No Games Allowed: Packable Props

Showing posts with label Packable Props. Show all posts

Water Walk

Title: Water Walk (aka Jasmine's Tea Party)

Source: ??
Type: Group Development

Recommended Group Size: 5-8

Props: Bandana, plastic 16 oz cup, water

Directions: Instruct the group that they need to carry the cup full of water (leave about 1/4 inch at the top of the cup) using the bandana. They all need to be holding the bandana with both hands. They should hold near the edge. The bandana needs to stay taut. Give them a route to carry the water. If the cup spills you can have them start over, or begin from that spot depending on the level of challenge needed.

Activity Specific: Land based

Processing Outcomes: Communication, Problem Solving, Balance

Time Needed: 20-30 min depending on route difficulty

Additional Comments: You could make all members of the group silent.

Deck of Cards

Title: Deck of Cards
Source:
Type: Group Development

Recommended Group Size: 5 - 10 people per deck of cards

Props: Deck of playing cards

Directions: The task is for the group to put the deck of cards in order as they would originally come in the pack (Ace low - King High, Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades) as quickly as possible. This will require several tries as they develop roles. Each round will begin with the facilitator fanning out the cards on the ground. Time starts when the facilitator says "being." If you have a large group, split them into two and after several tries bring the groups together to organize both decks together. Allow them time to process with each other on their strategy and group learning.
Activity Specific: Land based

Processing Outcomes: Communication, Decision Making, Problem Solving

Time Needed: 15-20 min
Additional Comments: This is a great alternative to Key Punch if you don't have the space or want something more packable for a trip.

Cup Stack

Type: Initiative

Approximate Time: 15 minutes

Activity: Stack cups without using hands as a group.

Divide groups into groups of six. Give each group 10 cups and one string.
Place the cups on a table, spread out, upside down.
The group must build a pyramid with 10 cups without using their hands (even if it falls to the ground).
Each member must hold on to one piece of string from the other cup to move the cups.

Props: 10 paper cups of equal size, cup with 6 pieces of string on it.

Group size: at least 6

Potential Processing Outcomes: Goal setting, Communication, Teamwork

Funky Dunk

Type: Initiative

Approximate Time: 15 minutes

Activity: To make a basket only using noodles.

Give each person a noodle.
Place a basketball at half court.
Only thing that can touch the basketball is the noodle.
Participants get ball from half court and attempt to make a basket only using the noodles.

Risk Management: Facilitator be aware of rough housing amongst participants, basketball flying in the air.

Props: basketball (or similar)

Potential Processing Outcomes: Goal setting, Communication, Teamwork

Electric Chicken!

Type: Energizer

Objective: To move from one area to another.

Approximate time: Unlimited

Activity: Participants must move from one area to another but must do so by passing the electric chicken.

If participant has the chicken, he/she cannot move, they may only pass it to someone else.
If the chicken drops or if someone moves while they have the chicken, the group must start over.

Props: One rubber chicken

Potential processing outcomes: Teamwork, communication, fun

Moonball

Type: Energizer

Approximate Time: 10 minutes

Activity: Basic set up is to have participants keep a ball/object in the air. The rules/parameters as flexible and can be changed for the group. Examples of parameters:

Participants may only touch the ball once and must wait until all other participants have touched it before repeating.
Participants may hit the ball in any order, but they are all silent.
Have group set a goal for the amount of touches before the ball hits the ground.
Limit the limb (right arm, or left leg) they can use to touch the ball.

Props: beach ball (or similar)

Potential Processing Outcomes: Goal setting, Communication, Teamwork

Higher Challenge: Mute all participants to see how well they do without talking.

Just One Word

Type: Icebreaker

Approximate Time: 10 minutes

Activity: Lay out all the letters that create the phrase “Just one word” and inform participants they must use all the letters to make just one word. They will struggle utilizing all of letters because they think they have to create one word out of all the letters instead of the phrase "Just one word."

Props: Cut out letters from the phrase “just one word”

Potential Processing Outcomes: Listening skills, Interpretation of Directions (Perspectives)

Instructor Note: There are numerous solutions to the initiatives that are going to be presented, there is no one right way to answer everything.

Hog Call

Type: Energizer

Approximate Time: 10 minutes

Activity: Have group split up in pairs. One partner is then blindfolded. The other partner is "the caller." Have the callers move away from their partner a distance set by the facilitator. At the same time all the callers will try to get their partner to walk to them. With all other participants yelling at the same time, it becomes very confusing. Increase the challenge by having them use an animal, or some other noise instead of their names.

Props: Blindfolds

Potential Processing Outcomes: Communication, trust, teamwork

Instructor Note: Safety. Have blindfolded participants walk with their “bumpers up” (hands out in front of them) so they don’t run into one another.

Superstar

Type: Ice Breaker

Approximate Time: 15 minutes

Activity: Facilitator has group form a circle. The facilitator asks for a volunteer to be the first superstar in the middle. Ask the participant what they are a superstar in (volleyball, piano, talking, etc.) The facilitator then asks for another volunteer. The second participant will be the bodyguard for our superstar, who is able to block the pictures from the paparazzi on the outside of circle. The paparazzi (the outer circle) attempt to hit the superstar with one soft object (simulates taking a picture) while the bodyguard protects him/her from getting hit. To begin get middle participants to close their eyes and hand out the soft object. Then say go. Great way to learn names and personal interests.

Props: One soft object

Potential Processing Outcomes: Name game, everyone brings their own personal touch to a group.

Instructor Note: Safety: make sure object is soft and students do not throw object with all their might. No head shots!

Portkey

Type: Initiative

Activity: Participants must all be in touch with object you provide them to bring them closer together and eliminate the notion of personal space.

Props: ball, can, any like-sized object

Potential Processing Outcomes: Teamwork, personal growth, eliminating personal space, trust

Facilitator Note: Must be facilitated with 12-15 participants to be effective and challenging. Properly assess group to make sure they can handle invasion of personal space as appropriate.

Approximate Time: 10-20 minutes

Adaptation: Start with a large object (like a beach ball) and downsize each round for progression in challenge.

Additional Comments: You could develop a story around Harry Potter's use of a portkey

Piss Pot

So my friend and I were driving across country and it was my turn to drive. We pulled over and switched places. My friend fell right asleep. I was MAD. I had stayed awake and helped him with directions and now he’s sleeping. I need to pee but I do not want to pull over because I’m too mad. So I PEE in a POT. Then he starts snoring and I get even madder. I need to pee again I don’t’ want to stop driving so I pee in my pot once again. There’s no way I’m pulling over to let him go to the bathroom. The pot’s getting pretty full and we hit a bump and PEE goes all over me and my friend. Now he’s mad and yelling and I’m even madder because of everything that happened before.

Adaptations:

**Use a bailer (if canoeing) and you just keep dipping it in the water to fill it and then pour it all over yourself or others.

**Another way I’ve seen this done is with a cup and then throwing the water all over everyone.

Debriefing Questions/ Discussion

- - -

What does the piss pot symbolize?

How do you empty your piss pot?

How can you empty it?

Does this happen at home, you hold everything in and then it spills all over?

Lighting/Impulse/Pulse

Type: Initiative

Recommended Group Size: Minimum 10

Props: Large Coin and 2 objects to grap (could be bandanas, rubber chicken, etc.)

Activity: Split group into two. Have the two groups form a straight line and sit across from each other. Each group holds hands with their teammates and everyone except the 1^st person in line puts their head down and closes their eyes. The facilitator flips a coin and if it lands on heads, the leader squeezes the hand of their teammate to start the pulse. The pulse then carries down the line and when the last person gets their hands squeezed, they open their eyes and grab the object in front of them. The winning team then shuffles down and the person who grabbed the object becomes the leader. When everyone has been through the line, that team wins. If a team grabs the object early or without the need for a pulse, they lose and the other team shuffles down.

Activity Specific: Land based; General

Potential Processing Outcomes: Teamwork

Approximate Time: 15 - 20 min

Xerox

Type: Initiative

Props: Paper and pen and pre-made picture. One set for each pair.

Activity: Place people in pairs. Partners sit back to back. One has a piece of paper with shapes drawn on it and the other has a blank paper. The person with the shapes tries to describe, the best way they can what is on their page so that their partner can draw the same thing. HOW they describe is more important then WHAT.

Activity Specific: Land Based: General

Potential Processing Outcomes: Communication

Approximate Time: 15 – 20 min

Group Reach

Type: Initiative

Props: Random group items, bag of candy with goal(s) written on it, piece of paper with goal(s) written on it

Directions: Make a line with tape, rope, etc. The rule is that nobody can put their feet on the ground past the line. Variations: Place an object (bag of candy) or have them write out some group goals on paper and place them a good distance from the line. **Group will need to figure out how to help each other reach the goal. Key is for one person to lean over in the push-up position and the next person then does the same but places the first persons feet on their shoulders. The group does this until they are long enough to reach the object, or goals.

Activity Specific: Land based; General

Processing Outcomes: Communication, Decision Making, Problem Solving

Time Needed: 15 - 20 minutes

Helium Stick

Type: Group Initiative

Suggested Group Size: 10 - 15

Props: One tent pole long enough for all participants to touch or other lightweight rod.

Activity: Line participants up in two rows facing one another. Introduce helium stick and state that participants must keep index finger on stick at all times without grabbing/pinching stick. Facilitator has participants point their index finger across from one another and lays helium stick on their fingers at approximately waist level. Goal is for group to lower helium stick to the ground by keeping everyone’s finger in contact with helium stick at all times and lower as a group.

Increased challenge: This can be a very challenging activity, allow students to fail and debrief as needed for intervention until they deem themselves successful. If one person is speaking out for entire group or is controlling, facilitator may mute them to allow others to lead.

Activity Specific: Land based, General (could be done at camp for any trip)

Potential Processing Outcomes: Teamwork, communication, Trust, Leadership, goal-setting

Approximate Time: 15 minutes – one hour

How They Eat in Heaven (Initiative)

Type: Group Development

Props: Food, Chop sticks/Eating Utensils

Directions: Gather group for a meal. Before they eat read "How They Eat in Heaven" story. Rule for the meal is that everyone's arms must remain straight.