Games (and other stuff) for Group, Book 1 (Revised & Expanded)

Games (and other stuff) for Group, Book 1 (Revised & Expanded) by Chris Cavert and friends

What can you do to get your group to open up and talk?  This book could be your answer with its 37 different activities, from stories to games, over 200 “What would it be like...? questions, and over 250 “Are you more like...? doublets to assist you in charging up your group.

It contains reproducible handouts and fun activities to use with groups ages 12 and up. Activities spark discussions and focus on such topics as expressing emotions, gender issues, trust, working with others, and communication.

• Filled with 5 to 10 minute, easy to administer activities you can use within a small group setting.
• Activities promote discussions about trust, communication, gender issues, emotions, or following directions.
• 20 activities that require some sort of prop that you can easily obtain or create.
• Over 200, "What would it be like....?" questions that can help open up discussions.
• Wonderful short stories sure to spark conversation.
• "Minute Mysteries" the group must solve together by asking questions -colaboration is the key!
• Over 280, "Are You More Like...?" choices to discuss with your group such as, "Are you more like reading or writing?"
• Each activity comes with an Observation/Questions section.
• A great tool for Counselors & Teachers who work with groups of 6 to 12 students ages 11 to 19.

You may also be interested in Games (and other stuff) for Group, Book 2.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Presenting & Processing
• Sample Processing Questions
• Section One: Activities
• TP Talk
• Guess Who
• Pick Your Brain
• Toss-A-Name Game
• Name Ball
• I'm Going On A Trip
• Telephone
• Building My House
• Spotting
• Circle Pass
• Warning Bells
• Fireball
• Flinch
• Messages
• Puzzling
• Sticks, Stones & Bones
• Cave In
• Color Challenge
• Paper Chute
• The Box
• Section Two: What WOuld It Be Like...?
• What Would It Be Like...? Introduction
• Section Three: Teaching Tales
• Teaching Tales Introduction
• Beginnings
• The Ugly Bug
• Big Jim
• Philbert
• Silver Bear's Dream
• Two Buckets
• Nobody Knows
• Ladybug & Frog
• Other Story Suggestions
• Section Four: Minute Mysteries
• Minute Mysteries Introduction
• Doctor's Dilemma
• Gone Hunting
• A Walk in the Rain
• The Elevator
• The Man in the Mask
• Piercing Dilemma
• Frozen in Ice
• Albatross Soup
• Reading, Right?
• Five Men
• Section Five: Are You More Like...?
• Are You More Like...? Introduction
• References
• Appendix
• Experiential/Adventure-Based Training Companies
• Play Therapy Resources
• Activity Equipment & Games Catalogs
• Recommended Resources

Excerpt
MESSAGES
Needs: Three tossable objects, and an area for a medium-size circle.
Note: This is my variation on the classic “Group Juggling.”
Procedure: Form a medium-size circle facing in. Include yourself in the circle as the leader (at first). Take one message (a tossable object) and create a pattern within the circle by throwing it (nicely) to someone across from you. Continue the throws until everyone has received the message only once and thrown it only once.
You, as the leader, should make the first and receive the last throw.
I like to ask each person in the group to cross their arms in front of their body after they have caught and tossed the object. This way the tosser can find the uncrossed tossees easier.
Once a pattern is established, try it again with one object to confirm that everyone remembers who they throw to and catch from. Once this skill is mastered, add another message (object) to the pattern. Toss one after the other. See if the group can get both around.
You can start to do some goal setting; for example: How many drops will we allow ourselves? Let’s not drop any messages. How fast can we get them around?, etc. Add a third message to the conversation and so on until the group finds its maximum potential.
I have had a few groups that could get around one object apiece - everyone in the group must throw their object at the same time!

Observations/Questions:
•What were players doing to make the activity easier?
•What problems were occurring?
•What suggestions could you make to help solve the problem(s)?
•Which solution could we try?
•What happens when we send a message to someone who isn’t ready? •What are some ways we can tell someone is ready for a message?
•How can you prevent messages from colliding?
•What did you feel like when you dropped a message?
•Did the other players say anything?
•How do negative comments affect performance?
•How do positive and supportive comments affect performance?

Variations:
•Timing this activity can be a great problem-solving challenge. Stick with just timing 3 messages around the pattern with these two rules: 1) You must stick to the same pattern, and 2) Each player must touch all 3 objects. Have someone in the group help time from start to finish (someone in the middle of the pattern. Or, if you started this activity without playing, then you can time it.) After the first round of passing 3 objects, ask the group if they can get a faster time. Ask what changes they need to make to get that faster time. Most groups will stay in the same circle they started in and just move in closer or just “throw faster.” Challenge them to think lat- erally. Whatever time they achieve, cut it in half. Tell them you know they are a high functioning group and they can do it. It is possible to get under 5 seconds with a group of 12. Don’t give out any answers, be strong. Come back to the activity another time if they don’t discover they can change standing positions and stand next to the person they are throwing it to. Al- ways try to end with a successful round, then move on.

Karl Rohnke has some good ones:
•Call out “Reverse” half way through the sequence.
•Start 2 objects in one direction and 2 in the other direction.
•Add an object as a “rumor” which can go anywhere. What are the effects of rumors in our communication process? A friend of mine uses one of those rubber chickens as a rumor, then asks about the “rubber chickens” that present themselves in our lives.
•On a hot day use water balloons.

About the Author

Chris Cavert is a nationally known speaker and trainer in the area of adventure-based activity programming. He focuses on using experiential activities to develop pro-social community building skills within groups of all ages. Cavert has written 12 activity books, holds a master’s degree in Experiential Education, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Northern Arizona University in the area of Curriculum and Instruction.

More Information

• 1999 (Revised & expanded)
• Paperback
• 122 pages
• Wood N Barnes
• ISBN 1885473397