Team-building Exercises For Teens

TEAM-BUILDING EXERCISES FOR TEENS THE PARTY TARGET CONCEPTS: Recognizing individual strengths of group members, understanding others, and group warm-up. DESCRIPTION: Teens write their strengths on small slips of paper, put them into balloons, and blow up the balloons. One by one the balloons are popped to reveal what each person brings to the party. As the group learns about the unique talents each person has to offer, the information is transferred onto a large white banner so people can see all of their strengths together. The Party is a fun, low-risk icebreaker that helps set the tone for positive team dynamics. It's also a good activity to use if a group has been working together for some time and needs a refresher on what people can contribute and how the group can work well together. The simplicity of this activity allows it to be used with a wide range of ages, from older to younger teens, and it's fun for teen mentors to use when working with younger groups. GOALS: 1. To identify how a new or existing team can work together. 2. To learn how individual members view themselves as part of the group. 3. To learn how to recognize strengths in order to get the most from every member of the group. MATERIALS: 1. Large banner paper. 2. Markers. 3. Masking tape. 4. Medium-sized balloons, several per person. 5. Pens for each person. 6. Several slips of paper. 7. toothpicks for popping balloons. PREPARATION: On the banner paper, draw several balloons. Hang the banner on the wall in a location where it can be seen by all. Clear an area in the room where the group can sit in a circle with a space in the middle for a pile of balloons. ACTIVITY: Have teens to sit in a circle. Pass out pens, paper, and balloons to each person. Set up a scenario, something like this: "You've all been invited to a party. It's like pot-luck, but instead of bringing food to share, you're bringing yourself and the strengths you believe you contribute to this group. For example, you may be a creative thinker, or very organized, or able to keep others motivated. On the slips of paper, write down the strengths or talents that you bring to the party. Once you've written these down, carefully put them into your balloons, blow them up, tie them off, and put them in the circle." Allow 5-10 minutes for the teens to complete this activity. When everyone is done, designate one person to pick a balloon from the pile, pop it, and read the slip(s) inside. After a slip has been read, ask the author to step forward, share a little more, and then write his name and strength in a balloon on the banner paper. This person becomes the next to pop a balloon from the pile. DISCUSSION: Discuss how the group can use the information they've gained from hearing everyone share their strengths. Consider discussion questions such as: 1. How can what you've learned from others be used in the future to improve the way this group works together? 2. Are there any people who you think overlooked one of their strengths? Who? What is the strength? 3. How can you make the most of the strengths and talents of group members and still allow everyone a chance to try new things or use new talents? 4. Imagine the group was going to assign official jobs for each member. Based on the strengths people shared, what roles do you think people should have? 5. Is the group missing any strengths? What are they and how can you build them? Wha