Stacking Cups
Suggested Group(s): Young, Middle, Teen
Purpose: To begin to build a safe environment for the children and teens; team building
Task/Need: Group Building
Activity Set-up Ideas: Explain to the children that cups are spread out amongst the floor in different areas of the room. The group must use the rubber band/string tool to stack the cups. Strings are already attached to one rubber band and ready to use. They must stack the cups with the rubber band device without using their hands.
You may want to subdivide the group if it is large.
Materials:
- A rubber band/string device per group (each individual in the group will have a string attached to the rubber band)
- 20 cups per group to use to stack
- Timer
Description: Groups will each have a rubber band with strings attached to it. They will each hold a string attached to the rubber band and will utilize this tool to stack cups. They can't use their hands!! There will be a five-minute timer on to finish this task. Groups will find themselves either succeeding due to the amount of communication and teamwork their group had, or they will find themselves frustrated due to a lack of communication within the group. Groups will compare stacked cups and see who got the highest stack.
Activity Wrap-Up Ideas:
The group as a whole can discuss their feelings within the group, how they felt their team did, and if their team communicated well or not. The group may find that the groups that successfully stacked cups had great communication skills. Further discussion could occur to explain how we are all a team here at the Caring Place.
