Pass the Ball
Suggested Groups: Middle/Teen
Purpose: To facilitate group building and foster an attitude of group cooperation, rather than competition
Task/need: Group building
Activity Setup Ideas:
- Tell the group that you’re going to be doing an activity that requires them to work together to solve a problem as a group.
Materials:
- A small ball
- A stopwatch
Description: The goal is to sit in a circle and see how fast the group can "pass" the ball around so that everyone has touched it.
The group soon learns that the quickest way to accomplish this is to sit close together and all touch the ball at once. It's a fun process to watch them huddle closer and closer until they figure out the "trick."
Activity Wrap Up Ideas:
Ask the group members to reflect on the activity and the problem solving part of it. What worked well? Were there any frustrating parts?
Suggestions: Children will often have their own variations on this game. Encourage them to try whatever variations they would like. Some suggestions have been:
- Passing the ball with eyes closed
- Forming a line and passing the ball forwards and backwards
- Using one hand
The variations to this activity are endless — it seems that when you add a stopwatch to just about any task, middle school children turn the activity into a game. Let the group be creative — they are making group decisions, working together, and having fun — and that is the point.
