The
14th Annual T.E.A.M. Conference will be on February 21 and 22, 2003: Click
here for details
In
this issue:
Departments:
|
A Bag of
Tricks
by
Chris Cavert
Shakes,
Winks/Blinks & Belly Laughs
(learned
at an AEE regional conference)
Purpose: An opportunity
for players to interact non-verbally.
Numbers: Any number
can play.
Time: 9 to 16 minutes.
Directions: This
will be a non-verbal activity. Ask players to choose a
number to themselves,
from 1 to 4. Then move around the room shaking hands
with other players,
equal shakes to the number each player chose – if 3 was
chosen, three shakes.
The objective is to group together with other people
who picked the same
number. When a player finds a match, stick together and
then find other
matches. So, at the end, there should be four groups clumped
together. After
the shake round, try it with Winks or Blinks (if a player is
still working on
Winking, just let them Blink). The final round use Belly
Laughs – Ha, Ha,
Ha, Ha (group 4). Winds up to be a good laugh.
Alphanumerically
(I’ll
bet I picked up the alphabetical idea from a Karl Rohnke book,
but
I’m not sure which one.)
Purpose: Problem
solving and group interaction.
Numbers: 10 to 20
players. (You can have multiple groups going at the same
time.)
Time: 6 to 14 minutes.
Directions: My favorite
activities are ones that can be timed. This way you
can play a number
of rounds to improve on the process and watch the progress
of group interactions
and skill building. Have some numbered cards ready,
equal to the number
of players in the group (you could even leave out a few
numbers, but always
have one number for each player). When handing out the
cards, don’t let
the players see the numbers. When you say “GO” have the
players look at
the numbers then line up in order as fast as possible. Share
the base time. Collect
the cards and then redistribute them – no peeking.
Let the group plan
for 30 seconds – they already know what numbers they have
as a group. Ready,
“GO”. Try this process a few rounds to get the best time.
Now throw some change
at the group. For the next round, after redealing the
cards, have the
group line up as fast as possible alphabetically by the
spelling of the
number. What happens to their time? How does this
effect/affect the
group? How will they deal with change? Can the group
design a process
that is as fast as the sequential numbered time? Don’t play
too long!! This
is one you can come back to once the group has a bit more
practice with community
skills – times will get lightning fast.
Have fun out there,
Chris Cavert
For more activities
and activity links, head to Chris’ web site:
www.fundoing.com
The
Spring 2003 edition of The Ripple Effect will be published and available
only on this Wesite.
|