Free Team
Building Game
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Balloon Help !
!
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Objective:
- Encourages participation from all team
members.
- Enhances open
communications.
Development
Areas:
-
Cooperation
-
Trust
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Problem Solving
-
Collaboration
-
Communications
Time & Space:
Participants:
Materials:
-
Begin with 2 to 3 assorted 9 to 12 inch (medium to
large) round latex balloons per person (deflated). The actual number needed will depend on your group
size and the specific activity. Additional material such as sports equipment, permanent
markers, and slips of paper are optional, depending on your selected activity.
-
Balloons work best for games at about 85% of
inflation capacity. Eager participants often over-inflate balloons which leads to higher percent of
balloons bursting. Less confident participants may under-inflate. You can turn the ideal
inflation into a game and demonstration. Show the ideal inflation and walk around coaching people. 85%
inflation also allows a good distance for tying a thumb-knot in the neck of the balloon.
Preparation and Notes for
Facilitator:
- Hygiene: Only one person should inflate each balloon.
- Hyperventilation: Can occur following quick, deep
breaths from the top of the chest when blowing up balloons, leading to a lack of Carbon Dioxide in the
blood. Symptoms include light-headedness. Instruct anyone with these symptoms to sit down and
to breath slowly.
- Environmental Considerations: Latex balloons
are biodegradable (at the same rate as an Oak leaf). Latex is a natural substance,
produced from the milky sap of the rubber tree.
- Safety: Unless you have a specific and
compelling reason to use helium balloons, it is best to avoid them. The party game of inhaling helium to
sound like Donald Duck is potentially life-threatening. According to experts, if the concentration of
oxygen is decreased below 18% within the human body, symptoms and signs of Asphyxia can
occur. Helium gas can totally displace the available oxygen and if this is maintained for
even a few seconds, asphyxia and death can and will occur. INHALING HELIUM IS NO LAUGHING
MATTER!
Facilitation:
- Start off both teams as separate groups, each with their
team members in a circle, facing inwards, with their hands behind their backs.
- The objective is to be the first team with everyone to
be in the center keeping all balloons afloat.
- Optional: Forbid any verbal communications to
increase the challenge level.
- Place between zero and three balloons in people's hands
behind their backs. Participants should not let on to others how many they have.
- The team leader starts by trying to keep three balloons
afloat in the center.
- When it becomes too difficult, the leader calls
somebody's name and says "X, I need your help!". That person comes in with all their balloons and
helps until it becomes too difficult and then they call "Y, I need your help!".
- If a balloon falls on the ground, it must be picked up
by someone in the center and kept afloat.
- Continue until all participants are in the center with
all balloons in the air.
- Establish a line-up for teams, and award nominal prizes
(optional)
Debrief questions:
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What was the initial reaction of your
team?
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How well did the team cope with this
challenge?
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What skills did it take to be
successful as a team?
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What creative solutions were suggested
and how were they received?
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What would an outside observer have
seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the team?
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What did each team member learn about
him/her self as an individual?
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What other situations in life or at
work are similar to this game?
to more team building programs for change
management:
The
Amazing Race
The
Apprentice
Survivor
Millionaire
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Deal or No Deal
The Idol
Pyramid
Jeopardy
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