*These are tools that would be appropriate to use at the end of a workshop to wrap the whole thing up before evaluations!*
Props needed:
one small ball per small group—could be a small beach ball or playground ball, tennis ball
Time: as long as it looks like the group is enjoying the game.
Participants needed: Small groups of 5-12.
How to play: Divide the group into small groups.
Have them stand in a circle with their feet spread about two feet apart (so it makes a nice size “goal”) and have each person’s feet touching the foot of the person on either side of them. The feet should be touching side by side—not on top of one another. A ball will be placed in the middle of the circle.
The goal is for people to “shoot” the ball between the legs of someone else in the group in order to score.
They can only hit the ball with their hands and they have to bend over at the waist.
They may not catch the ball and throw it at any point.
They want to avoid being scored on and are trying to score on others.
There are 3 terms you need to teach the group:
Goal—when a goal is scored, the entire group needs to shout “GOAL!” (i.e., like the soccer commentator who shouts goal and keeps it going forever! “GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!”).
Tweener—when the ball passes between two people the group yells “Tweener!” real fast.
Over—when the ball goes over the heads and shoulders of the group, the group yells “OOVVEERRR”.
Debriefing: For example:
When a goal is scored, the person who was scored on needs to share a goal they accomplished during the day or experience; a goal they are working towards; something they are proud of that they accomplished or the group accomplished that day; a goal they want to set; and so on.
When a tweener occurs, the people on either side of the tweener need to share a connection they made; how they are going to transfer something they learned today (the connection they are making between the experience and real life); have them give “props” or positive feedback to one another; and so on.
When an over call happens, the person who retrieves the ball can share something they thought the group overcame that day; share something they overcame that day; share something they are proud of that they overcame in the past; a future challenge the group may face that they have to overcome; and so on.
Props:
Rope
Carabiners
Time: 10 minutes
How to play:
Tie a figure eight loop in the rope you used in an activity that everyone participated in.
Provide a carabiner for each person, and as they attach it to the knot, ask them to state how they feel connected to the other people.
Participants: works best for larger groups (at least 20)
Time: 5-10 minutes
How to play:
Have participants spread out across the space
When a facilitator says go, each participant will start one game of rock, paper, scissors with someone near them
The person who wins keeps going, while their opponent becomes part of their cheer squad and roots for them as they start a new round of rock, paper, scissors
Keep going in this fashion with winners collecting more and more cheerleaders as they go on
Continue until there are two remaining players, each with a fairly large crowd of other participants cheering them on; this is the final round
Props: bandana or something similar
Time: 10 minutes
Everyone picks a bandana (or something else) that they like and then gives it to somebody else.
Time: as long as it takes until everyone who wants to speak has spoken
Participants needed: any size group, you just don’t want to get too large so you can’t hear one another.
How to Play:
Tell the group that they need to come up with a newspaper headline or snapshot that describes their experience or their day. (You could probably do this as two separate activities—ask for only headlines or for only snapshots.)
A newspaper headline is a attention grabbing phrase that describes that day.
A snapshot is a quick verbal “picture” of something that happened during the activity or day.
Invite people to share their headline or snapshot! Conclude the activity once everyone has gone or people seem done talking.
Time: 1 minute
Pretend the group is getting onto a rollercoaster and then describe the slow move up the hill then the thrilling drop. With the drop on your fake rollercoaster put your hands up and cheer! This is a good way to get the whole group to yell at the end of an activity or workshop.
Time: 15 minutes
How to play: Have everyone lay down with their eyes closed.
Silently choose multiple people to open their eyes and stand up.
Instruct these people to “touch somebody who __________”. You can include things like lent a helping hand, inspired you, etc.
After a few turns, instruct the person to lay down and close their eyes and choose a new person.
Props:
Ball of string
Scissors
Time: 10 minutes
How to play: Using a ball of string, construct a web of appreciation.
Hang onto the end of the string and toss the ball to someone else in the group.
State something you appreciate about that person. The receiving person does the same until everyone in the group has become part of the web.
The resulting web symbolizes the connectedness of the group, the available support, the trust factor, the love, etc.
Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the connecting strings, symbolizing that we must all return to our own lives, but that what was once connected can become so again.
Have the participants keep their chunks of rope as a takeaway.
Props:
Two clear pitchers
Water
Glasses
Time: 10 minutes
How to play: Provide one full pitcher and one empty pitcher.
As participants pour water into the receiving pitcher, they state the ingredient they added to the group and would like the other participants to take away.
After everyone has contributed, stir the water gently and ask everyone to pour a small drink into a provided glass.
As leader, provide an appropriate toast, and ask everyone to raise their glasses in good fellowship.
This large group closer is perfect for groups that need an active, silly ending. A 'well-oiled machine' has many pieces and parts that all work together to make the machine work properly. This concept also works for teams. This activity allows for a fun, active ending to your program.
Directions: This is a perfect way to end the day for a large group. After your group has worked well together all day long, "like a well-oiled machine", have them take that concept home with them.
Discuss the idea that machines have several pieces and parts that all work together to make the machine work properly. This concept also works for teams.
Instruct them to think of a noise and an action in their head. (Whirring, clanging, beeping, swishing, sloshing, chugging, etc…..and an appropriate movement to go with it.)
Ask for one volunteer to step into the center of the group and start doing their action and noise.
After this volunteer has performed their noise and action for about 5 seconds another volunteer steps forward and physically attaches somewhere to the first volunteer and adds a new noise and a new action.
Ask them to physically attach so that the machine will be one large working unit by the time everyone adds in their action and noise.
Then one at a time the rest of the group will enter the 'machine', physically attach to another working part already in process and add their noise and action.
By the time everyone has joined the machine it will be whistling and bustling about with activity.