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Minefield
Have group discuss things that are detrimental to functioning as a group. For each
characteristic/action, throw an object into the playing space, the "minefield." Have group
choose partners. One partner is blindfolded at one end of field. The non-blindfolded
partners stand at the opposite end of the field and try to talk their partners through the
minefield without running into any of the obstacles.
2. Stick
Everyone in group touches stick at same time. Break stick in half and repeat. Continue
until stick is very small. (it's easier to start with a simple goal and work up to a harder
one...)
3. Group Juggle
Establish pattern of tosses including everyone in a circle. Add additional objects
periodically.
(A variation contributed by: Nancy J Rimassa) This is a good way to help a group of
strangers remember at least one person's name forever.
2. Toss a ball across the circle, calling out the player's name to whom you toss it to. That
player tosses to a different player and so on until everyone has caught the ball and thrown
it on once. It should be back in your hands at this point.
3. Repeat the sequence a couple of times. Add a second bell and then a third. Add as
many balls as you want.
5. Blind Walk
Divide group into pairs with one member of each pair blindfolded. Seeing partner leads
blind partner on a walk. The walk should be challenging, including such obstacles as
climbing over tables, crawling under chairs, walking up or down stairs, climbing over
railings, etc
6. Similarity Charades
Divide into smaller groups. Each group discusses their similarities and acts out for other
group to guess.
8. Blind Shapes
Group is blindfolded or with eyes closed. Have group form themselves into a square or a
triangle, etc. Can use a rope with everyone holding on. (communication, leadership)
9. Survival Scenario Exercise
Wilderdom Store
gear, books, kits
Description of a Group Dynamics Team Building Exercise
Related Link
• Optical Illusions
Processing Ideas
• There is usually much potential for debriefing and discussion.
• Why was it hard to get the story together?
(everyone had a piece, but no-one had the big picture)
• What type of communication was used in attempting to solve the
problem?
• What communication methods might have worked better? e.g., Iimagine
if, at the outset, the group had taken the time to let each person
describe his/her picture to the rest of the group. What would have
happened then? Would the solution have been found faster? What
prevented such strategies from being considered?
• Did you try to "second position" (i.e., see one's communications from the
perspective of others)?
• What kind of leadership was used to tackle the problem?
• Who were the leaders? Why?
• What style of leadership might have worked best?
• If you were to tackle a similar activity again, what do you think this
group should do differently?
• What real life activities are similar to this activity?
References
• Banyai, I. (1995). Zoom. New York: Viking / Penguin.
• Banyai, I. (1998). Re-Zoom. New York: Viking / Penguin.
5. What was the best day of the past week for you - why?
Fear in a Hat
• Set an appropriate tone, e.g., settled,
attentive, caring and serious.
• The tone could be set by introducing the topic
of fear and explaining how it is normal and
natural at this stage of program that people
are experiencing all sorts of anxieties,
worries and fears about what might happen.
A good way of starting to deal with these fears is have them openly
acnkowledged - lay them on the table, without being subject to ridicule.
Having one's fears expressed and heard almost immediately cuts them in
half.
• Can be done as the first activity in a program, during the initial stages or
well into the program. When used early on in particular, it can help to
foster group support and be helpful for alerting the group to issues they
may want to respect in a Full Value Contract.
• Ask everyone, including the group leaders, to complete this sentence on
a piece of paper (anonymously):
"In this trip/group/program, I am [most] afraid that..." or "In this
trip/group/program, the worst thing that could happen to me would be..."
• Collect the pieces of paper, mix them around, then invite each person to
a piece of paper and read about someone's fear.
• One by one, each group member reads out the fear of another group
member and elaborates and what he/she feels that person is most afraid
of in this group/situation. No one is to comment on what the person
says, just listen and move on to the next person.
• If the reader doesn't elaborate much on the fear, then ask them one or
two questions. Avoid implying or showing your opinion as to the fear
being expressed, unless the person is disrepecting or completely
misunderstanding someone's fear. If the person doesn't elaborate after
one or two questions, leave it and move on.
• When all the fears have been read out and elaborated on, then discuss
what people felt and noticed.
• Can lead into other activities, such as developing a Full Group Contract,
personal or team goal settings, course briefings which specifically tackle
some of the issues raised, or into other activities in which participants
explore their feelings and fears (e.g., see the Fear in a Hat description at
www.nurturingpotential.net)
Variations
• Likes and dislikes - in two separate hats
• Worries
• Complaints/gripes
• Wishes
• Favorite moments
Mirror Image
• This activity involves people in pairs, with one
person mirroring the actions and movements of
the other person.
• Body movement exercises can be most
revealing, confronting and rewarding. "Human
sculpting via mirroring" brings body movement
exploration into the dyad. By reflecting body
movements of another, several subtle but
complex processes are activated, heightening self- and other-
awareness. Immediate non-verbal feedback exercises in the right
time and place have the potential to be transformational. Other
times this can simply be a fun loosen-upperer.
• Works with any size group; split into pairs/couples.
• Although it is simple, the activity can be confronting, and requires
mature leadership and a well chosen moment/sequence/program.
• Usually make sure the social ice is well and truly broken, and that
there have been other body movement and physical
warmup/stretching exercises, with some laughter and some
seriousness.
• Offer a demonstration. Invite a volunteer to stand facing you about
half a metre apart. The instructor initiates action, with the other
person following in "mirror image".
• Make your movements interesting and slow enough for the other
person to mime as if they were a full length mirror.
• Also include zany stretches/contortions to get a few laughs,
especially facial gymnastics. Include action sequences for tasks like
brushing your teeth. The demonstration helps to loosen up
conceptions and inhibitions.
• In pairs, one person stretches, the other follows. Then swap after
some time.
• Debrief as you see fit.
Notes
• Variation: Reverse-mirror image. Try following partner's movements
in reverse-mirror image (i.e., swap left <-> right)
• The exercise can be done in different ways to emphasize difference
aspects, e.g., for trust-building, drama warmup, ice breaker, etc