Pipeline
This is an engaging activity that you can try with both youth and adults. Pipeline provides participants an opportunity to plan and communicate as a team, to learn how to overcome difficulties together and to make changes to the original plan in order to complete a task. Additionally, it can be done with minimal materials if needed!
Time Needed: 15 minutes
Group Size: Any!
Materials: U-Shape Tube Halves (one per person) or construction paper (at least one piece per person); ping pong balls, golf balls or ½ sheets of white paper crumpled into tight balls and taped securely; tape and scissors; and other various items.
Description & Directions: Set up a designated area that is not on the ground (i.e., a table) that is at least twice as many feet across as there are group members. For example, if you have 10 people in your group, select an area that is at least 20 feet across. Divide participants into 2-3 smaller groups. Give each group a ball, tube halves or a stack of construction paper, a roll of tape and a pair of scissors. Give participants five minutes to plan how they will get the ball from one side of the designated area to the other, following the rules below:
- The ball may not touch the ground at any time;
- No one may touch the ball at any time once it enters the designated area;
- Each person must be involved in the process of moving the ball; and
- If any of these rules are broken, the group must start over.
Debrief Questions:
- How did you feel about this task after hearing all of the rules?
- What process did your group go through in order to complete this task?
- Was the problem solving or the physical challenge more difficult for your group? Why?
- What types of situations are the most difficult to deal with when working as part of a group? What can you take away from this activity to overcome those difficulties in the future?