THE HIGHEST BUILDING

Age group:

14-18

Keywords:

Team building, Tolerance, Cooperation.

Time required:

50 minutes

Number of people:

Between 15 and 25. Groups of 3-4.

Equipment, materials, and space needed:

Newspapers, duct tape,

indoor/outdoor. Activity explored and suggested by: Liceul Technologic Zeyc Domokos - Romania.

Aim of the method: To promote competences on collective work, to increase good results and success, and to foster tolerance and compliance.

Preparation: Gathering materials, making space for the activity in the room.

DESCRIPTION

INTRO The facilitator introduces the topic by asking “How tall is the highest building in the world?”, proceeding to explain the participants they have to create a tower using only the tools that are given, and the tower must stand for at least 1 minute.

GETTING INTO THE TOPIC The facilitator hands out the tools, explaining the rules.

EXPERIENCE The participants are divided in groups that have to build a tower that is as high as possible, only using duct tape and newspapers. They have 20 minutes for this and they cannot leave the room or the area where the activity is done in the outdoors.

DEBRIEFING The facilitator asks the participants about their strategies, whether they had a leader, if they faced any barriers, etc..

CLOSING The facilitator thanks everyone for their participation.

VARIATIONS

One can use other materials (scissors, ping-pong balls, plastic/organic straw), make smaller or larger groups, give certain abilities or disabilities to group members (one cannot see, another cannot touch paper, other cannot touch duct tape, etc.) and many others, depending on the specific objectives of the activity.

References: Many versions of this activity exist on the web. One could be found: in “Group Dynamics for Farmer Field School.”, from Veco Vietnam: A better deal for farmers (available here: ra-training-library.s3.amazonaws.com/Group%20Dynamics%20 for%20Farmer%20Field%20School%20Final%28for%20Printing%29.pdf).