to represent the toxic waste. • Place the large neutralization bucket approximately 30 to 50 feet away.
The greater the distance, the more difficult the activity. • Put all other equipment (i.e., bungee, cords) in a pile near the rope circle. • The challenge is for the group to work out how to transfer the toxic waste from the small bucket into the large bucket where it will be “neutralized”, using only the equipment provided and within a time frame. The waste will blow up and destroy the world after 20 minutes if it is not neutralized. • Anyone who ventures into the radiation zone will suffer injury and possibly even death, and spillage will create partial death and destruction. Therefore, the group should aim to save the world and do so without injury to any group members. • The rope circle represents the radiation zone emanating from the toxic waste in the bucket. Emphasize that everyone must maintain a distance (circle radius) from the toxic waste wherever it goes, otherwise they will suffer severe injury, such as loss of a limb or even death. • Give the group some planning time with no action e.g. 5 minutes. Then start the clock and indicate it is time for action, e.g., 15 or 20 minutes. Facilitator Tips • Toxic Waste is not an easy exercise and most groups will benefit from some coaching along the way. • The solution involves attaching the cords to the bungee loop, then guiding the bungee with the strings to sit around and grab the toxic waste bucket. Then with everyone pulling on their cord and with good coordination and care, the toxic waste bucket can be lifted, moved and tipped into the empty neutralizing bucket. • If someone breaches the toxic waste zone, indicated by the circle, enforce an appropriate penalty e.g., loss of limbs (hand behind back) or function (e.g., blindfolds if a head enters the zone) that lasts for the rest of the game. If a whole person enters the zone, they die and must then sit out for the rest of the activity. • If the group struggles to work out what to do, freeze the action and help them discuss. • If the group spills the waste entirely, make a big deal about catastrophic failure (everyone dies), invite them to discuss what went wrong and how they can do better, then refill the container and let them have another go.
Debriefing 1. How successful was the group? e.g., consider: a. How long did it take? b. Was there any spillage? c. Were there any injuries? (Often in the euphoria of finishing participants will overlook their errors and seem unconcerned about injuries and deaths caused by carelessness along the way. Make sure there is an objective evaluation of performance - it is rarely ‘perfect’.) 2. How well did the group cope with this challenge? (e.g., out of 10?) 3. What was the initial reaction of the group? 4. What skills did it take for the group to be successful? 5. What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the group? 6. How did the group come up with its best ideas? 7. What did each group member learn about him/her self as a group member? 8. What lessons did the group learn from this exercise which could be applied to future situations?
II. LIKE CLOCKWORK Game Categories: Ice Breaker ďƒź Team-building Energizer Evaluation Communication ďƒź Topical: Problem Solving
Objectives: The aim of this activity is to develop team problem-solving techniques, improve communication within the team and listen effectively to one another.
Group Size: Any group, divided in smaller groups of up to 12 persons Time: 25 minutes Materials: Like Clockwork Instructions, Clue Cards and Solution Cards Instructions Copy and cut out the one set of clue cards and solution cards for each team. Divide the clue cards so each person gets approximately the same number of clues, and have them keep the clues facedown until they get the instructions. Have someone from the team read the instructions. The team then turns over their clues and gets started. You can hand out the solution cards to make it easier to keep track of the solution or require them to figure it out without the solution cards, which is more challenging.
Debriefing 1.
How well did you listen?
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
How did you organize your information? How could your process have been more effective? Was a leader required? Why was it important to hear everyone’s information? What problem-solving techniques can we take from this experience?
Like Clockwork Instructions The barista has been working at the same coffee shop for years. She loves her job because she has many regular customers. In fact, five of her customers are like clockwork—they always order the same thing at the same time every morning on their way to work. When it comes to the five predictable customers—Mike, Jackie, Todd, Catherine, and Alexander—your job is to determine what time they come in, what drink they order, and what they purchase along with their morning beverage.
You may share the information you have with the other members of your group, but you may not show anyone your cards at any time.
Good luck!
Like Clockwork Clue Cards Copy and cut out the following cards to hand out to your team.
Like Clockwork Solution Cards Copy and cut out the following cards to hand out to your team.
Like Clockwork Solution 8:10: Jackie, coffee, croissant 8:15: Mike, mocha, mints 8:20: Catherine, latte, donut 8:25: Todd, hot cocoa, newspaper 8:30: Alexander, tea, muffin
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Chapter Six
EVALUATIONS
“Continuous improvement requires systematic evaluation. Continuous improvement requires unfiltered evaluation” Unknown
I. WEATHER FORECAST Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer ďƒź Evaluation Communication Topical: Problem Solving
Objectives: This evaluation activity is ideal at the initial stage helps participants evaluate and express how they feel on the first or second day and their expectations.
Group Size: Any Time: 15-30 minutes Materials: None Instructions Have the team form smaller groups of 6-8 persons. Ask each group to discuss how they felt before arriving for the training course/exchange/seminar, during the first day of the activities and how they predict it will be the outcome in the coming days. They have to present the group feelings in a creative weather forecast news. Example: Yesterday it was partly cloudy as we were tired of the travelling, today it was sunny because we got to know each other, tomorrow is expected etc‌. Give each group five minutes to present their weather forecast to the whole group.
II. BLOB TREE Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer ďƒź Evaluation Communication Topical: Problem Solving
Objectives: This activity helps participants to evaluate work and to reflect on a specific situation or activities held during the day. It can also be extended to discuss the way that we interact with and support each other in a team.
Group Size: Any Time: 10 minutes Materials: Copies of the blob tree, pens The Blob Tree (right) was developed by Pip Wilson – click here for more info. It uses a simple cartoon image of non-specific characters in different situations and asks you to consider which character you most identify with.
Instructions 1. Hand out a copy of the Blob Tree to each person. Give them a few moments to look at the image. 2. Ask participants to think about which blob character they most identify with and colour it in. You should explain that there are no right answers as this is about feelings. 3. Then ask the team members to share their blob tree with the group if they want to and discuss their reasons for choosing their blob. group.
III. THE HAND Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer ďƒź Evaluation Communication Topical: Problem Solving
Objectives: To help participants reflect on the activities of the day and how they felt. The hand can also be performed also a mid-evaluation.
Group Size: Any Time: 15 minutes Materials: Some copies of the The Hand questions or if possible it can be written on a flip chart, pens, blank sheets of paper
Instructions Each participant has to draw his or her hand on a piece of paper. Each finger is related to a different question; participants are asked to write down his/her answer in each finger.
THE HAND Each participant draws his or her hand on a piece of paper. Each finger stands for something different: - The Thumb: What input or moment were thumbs up for you? What did you really like? - The Index: Which moment or input is important for the future? What do you want to point out? - The Middle Finger: What or when did you want to raise this finger? What didn’t you like? - The Ring Finger: With, what or whom did you feel connected? - The Little Finger: About what do you want to learn more or what can be improved?
IV. THANK YOU BINGO Game Categories: Ice Breaker Team-building Energizer ďƒź Evaluation Communication Topical: Problem Solving
Objectives: This activity will allow the participants to reflect on how the group members have influenced their experience during the whole activity and give them time to show appreciation to the other participants of the group.
Group Size: Any Time: 15-30 minutes Materials: Thank you Bingo Sheet, pens Instructions Hand out copies of the Thank-You Bingo sheet to everyone on the team. Give the participants a few minutes to reflect on their day and how the other team members contributed to their experience during the activities. Then have the team mingle and choose someone different to sign his or her name in each box . . . getting as many boxes signed as possible—and giving each other some welldeserved appreciation.
Debriefing
1. How did it feel to take the time to show appreciation? 2. How did it feel to receive recognition from your teammates? 3. When providing appreciation, what makes it meaningful? 4. How does this influence the overall energy level and productivity of a team?
Thank-You Bingo Take a minute to reflect on your experience today and how different members of your team enhanced it. As you have each team member sign the box that reflects your appreciation of him or her, take time to provide the specifics regarding your appreciation.
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CONTACTS:
SEYF Malta - South Europe Youth Forum Malta www.seyf.eu seyfmalta@gmail.com