Group games and activities

Group Games

Lynne Hughes-Guy

Ramesh Mehay

Aims of this Session

• Why Use Games• How do you run a game? • How do you build it into a programme?• What types of games• Examples of the greatest hits• Pitfalls • The booklet

The Life Cycle of a GroupGroup Stage

(Adapted from Woodcock (1979)

Characteristics

The Underdeveloped Stage

Task orientated

Poor listening skills

Low level of involvement

Leader, Individuals conform

The Experimenting Stage

Group realises difficulties

Willing to tackle them

The Consolidating Stage

Open & Trusting Approach

More structured

The Mature Stage Flexibility

Improved Relationships

Trust, Openess, Honesty, Cooperation & Constructive Confrontation

Why Use Games

• EDUCATIONAL• Games are fun• Experiential learning• Safe environment (&

Receptiveness)• Flexibility & Relevance• Promotes change

• GROUP DYNAMICS• Involvement• Promotes cohesiveness• Interpersonal skills• Motivates • Encourages responsibility• Framework & Structure

Running the Game

• Game Preparation

- homework (game selection, practicalities)• The Activity

- giving instructions

- allocating roles

- ground rules

- playing the game• Reflection and Discussion

- importance of discussion

- phases of discussion• Review You Facilitator Role

Reflection/Discussion

Phase 1 – expression of feelings

Phase 2 – thoughts

Phase 3 – planning for further action

Phase 4 – evaluate the game

4 things

Encouraging Participation

• Make it Fun

• Build trust

- ground rules

- avoid exlusion games

- feedback (give & take)

- acceptance

• Participants feel valued

- being listened to

- democratic style of

leadership

• Facilitator as a model

• Facilitator’s personal qualities

How to build it into a programme

talk

game

game film

group work

close

Putting it into Practice

Icebreakers

Ground Rules

Openers

Activities for team building

Problems Main teaching Activity

Evaluation & Closure Games

Brainteasers

Skill builder

EnergisersProblem curers

Types of Games

• Icebreakers• Ground rule setting

games• Energisers• Brainteasers

• Problem Curers• Skill builders• Closing Games• Evaluation games

Icebreakers (1)The boring traditional one

What I LearntLast Year

The mostImportant People in My Life

What I likeTo do

What I hold most dear

Hobies etc…

My famous 3 minutes

Icebreakers (2)

• Write down 5 facts about yourself.

• One must be a lie

• Present yourself to the others

• Others have to spot the lie

Icebreakers (3)

ANIMAL FINDER• Get some blank cards and write the name of four

different animals several times • eg for a group of 12 : sheep x3, pig x3, cow x3,

dog x3).• Give the cards out randomly..one to each person. • Ask the members to find each other by making an

appropriate noise to that animal...but no speaking.

Ground Rule Games

• Listen to others

• Don’t put other people down

• Respect Confidentiality & Trust

• Show Respect

• Don’t Interrupt others

• Try to accept others views

TACADE, 1986

Mid Course Energisers

DONT FALL INTO THE SEA• Lay out an appropriate number of chairs in

a circle (according to your group size). • Get everyone to stand on the chairs. • The chairs are safety points floating in a

sea which is full of sharks. • The task....the group has to arrange

themselves in birth date order (day and month only....exclude the year).

• BUT they must not fall into the sea!

Brain Teasers

• See later for examples

Problem Curers (1)

• A Personal Talk• Talk Limitation Exercise

Dominant Talkers

Problem Curers (2)

• Challenging them• Get them to Observe• Using Matchsticks

Silent Sitters

Skill Builders

• Team building

• Communication skills

• Facilitator-Presenter skills

• Learning

• Perception & Lateral thinking games

• Self management

Closing Games

• Each participant is handed pieces of paper

• Each paper has the name of other participants

• Each participant has to write “ I am glad I met XXX because…….”

• The pieces of paper are distributed to the appropriate people and read when they get home

Evaluation Games

• Lay out 5 chairs

• Inform participants which is 1 and which is 5 (1 meaning bad, 5 good)

• Ask a question

• Participants have to stand behind the appropriate chair

• Repeat with more questions

Pitfalls – why games don’t work

• Games not selectively chosen

• Timing

• Groups too big

• Poor Briefing/Feedback rules?

• Poor facilitation skills