Activities: Week Eight

Team Building Activities

Helium stick

A long stick is place on the index fingers of 5-10 children. The only instruction is that they have to put move the stick to the ground without anyone removing their index finger from the stick. The stick will move upward instead of downward. The kids must then continue until they can work as a team to put the stick on the ground.

Human Overhand

Three four-foot lengths of rope are handed out to teams of four. The team then forms a configuration of person-rope-person-rope-person-rope-person. They are to consider themselves as one long length of rope. The teams are then asked to tie an overhand knot in the middle rope without anyone letting go. This is a very challenging activity and will require a lot of patience and critical thinking by the children.

Minefield

Two-person teams must work together to get one of the participants across a minefield (cones set out randomly in a small space). The team member crossing the field is blindfolded and must rely on the instructions of his or her partner to get across safely. If the walker hits a mine he or she must start over. Once the walker is safely across the team members switch roles. This is a good exercise of communication, teamwork, and trust.