Here at GUIDE, we firmly believe that youth grow when they are introduced to and connected with new people. The problem is that teens (and adults for that matter) prefer to stick with the people they know rather than branch out and make new connections. That’s why it’s imperative to group people, be it youth or adults, with others they normally don’t interact with.
In this edition of our Caboodle Card Series, we’re going to introduce you to three very useful grouping activities that you can use to mix it up at your next meeting.
Is It Bigger Than a Breadbox?
Group Size: Any, small groups of 4-8
Time: 15-30 minutes
Distribute one Caboodle Card to each participant. Ask participants to note the object listed on the right side of his/her card. Ask participants to first consider if the item is bigger than a breadbox. For those who answer yes, ask them to group up on one side of the room. For those who answered no, ask them to group up on the other side of the room. Once two groups have formed, asked participants to form groups of a certain number (i.e., groups of four, five, six, etc.) based on the ‘size’ of the item/idea listed on his/her card. Inform participants that the exercise may incorporate abstract thinking in that some of the items listed on the cards are concrete, and some are abstract/nontangible concepts.
Common Objects
Group Size: Any, small group of 3-6
Time: 15-30 minutes
Distribute one Caboodle Card to each participant. Ask participants to get in groups of a certain number (i.e., groups of three, four or five) based on the object listed on the right side of the card. Inform participants that groupings should be based on some common feature of the object listed. For example, groups may form based on the type of object identified, the color of the objects, certain features of the items, the use of the items, etc.
Note: 5 – 10 minutes of conversation time will be needed in order for individuals to share their items and groups to determine item commonalities.
Lifeboat
Group Size: Any
Time: 15-30 minutes
Distribute one Caboodle Card to each participant. Have the group note the different elements on their cards: the shape, color of the shape, photo, number, etc. Have the group mingle around the room, and then prompt them to get into “lifeboats” with people who have the same or similar items on their cards. For example: lifeboats of the same shape, lifeboats of the same color, lifeboats of even or odd numbers; lifeboats of similar photos; lifeboats of living characters, etc. As a variation for a team building exercise, tell participants that the last group to form is “out.”
Did you miss the first two posts in our series? No worries! You can easily access Round 1 and Round 2 here.
Now that you’ve got your youth and/or adults separated into new groups, choose your next Caboodle Card team building or brainstorming activity. Also, don’t forget to grab your own deck (or a few) of Caboodle Cards as well a guide with 50 different activities. You can order them here!