Straw Challenge
This activity is a super simple and inexpensive way to get your group working as a cohesive team!
Time Needed: 10-15 minutes
Group Size: Any
Materials: Straws for each person in the group (ones that are NOT bendy work best)
Directions: Give each person a straw, have them form a circle, and then hold their straw against the pointer finger of their right hand.
Have them cross their left arm across their right arm and press the tip of their pointer finger on their left hand against the end of their neighbor on the rights’ straw. This should allow the tip of each of their pointers to be in contact with a straw. No other part of any person’s hand, other than their pointer fingers, may touch the straws from this point on.
Now have the group make a series of movements to see how few times they will drop the straws. Have the group move in a circle to their left until they are back in their original position again. Afterward, have the group move 5-15 feet (depending on how much space you have) in a direction from where they are standing, and then return to their original location.
If at any point someone drops a straw, the entire group must stop and allow the person who dropped the straw time to pick it up and get into position again.
There is no elimination for dropping a straw.
Debrief Questions:
- How did your neighbor’s movement affect yours?
- Were you affected by movement across the circle?
- In our group how do we affect each other?
- What can each of us do to think about how our activities affect others, especially as leaders?
We encourage you to complete this activity with the youth you serve, staff you work with, or both! If you do, please make sure to let us know how it goes!