Group Challenge Games

Elephant

Goals : Team buildingTime Required : 2 hrsSize of Group : 20 - 25Material required : Enough pieces of cloth to blind fold all the participants except one

: An area with space big enough and safe for the whole group to walk about in a line both indoor and outdoor.

Procedure: Tell the group that they are to be an elephant and go for a walk through a forest with a mahout. Then tell them the rules of the game. The whole group except the mahout is to be blind-folded and join hands in a line. The front person is the head of the elephant and the whole group being parts of the elephant body has to follow the head who is guided by the mahout with signs as the mahout can not talk or touch the elephant head. The whole group of elephants can talk to each other. The signs to guide the elephant head has to be agreed upon before the walk starts. The group can choose the mahout as they like and plan for the walk whatever they think necessary. They will also be warned that the route will be a difficult one with all kinds of obstacles and outside interferences.

When everyone understands the rules they will be given 5 minutes for preparation. After they have decided on the choice of the mahout (the signs to communicate with the front person) and other plans they thought necessary, the group except for the mahout will be blindfolded. Then the mahout will be told the route the group has to walk through. It can include going up and down stairs and crossing small bridges over small streams or canals. If there are not enough natural obstacles the facilitators should provide some with chairs, benches or whatever materials available. If it becomes clear that the signs agreed between the mahout and the head is not working they can start again from the very beginning and change or improve their plans before starting again.

Warning: The facilitators are responsible for the safety of the whole group. So make sure the route is completely safe and (3) or (4) persons should go along with the group to safeguard the group and also provide outside interferences which serves the purpose of making them interested and enjoy the game and also to keep them always alert and on guard and keep the group spirit alive. The main interference can be to try and separate them. If the group is not alert an outsider can come in among them and lead away part of the group easily. Just tickling some members can make them enjoy the game and more alert not to get separated from the group. The facilitator should observe the progress carefully, so that certain important issues could be raised and discussed during debrief.

Debriefing:Feelings - general feelings

- of the mahout at certain points and about the communication with the head- of the head…- of the tail, the last person- of the people in the middle

Importance of - communication- being alert and on guard all the time

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- group spiritLesson learn and application to everyday work life.

Poisonous River

Goal :Team buildingTime required :(2 – 21/2 hours)Size of group :(10 - 25)if there are around 30 participants they can be divided into two groups.Materials required : A4 size sheets of paper

: Sturdy benches and tables if the game is to be made a little more exciting.

Procedure:Tell the group that they have to cross a poisonous river. They will be given some stepping stones (A4 sheets) to cross the river. They have to cross the river in a line one by one and they have to hold on to one another. If their connection is broken at any point the whole group has to restart from the river bank. If a certain member falls into the river - that is if a person's both feet go into the river, that person cannot walk anymore and the group members have to carry that person across or if a part or whole of one foot got into the river that person cannot use that particular foot any more and has to cross with only one leg. The current of the river is very strong and the stepping stones can be swept away if they are not careful. The connection among the members should not be broken until the whole group is across the river. The group will be given 5 minutes for preparation. The area should be long and spacious. The facilitator has to mark the length or the width of the river which should be about two lengths of the line of people connected to each other. The number of the stepping stones can be about two thirds of the number of participants. An island can be created in the middle of the river with benches and tables or boxes. This can be an obstacle or a resting place for the group.

If the group still does not succeed after one or two attempts more stepping stones can be given as they need to feel a sense of success after trying to do their best. As soon as the crossing starts the facilitators need to keep a close watch to see if anyone's foot or part of feet touches the water and also if the connection of the group gets broken at some place. They also need to watch if the stepping stones get loose anywhere. If they do the facilitator needs to snatch away the paper as if it drifted away because of the strong current. Losing one or two stepping stones can make it very difficult for the group to make it to the other bank. Sometimes it can become a deciding factor between failure and success. Facilitators need to keep tract of the progress to note any particular incidence where the group was stressed or encour-aged or any member becoming a burden for the whole group.

Debriefing: Feelings - general feelings of the whole group

- feeling of particular people at certain stages of the exercise Importance of - cooperation

- group spirit- sacrifice for the whole group

Lesson learnt and application to workaday situation.

Perfect Square

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Goal : To practise creativity and leadershipTime required : 30 - 45 minutesSize of group : Up to 30 peopleMaterial required : 30 feet of light rope, enough pieces of cloth to blindfold all the participants.

Procedure:Give the instruction to the group and then blindfold them. The group must hold on to the rope standing and form a perfect square. One person can move about and assist in forming the perfect square. The group has to keep improving the square until the facilitator is satisfied the square is perfect. The person who can move bout and assist can change as long as there is only one person to move about at a time.

Debriefing:Feelings - general feeling - feelings of the people who take turns to assist in forming the perfect square Importance of - participation and cooperation.

- leadership Lesson learnt and application to real life situation.

Broken Squares

Goal : to practise thinking in terms of a group and to communicate non- verbally without any signs or gestures.

Time required : 30 - 45 minutesSize of group : Unlimited, better to be multiple of 5Material required : A set of 15 pieces in 5 envelopes one each for a group of 5 participants.

Procedure:1. Break the group into small groups of 5. Any surplus members can be designated as

observers.

2. Give each member of the small group an envelope containing 3 pieces of a square. Ask them not to open their envelopes as yet.

3. Tell the small group that each member has a number of pieces in their envelopes to build a square. Some of the parts however are located with other members within the small group. The task is for each member to complete a square. All squares are to be the same size.

4. Tell the participants that this exercise is to be completed non-verbally. Members can only give away the pieces in their possession. They cannot grab pieces in other members' possession or show signs and gestures to ask for a piece from other members.

Facilitators should observe carefully how the pieces are offered to other members, or if any member in a small group finishes his/her own square and sits tight without trying to help other members or if anyone builds a square that was too big/small and therefore stopped others from completing their task and what resulted.

Debriefing:Feeling - general feeling

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- feelings due to constraint by non-verbal and non-gesturing communicationsImportance of - considerations for people around us Lesson learnt and application to our every day life.

Spider Web

Goal : Team building, cooperation and planningTime required : 3 hrsSize of group : 5 - 30 peopleMaterial required : A roll of light easy tying rope.

Procedure: 1. Mentally measure the body sizes of all the participants to take part in the exercise. Build

a spider's web across the room within two lines of tight rope. The lower line should be about the waist and the upper line should be above the head of the tallest person among the group in height. Wave the spider web between the two lines with holes the number of the participants - a hole for each participant just big enough to squeeze through. Draw a demarcation line on the floor under the web.

2. Tell the participants to stay on one side of the web and explain the instructions.

3. The instructions:All the participants must pass through one of the holes in the spider web without

touching the rope either with body, hair or clothes. One hole can be used only once. Every hole after being used will be closed off with a string. When people are being passed through the holes no one on either side should step on or across the demarcation line. Any one who touches the rope while passing through the hole should be returned to the floor and start again from the beginning.

The facilitators need to follow the progress closely to check on the observation of the rules and the group's energy.

Debriefing:Feeling - general feelings

- feelings of men and women during the exercise. Discussion on planning and leadership.Lesson learnt and application on workaday situations.

Golden Eagle

Goal : Leadership and group spiritTime required : 1 hrSize of Group : 10 – 20 peopleMaterial Required : None, but needs a spacious area to run around

The big group Eagle1. Eagle, Eagle, why I am hovering because

are you hovering? I want Ma Htwe.2. We don’t have Ma Htwe. She’s there at the back.

We came alone.3. Ma Htwe’s flesh is bitter. I will wash it with stream water.4. Stream water is dried up I will wash it with river water.

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in the Summer.5. River water is dried up I will wash it with sea water.

in the Summer.6. Sea water is dried up Sea water never dries up.

in the Summer. I will now catch Ma Htwe.

Procedure:1. Tell the group that they will be a brood of chickens being chased by an eagle

2. Ask them to choose one participant to be the eagle and the rest will be chickens. The Eagle will stand separate in front of the group who will stand in a line facing the eagle and holding onto the waist of the person in front. The last person at the back will be Ma Htwe, The front most person will be the mother hen trying to protect Ma Htwe from being caught by the eagle.

3. When the group is standing in the position described above the eagle and the group of chickens will make the above dialogue. At the end of it the eagle will start trying to catch Ma Htwe. Ma Htwe will try to avoid the eagle and the mother hen and the whole group will try to protect Ma Htwe and bar the eagle from reaching Ma Htwe. The group has to hold on to each other the whole time. If the eagle can catch Ma Htwe only after a vigorous struggle for some time the exercise can end when Ma Htwe is caught, but if Ma Htwe is caught easily after only one try Ma Htwe can stay out and the eagle can try to catch the next one in line.

Debriefing:Feelings - general feeling

- feelings of the eagle, the hen and Ma HtweImportance of - group spirit.Lesson learnt and application in real life.

Tied in Knots

Goal : Team building, energizerTime required : 30 – 45 minutesSize of Group : Up to 25 peopleMaterial required : None

Procedure:1. Ask the participants to stand and form a circle in the center of the framing room.

2. With the participants standing in a tight circle, ask them all to raise their left hands in the air and point their right hands to the center of the circle. When all participants have complied with these instructions tell them to lower their left hand and grab someone else's right hand. They have to make sure no two persons grab each other's both hands. Once this contact is made they are not to break it.

3. Tell the participants that they are to untangle themselves without breaking their grip on each other. When untangled they should again form a circle. Tell them not to worry if some of the members are facing away from the center of the circle at the completion of the exercise.

Facilitators should check whether anyone breaks contact with persons on either side, and follow their progress and problems.

Debriefing:

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Feelings - general feelings- of certain people at certain stages of their problem in the exercise.

Discuss whether it would have been possible to complete the exercise faster; why? Should they do it again? Did anyone undertake various roles within the group? Lesson learnt and applications in real life.

What’s your name?

Goal : To introduce and practice recalling all participants’ namesTime required : 15 – 20 minutesSize of group : 15 – 25 peopleMaterial required : None

Procedure;1. Tell the group to turn their name plates facedown if they are using them and then that

each person will introduce themselves by name and tell the group one unusual thing about themselves. An example could be “My name is John and I have a twin brother”.

2. Then tell the group that the next person is to repeat the previous person's name and the unusual thing they told the group about them and continue to tell his/her own name and one unusual thing about himself/herself.

3. The remaining participants have to follow the same procedure but recall all the names and items from the first person up to the previous person. Thus the last person will have to tell the whole group's names and the unusual things about them including himself/herself.

The facilitator can join in and be the first or second to let the group see what it's all about. Name tags can be used as well with larger group. The name tags should be covered with participants' hand and only shown if the person trying to recall the name can't do so.

Discussion points1. Can everyone now remember all of the other participants' names?2. Application of this technique in everyday life where we have problems recalling names; how we can think up the unusual thing about each person that we want to recall names.

Pass it on

Goal : To show how messages can become distorted and to show the participants that they need to improve their communication and listening skills.Time Required : 5 to 10 minutesSize of group : Unlimited but needs to break into small groups of 8 – 10 participants.Material required : “A story” to communicate (pass on)

Procedure:1. Break the group into small groups of 8 -10 participants. Participants in each small group

sit in a line about two feet apart.

2. Take the participants at the top of each line of small groups outside the training room and tell them a story or a message.

3. Tell them to go back to their groups and pass on the story to the participants next to them. They are to relate the story verbally, but whispering so that others can't hear.

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4. This is repeated with all of the members, one at a time passing the story they have just heard on to the next person in the line.

5. When the last person in all the small groups has been given the final version of their story they are to tell the big group what they have been told. Then the facilitator reads out the story the top persons have been told to pass on.

Debriefing:Feelings of - the top person, the last and the middle ones. Points to discuss - how the story got changed from one person to another along the line.

- Each participant can tell the big group the story/message that they received working from the last person back to the top person. - Lesson learnt and application at the work place.

Follow the instruction

Goal : To show the participants why to walk their talk is important.Time required : 5 - 10 minutesSize of group : any number up to 25Material required : None

Procedure:

Tell the group to stand in a circle and ask for one volunteer to come into the centre of the circle. Then tell the process to the whole group. The volunteer in the center will go to one participant in the circle and do something and say something else. The participant in the circle will respond at once by doing what the volunteer says and saying what the volunteer does. For example-the volunteer will be scratching his head and say "I am scratching my knee". The respondent will scratch his knee and say "I am scratching my head". If the participant can respond correctly according to the rule instantly, the volunteer will go to another participant and do the same, but if he can not respond correctly in time they will change places and the one in the circle will come into the center and continue as the volunteer did. The person in the center has to think up what he wants to do or say with each participant he chooses.

Debriefing:Points to discuss - Tendency to respond to actions rather than words. Lesson learnt and application to our real life situations.

TRUST GAMES

Falling and Catching

Goal : For participants to learn to trust and care for each other.Time required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : Up to 24 peopleMaterial required : None

Procedure:

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1. Tell the participants to stand in two lines of equal number. Both lines should be facing the same direction.

2. The front line people are to trust the back line people and let their bodies fall back-ward into the waiting arms of the back line people waiting to catch them.

3. Tell the participants to get ready to fall and to catch. The front people should stiffen themselves in the standing position and say “ready to fall”. The partner at the back when ready should say “ready to catch”. Then the front line person lets their body fall backwards without bending waist or knee. The back person will catch the falling body before it falls too low. After repeating this exercise 2 or 3 times both the lines must turn and face the opposite direction.

4. Now the back line will become the front line and the front the back. In this position the falling and catching will be repeated 2 or 3 times again.

Debriefing: Feelings - of participants when falling and catching

- of particular participants who are afraid to let go when falling and ones who are not confident enough to catch and of pairs who fall to the floor because the catcher can not catch well and whether there is technique in catching and what difference it makes in catching.

Lesson learnt and application to everyday situations.

Falling from Heaven

This exercise can be done after the participants have come to know each other pretty well and understand the strength of united effort.

Goal : For the participants to dare to practice what they know to be true.

Size of group : 15 to 25 peopleTime required : 15 – 20 minutes (will vary according to size of group)Material required : One big table and one stable sturdy chair

Procedure:1. Place the big table at one end of the room and put the chair on the table close to the

front edge of it.

2. Tell the group that each of them will jump from the chair on to the waiting arms of the group on the floor. Then ask for a volunteer to do the first jump. The volunteer should not be a very heavy person. Of the rest ask for 6 or 7 pairs to come and stand in front of the chair in two lines facing each other. The pairs then stretch out their hands and grasp the forearms of the partner opposite close to the wrist and hold on fast. These pairs of connected arms will form like a stretcher on to which the jumper can fall. When the group on the floor is ready to receive the falling body, tell the volunteer to get up on to the chair on the table and stand straight with the back to the edge. Then let himself fall backward on to the waiting hands below. The body should be straight when falling.

3. Once the group sees the volunteer falling safely on to the waiting arms, many of the group will feel safe to try. Let one after another fall but make sure the hands holding each other are firm. The heaviest ones should try after the catchers have had some experience and the timid ones should come last. Some of the participants may not feel

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confident enough to try. The facilitator can encourage them to try, but never force them to do the exercise.

Debriefing:Feelings: - of the first volunteer

- of the heavy participant- the timid ones- the ones who did not try- of the group who received the falling bodies

Points to discuss - element of risk taking in life and workLesson learnt and application in working life.

Driving a car

Goal : Trust buildingTime required : 10 - 15 minutesSize of group : 20 - 24 (can decrease or increase according to size of the room) Material required : Pieces of cloth for half the number of participants to blind fold them

Procedure:1. Pair off the participants into twos. Blindfold one of the pairs. The blindfolded one is the

car and the one who can see is the driver.

2. Tell the participants who can see to stand behind their partners holding the shoulders of the partner and move around the room steering the blindfolded one from behind.

3. After the first group of drivers have been driving around for about 3 minutes let them change places with cars and drive around in the same way for about 3 minutes again.

Debriefing:Feelings - of participants while driving and while being drivenLesson learnt and application to real life situations.

Moon Ball

Goal : To practice cooperation and group spirit: To practice self improvement

Time required : 20 – 30 minutesSize of group : 15 – 25 people

Material required : A soft plastic ball about the size of a basketball

Procedure:Tell the group to stand in a circle. They are to pass the ball from one person to

another without letting the ball fall to the ground. To start the exercise one participant throws the ball to another. The participant receiving the ball will not catch the ball but hit it as when playing volley ball to pass it on to another one in the circle who will also hit it to pass it on to still another and so on. The purpose is to keep the ball afloat in the air for as long as possible as a group. So it is every one's responsibility to try to keep the ball in the air whether the ball was passed to him/her or not. The group will count how many times the ball is hit without the ball hitting ground. Every time the ball falls to the ground, the group will restart counting from one. The important regulation is that the same person cannot hit the ball more than once at a time. The group will decide on a target number of hits and will try to do better after every fall of the ball until they reach the targeted number.

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Debriefing:Points to discuss - how do participants feel competing with oneself or trying to improve oneself compared to competing with other people or group. Lesson learnt and application.

Tink a Toy/Perfect Toy

Goals : To show how communication got confused between one person and anotherTime required : 45 minutes – 1 hrSize of group : 20 – 30 peopleMaterial required : 4 identical sets of multi-colored building blocks.

Procedure:1. Ask for 15 volunteers to participate in the game and let the rest be observers or help the

facilitators in checking the players. Divide the 15 into 3 groups of 5.

2. With one set of the building blocks construct a sample building unlike ones shown on the box and unseen by the participants and keep it in a separate room or inside the room behind the curtain on the stage if there is one. Place the remaining three sets of blocks on different tables and assign the three groups of volunteers to work on each table.

3. Of the five members in each group one member stays in the room or behind the curtain where the sample building is. This person, member No.1 will study how the building is built and give instruction to another member, No.2, who can not see the building or how the building is constructed and No.2 will again pass on the instruction to another member, No.3 who will take the instruction to their table where No.4 is to construct a building exactly like the sample building in the separate room. If the instruction is not clear or wrong No.4 can ask No.3 to go back and ask No.2 who will ask No. 1 to have a careful look again and instruct back. Thus these No.2 and No.3 can shuttle between No.1 and No.4 any number of times as necessary. The last person No.5 has access to both the sample building and the one No.4 is trying to build and check whether No.4 is constructing correctly or not. But No.5 can not speak to any body or touch anything, he can only nod to say “yes” and shake the head to say “no”. No.5 too can shuttle between No. 1 and No.4 any number of times to ascertain that No.4 is constructing the building correctly. Observers can help check that the dumb No.5 does not talk or gesture to No.4 and also that No.2 does not go to see the sample building himself/herself.

4. Set a limit of time for the groups to finish the construction.

Note: During debriefing make sure that the volunteers are not seen as being poor at these skills due to their performance in the exercise.

Debriefing:Feelings - of each of the participants No.l to No.5 Discussion points - why it was difficult to get the correct instruction through - whether each group has optimized the dumb member No.5's opportunity; if “yes”- how?, if “no”- why?Lesson learnt and application in workaday situation.

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ENERGIZER

Musical Chair

Goal : To energize the group and to practice mindfulness and being attentiveTime Required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : UnlimitedMaterial required : Enough number of chairs for the participants; music or a cassette player.

Procedure:1. Arrange the chairs in a circle. There should be one chair less than the number of

participants. The guitarist should sit outside the circle with his back to the group.2. Explain the process to the participants. When the guitarist starts playing the participants

start walking alongside the chairs in one direction. They have to keep going as long as the guitar is playing. When the guitar stops everyone has to sit down in one of the nearest chairs. The person who cannot get a seat can be asked to do something or they can just start walking again when the guitar starts playing again. It will be fun just to try to get a seat every time the music stops.

Note: The facilitator has to make sure the group keeps walking normally while the music is playing and not try to jump from one chair to another or sticking to a chair.

Touch Blue

Goal : To keep the group active and to have simple fun.Time required : 3 – 5 minutesSize of group : UnlimitedMaterials required : None

Procedure:Let the group stand up and explain the process to them. The facilitator will call out

one color and participants will go and touch that color on the clothes of whoever is wearing that color. E.g., if the facilitator calls out blue the participants will go and touch the color blue on the clothes of the participants. The facilitator will call out one color after another for as long as he wants the group to play the game.

Mathematician

Goal : To practice mental arithmetic and to energize the group.Time required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of group : 20 is the ideal number.Materials required : None

Procedure:This exercise is in group work.1. Divide the participants into two small groups of 10. The rest of the participants can

observe. Let these two groups stand in line side by side facing the facilitator. The distance between the two lines should be about four feet. Each of the members in the

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small group will be given personal numbers from 0 – 9, they will be 0 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9.

2. Then tell the groups the process of the exercise. The facilitator will call out a problem and each of the group members will calculate the answer themselves and the member or members with the correct number will sidestep into the middle. (E.g. if the problem is (3x4) the answer will be 12. So the people with 1 and 2 for personal numbers will step out into the middle.) Everyone on the two teams needs to think and calculate fast; the team which can come out with the correct numbers will win. The facilitator can call out any pre-stated number of problems or any number he thinks appropriate without pre-statement.

Command

Goal : To energize participants and to practise attentiveness.Time required : 5 - 10 minutesSize of group : Any number under 30Materials required : None

Procedure:1. Let the participants sit in a circle. Explain the process to the group. The facilitator or a

volunteer can start the game as the game leader.

2. The game leader gives commands to the group and the group will do whatever the leader asks if the instruction is preceded by the word “command”. The group will not obey any order without the word “command”. E.g., if the leader says “command, stand up” the group will stand up and if the leader just says “stand up all of you” no one should stand up. The game leader will give the orders slowly in the beginning but quicken the tempo afterwards. If anyone should obey the order without the word “command” that person will change places with the game leader and continue to give orders.

Variation - Only one person, either the facilitator or a volunteer will continue to give orders throughout and any one who makes mistakes, (every time or when the same person makes mistakes three times) that person should surrender something, a ball pen, a wrist watch, a ring - anything on the person as forfeit and at the end these people will be asked to do something, sing, dance or tell a joke to redeem their possessions. It will take longer time.

Note: This second variation should not be done with very shy beginner groups as instead of enjoying the game they will be worrying about what they might be asked to perform and they tend to try to stay away from games in the future.

Elephant-Palm Tree- Skunk

Goal : To energize the group and to practise mindfulnessTime required : 5 -10 minutesSize of group : Any number under 30Materials required : None

Procedure:

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1. Let the participants stand in a circle. Then teach them how to portray, Elephant, Palm Tree and Skunk. Elephant can be symbolized by its trunk; participants can raise both arms and bend the hands to the side to show palm tree; one can close the nose with fingers and wave one hand sideways to portray skunk as it is a very smelly creature. These 3 things can be portrayed by any symbol the participants are familiar with.

2. When the participants understand clearly which symbol stands for what, explain the process to the group. The facilitator or a volunteer as the game leader inside the circle will go to one participant, point a finger at him/her and say one of the three things, elephant, palm tree, or skunk, and that person has to show the symbol of it within a split second. If the person cannot show it in time or show it wrong that person will have to change places with the game leader in the centre and continue the game.

Catch it

Goal : To practice concentration, being alert and active.Time required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : Up to 30 peopleMaterial required : None

Procedure:1. Let all the participants stand in a circle, facilitator or a volunteer be the game leader.

Explain the process to the group.

2. When the leader says “1” every one opens up the left palm and keeps it on their left side. At the count of “2” every one must put up their right forefinger. At the count of “3” put the forefinger in the left palm of the person on the right. At the count of “4” every one must try to catch the finger in one’s left palm and at the same time withdraw the finger from the other person’s palm before being caught. The ones who got their fingers caught can be asked for a forfeit. Counting of 1,2,3 & 4 need not always be in order, can go back to counting 2 after 3 or to 1 after 2.

Reveal the Secret (Brain Twister)

Goal : To encourage brain waves and group work.Time required : 15 – 20 minutesSize if group : 20 – 25 peopleMaterials required : None

Procedure:Divide the group into two small groups. The process is for each group to think up

some means to line up the group in serial order- (e.g. according to age, birth month or height etc.) They are to think up the most unlikely and uncommon means to get serial order. When both groups have lined up in serial order of what ever they have thought up, each group has to make 3 guesses on how the other group is serially ordered. The group which guesses right wins. They can repeat the exercise one or two more times.

Bird Nest

Goal : Energizer – to divide participants into small groups.Time required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : 20 – 25; it must be a multiple of (3) + 1

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Material required : None

Procedure:1. Let the group stand up, divide the participants into groups of 3. The remaining one will be

the game leader. Of the 3, two will join both hands to form a bird’s nest, the other one will be the bird and stand inside the joined hands. Then explain the process.

2. The game leader will call out one of the following; “bird”, “nest”, or “storm”. If the leader says “bird” all the birds will change nest. If the leader says “nest” the birds will stay put and the nests will change places. If the leader says “storm” every one will change places. Nest people will leave the old partner and find a new partner to form a new nest or become a bird. The birds can change into a new nest of find a partner to form a nest. The result must be equal number of birds in the same number of nests. While the birds or nests are changing places the game leader will get into one nest and the bird who cannot get into any nest will become the game leader and continue the exercise as before.

Cat and Mouse

Goal : Active energizer and to practice mindfulness and presence of mind.Time required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : Any number under 30m but must be an even number, if not the facilitator can join in.Materials required : None

Procedure:1. Get 2 volunteers to be cat and mouse. Let the rest stand in a circle in pairs. There should

be enough space between the pairs for the cat and mouse to run through. Each pair will stand very close together and put their hands on the outside of their hips.

2. Then explain the process. As soon as the group stands ready the cat starts chasing the

mouse. The cat and the mouse run in and out of the circle but mostly they will run around outside the circle. When the mouse gets tired running around it can hook its hand onto the hands of one of the pairs. Then the (one on the other side of the hooked one) partner of the hooked on will become the mouse and start running. If the cat catches the mouse, the mouse will become the cat and the cat will start running after the cat which has become the mouse.

Counting from one

Goal : Energizer and to practice mindfulnessTime required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group :20 – 30 peopleMaterials required : None

Procedure:Let the group sit or stand in a circle. Let the participants count serially from one. While counting every one who has to say an odd number must not count verbally but clap hands- (E.g., number one and two will be counted verbally and after that 3-5-7 etc. will just clap hands.) Any one who makes mistakes by counting an odd number verbally or clapping an even number must start counting from one again. If the same person keeps making mistakes many times that person can be asked a forfeit.

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Something is lost/I have lost something

Goal : Energizer to remember names of the groupTime required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of Group : 20 – 30 peopleMaterial required : A soft ruler of a long roll of paper

Procedure: 1. Get a volunteer out of the group. Let the rest stand in a circle. The volunteer will be

standing in the middle holding the ruler or roll of paper. Then explain the process.

2. The volunteer will say to the group. “I have lost something'”. The group will ask back “what is it?” The volunteer will reply naming anything he lost (e.g. it is a pen /ring/book). The group will ask again. “Who do you think took it?” Then the volunteer says a name from among the group and will try to hit that person with his roll of paper. But the suspected thief will say before being hit – “It's not me, it's — (some one's name in the group) —” and the volunteer will try to hit that person who will also say it's not him and name another person and go on from one person after another. If the volunteer can hit the suspected thief before he can name another, that person will change places with the volunteer and continue the game.

Olympic Sports

Goal : Energizer and to promote group spiritsTime required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of Group : 20 peopleMaterial required : None

Procedure:1. Divide the group into small groups of 4 or 5. Give each group a name of sports. (E.g. foot

ball, swimming, tennis or toke-see-toe a popular game for rural Burmese children) Then explain the process to the group.

2. Each group has to think up symbols and chanting which they will display and chant to portray their sport. (E.g. to portray foot ball they can swing their legs out as if kicking a ball and at the same time chant “foot ball play, foot ball play and foot ball play”; swimming group can chant “swimming, dive” with the action of swimming, tennis group can say “tennis play” with the action of playing tennis. Toke-see-toe can just say “toke-see-toe” and show the action of toke-see-toe).

3. When the group is ready with their actions and chanting each small group will stand in a line separate from other groups but all the separate groups will form a circle and face each other.

4. One group will start displaying and chanting. Their actions and chanting have to be in unison. After chanting their sport for 3 times they have to send it on to another group with action and that group will again display and chant their sport 3 times and send it on to another group. E.g. “swimming dive, swimming dive and swimming dive” to “tennis play” and so on. Any group which cannot act and chant in unison has to leave the game and the last group remaining will be the winner.

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I love you

Goal : EnergizerTime required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of Group : 20 – 30 peopleMaterial required : None

Procedure:1. Let the group sit in a circle and there must be one chair less than the number of the

group. Get one volunteer to be the game leader. Then explain the process.

2. The game leader will go and kneel in front of one participant and say “I love you”. The participant will ask “Why?” The game leader will reply “Because you have a wrist watch (or longgyi on) or whatever many others in the group have on. Then everyone who has a wrist watch or whatever the game leader named will change places. The game leader will snatch one of the seats which became vacant and the person who does not get a seat or the person who did not get up in spite of having the thing named by the game leader will become the game leader and continue the game.

Magic king

Goal : Energizer, to learn to do biddings of the leaders instantlyTime required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of Group : about 30 peopleMaterial required : None

Procedure:1. Choose one participant to be the king. Divide the rest of the group into small groups of 7

to 10 participants. Different groups will be seated separately. Then tell the process to the group.

2. Each group will choose a representative. The king will ask the representatives to come close to him and whisper his wish. Each group leader will go back to their group and tell them the king's wish. Together the group will try to fulfill the king's wish; the first group that can bring what the king asked correctly to him will win. But only the representative can bring the things to the king and the things brought to the king needs to be correct in number and kind. In this way, the king will continue to tell them his wishes and the group which can fulfill the king's wishes the most will be the winner. The king will ask for things which can be found on the group's persons or in the room. (E.g. 3 white handkerchiefs, 10 ball pens or two pairs of spectacles).

Let’s go shopping

Goal : EnergizerTime required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of group : 20 – 25 minutesMaterials required : None

Procedure:1. Let the group sit in a circle. There should be no extra chair. Let the facilitator start the

game as the game leader. The facilitator then explains the process.

2. The game leader will go shopping, everyone should think up some vegetable or fruit name and be that vegetable or fruit. The shopper will go round inside the circle and when he

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says I want potato the person who chose to be potato will get up and follow the shopper. The shopper will continue to call out one vegetable after another and all the people who chose to be those vegetables and fruits will get up and follow the shopper. When the shopper has called out enough names and says “my basket is full” all the people following the shopper will run to the nearest vacant seats. The shopper will snatch one seat and the one without a seat will become the shopper and continue the game.

Ha-Ha-Hee-Hee

Goal : Energizer, to make everyone laughTime required : 5 minutesSize of group : Under 30 peopleMaterials required : None

Procedure:1. Let the group sit in a circle. The facilitator or a volunteer can be the game leader. Explain

the process.

2. The game leader will walk about inside the circle and suddenly point at one participant and say “Ha”. That participant will say 2 Has – “Ha, Ha” and the one on the left will say 3 Has and the next 4 Has and so on up to number seven who will say 8 Has. Then the game leader will go to another participant and say “Ha” or “Hee” and continue the game.

Passing Rubber Band

Goal : Energizer, to promote unity and group spiritTime required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of group : 20 – 24 peopleMaterials required : Toothpicks and 2 rubber bands

Procedure:1. Divide the group into 2 groups and let them line up parallel to each other. Let them all

bite and hold one tooth pick each in their mouth. Give a rubber band each to the persons at the top of the lines. Then explain the process.

2. The top person must hang the rubber band on the tooth pick in his mouth and when the facilitator says “go” he/she must pass the rubber band on to the tooth pick of the person behind him who will also pass it on to the next person and so on. The last person will take the rubber band to the facilitator on his tooth pick. The participants can not touch either the tooth pick or rubber band with their hands. If they drop the rubber band on the way they must start again from the top person. The group who can bring the rubber band to the facilitator first is the winner.

Passing the balloon

Goal : Energizer, the promote unity and group spiritTime required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of group : 20 – 24 people

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Materials required : Balloons

Procedure:1. Divide the group into two equal groups with equal numbers of women in each group. Let

them line up alternating man and woman and each line standing parallel to each other. Give a balloon each to the persons at the top of the lines. Then explain the process.

2. Keeping the balloon between the head and the shoulder, the balloon must be passed along the line from the top person to the last person who should take it between the head and the shoulder to the facilitator. If they drop the balloon along the line they have to start again from the beginning. At no time should they touch the balloon with their hands or forearms. The group that can take the balloon to the facilitator first wins.

The longest line

Goal : To promote presence of mind and group spirit, to practice using Everything one has (for a project).

Time required : 10 minutesSize of group : UnlimitedMaterials required : None

Procedure:1. Divide the participants into small groups of 6-9 people.

2. Tell the groups to produce the longest line with their persons and whatever they have on their persons, within 3 minutes. They can use their bodies and their accessories.

3. At the end of three minutes let them stop and measure the length of their line. Everything along the line must be connected. The group who can produce the longest line wins.

Pulling the Dragon’s Tail

Goal : Active energizer and to promote group spiritTime required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : 20 – 25 minutesMaterials required : A piece of cloth or handkerchiefs

Procedure:1. Divide the participants into two groups. Let the groups stand in lines with every one

holding on to the waist of the one in front. These lines are supposed to be dragons and at the back of the two last persons attach a handkerchief each so that they can be pulled off easily. They are the dragon's tails. Then explain the process to them.

2. The two front persons (dragon heads) must try to pull off the tail of each other. The whole group will also try to prevent the other group from pulling off their tail. Catching the other's tail and defending one's own tail will be done at the same time. Throughout the whole process the group must not get disconnected. The group that can pull off the other's tail wins. It can be done twice, the groups will still enjoy it.

Three Legged Walk

Goal : To learn the art of cooperation and empathy

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Time required : 20 – 25 minutesSize of group : 20 – 25 peopleMaterials required : Soft ropes to tie up the legs

Procedure:1. Let the participant’s pair up with unbalanced partners, (eg. short and tall, thin and fat,

heavy and light). Let the partners stand side by side and tie up their middle legs securely. Mark the starting point and finishing line for the walk. Then explain the process.

2. The tied up partners are to walk the marked distance as fast as possible, not necessarily to compete with other pairs.

3. Then, let the pairs change partners - this time tie up with balanced partners and do the walk as before.

The Four Elements

Goal : To learn about natural resources and to practice quick thinking.Time required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of group : Any number under 30Materials required : None

Procedure:1. Let the group sit in a circle. Let the facilitator or a volunteer be the first game leader.

Then explain the process to the group.

2. The game leader will go and say one of the four elements – earth, water, air or fire in front of one participant who will respond with one of the resources from that element and the response must be instant. E.g., if the game leader says “Water” the participant must say some thing from the water such as “fish” but it must be the proper name of a fish such as cat fish, crab or lobster. If the game leader says “earth”, it can be anything underground or above the ground such as iron, ruby, lion, teak or apple. If the leader says “air”, it can be anything in the air such as birds' names, clouds and rain. If the response is not instant or if the name has been already said by others that person will change places with the leader and continue the game. If the leader says “fire” there should be no response, the participant must not move or utter any sound; if he moves or says something he will change places with the leader.

Whisper

Goal : To learn the nature of communicationTime required : 15 minutesSize of group : Under 30Materials required : A simple picture to describe and draw, paper and pen.

Procedure:1. Divide the group into small groups of 9 or 10 persons, let them sit in rows. Then explain

the process to them.

2. Take the front person from the rows outside the room and show them the picture. The front person will study the picture carefully and describe it to the person behind him in a whisper and each of them will pass on the information to the next in a whisper and the last person will draw the picture according to the description he received. Then the picture can be compared to the original one. Members of the group can relate the information they received. Similar incidence in workaday situations can be discussed.

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Flying Bird

Goal : Energizer and to promote quick thinking Time required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : Under 30 peopleMaterials required : None

Procedure:1. Let the participants sit in a circle with their hands on their lap. Let the facilitator or a

volunteer be the game leader. Then explain the process.

2. The game leader will call out names of animals and birds with the word “flying” in front of them e.g. flying sparrow, flying elephant, etc. If the animal called out can fly the participants will raise their hands and show the motion of flying and then keep the hands on their lap again. If it is a non-flying animal the participants must not move their hands. If anyone moves or raises their hands by mistake that person must change places with the game leader and continue the game. The game leader will continue to call out one name after another until someone makes a mistake.

Hands in Fellowship Goal : Energizer and practice in problem solvingTime required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : Under 30 peopleMaterials required : None

Procedure:1. Get a volunteer from the group and send him out of the room. Let the rest of the

participants stand in a circle and join hands firmly. Tangle up the group by letting people step over and under the joined hands criss-crossing in many directions. But the group must not let go of the grip of each other's hands all the while.

2. Then let the volunteer come in from outside and untangle the group until the group stands in a circle again.

Note: The joined hands must never break at any time during the exercise.

The Boat is Sinking

Goal : Energizer, useful for dividing into groups of particular patternTime required : 5 – 10 minutesSize of group : Under 30 peopleMaterials required : None

Procedure:The whole group is supposed to be travelling in a boat and the facilitator is the captain of the boat. All the people must comply with the captain's orders. So if the captain says “A storm is coming, you must form into groups of 5” the participants have to form themselves into groups of 5. If the captain says groups of one elderly person, 2 women and 3 young men they have to find such a combination and stand in a group. Thus the facilitator can ask for

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many kinds of combinations, until at last the facilitator asks for the combination he wants to form small groups.

Guessing Game

Goal : To show the participants that detailed study of a community is necessary to dig out problems in a communityTime required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of group : 20 – 25 peopleMaterials required : 1 empty tin, 1 ball pen, 1 pencil, 1 bunch of keys, 1 empty medicine bottle, 1 nail clipper, 1 comb and some pieces of paper.

Procedure:Put the seven things into the empty tin and put the lid on. Divide the group into 4

small groups. Let the groups sit separately. Then the facilitator brings the tin to each group to guess what is inside.

1st group - will look at the tin from out side and guess what is inside.

2nd group - will hold or shake the tin and guess what is inside.

3rd group - will look into the opening of the tin and guess what is inside.

4th group - will take out all the things from the tin, study them carefully and write the list of the things on a piece of paper.

The group can discuss the differences in feeling, constraint and limitations and the result in guessing.

The tin represents a village and the things inside represent the problems within the village.Titanic

Goal : To nurture group spirit and cooperationTime required : 10 – 15 minutesSize of group : Up to 30 peopleMaterials required : Big news paper sheet or flip chart sheets

Procedure:1. If the group is big divide them into two groups of 10 - 15 people. Give each group a big

sheet of newspaper or flip chart paper. Then explain the process.

2. Each group has to stand inside the paper on the floor. Then fold the paper in half and the whole group again stands inside the paper. Then fold the paper in half again and the whole group has to try to stand together on the paper. No feet should touch the floor while they are standing inside the paper as a group. If they can stand together on the paper which has become a quarter of the original size, they can yet again fold the paper into half and stand together inside it.

If there are enough women in the group they can be divided into a separate women’s group and men’s group.

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Debriefing:Fellings during the exercisePoints to discuss - Some people having to sacrifice for the whole group, everyone’s

effort is important for success as a group.Lesson learnt and application to real life situation.

Dividing participants into small groups

1. The group can be asked to stand serially according to age, birth month or experience as the facilitator wants and then let them count 1, 2, 3...... into as many groups as the facilitator wants.

2. Write the names of as many kinds of animals as the number of groups you want, and as many number in each group as you need on pieces of paper. Roll them up and let the participants pick up the rolls and find their group by producing the sound of the animal they pick up. They can not speak.

3. On small round pieces of paper draw pictures of different flowers, animals or colors as the logo of the small groups. Attach these pieces of paper to the backs of the group as you want to divide them secretly. When you are ready just ask the group to find their group members by looking at the backs of other people and by making signs but not speaking. They can help each other by giving signs to people in the same group. When all of them have found their group members they can sit together as groups.

4. When you want to pair off people you can also let them draw lots. On small pieces of paper you can write names which correspond to each other or are opposite to each other e.g. paper and pen, earth and sky, black and white. Let them pick up paper rolls on which all the names are written. The one who picks up “paper” will have to pair off with the one who picks up “pen”. It is luck which pairs them off. This way they can not complain about with whom they are paired off. The alternative is just to let them choose their partners.

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