Toss 10

Object of the Game 

The object is for each group to catch as many tossed tennis balls as possible without allowing any of the balls to bounce.

Possible Goal and Debrief/Reflection Questions

1. Focus Area/Goal: Group Dynamics - Leaders and Followers

Debrief: 

1. How did your group decide on roles and responsibilities?  Did everyone have an opportunity to contribute their ideas? 

2. Did a leader or leaders emerge within the group? How did they contribute to the group’s dynamics? 

3. How were decisions made within the group? Was there consensus, or did the group rely on a different decision making process? 

 2.  Focus Area/Goal: Creative Problem Solving

Debrief:

1. What techniques or strategies did you use to generate ideas? 

2. Did you encounter any challenges in brainstorming? If so, how did you overcome those challenges? 

3. How did you decide which ideas to pursue further? What criteria did you use to decide? 

4. What insights have you gained from this problem solving activity? How much you apply them to other contexts? 

Instructions

1. Form groups of 5-6 people. Identify one person to be the starting tosser.  All other group members will be the designated catchers. 

2. Thrower must throw all balls for that round at the same time.

3. Thrower can not catch any of the balls. 

4. Start with 1 ball.  If caught, add a second ball. 

5. If both are caught, add a 3rd, and so on. 

6. There is no penalty for missing any of the tossed balls.  Just retrieve the balls and continue to retry that number until your group is successful. 

7. Continue adding one ball each time all tossed balls are caught until you reach 10, or until time is up. 

Differentiation Options:

• Modify the challenge level by having the group go back down a level if they miss any of the tossed balls. Or you could make the group start over if they miss at any point. 

• You could make it easier by allowing multiple tossers. 

Materials & Resources

1. 10 small balls (tennis ball size) or beanbags for every group of 5-6 people:

Credits: Maria Corte, Teacher at Mesa High School, AZ