Group Size: 26 to 50
Time Needed: 11 to 20 minutes
Goal: Examine leadership and communication within a group while building group cohesion and having fun
Audience: Couples, Teens, Parents, Children, Singles
Special Considerations: None
Resources Needed: You may want to plant a few items around your classroom for participants to find.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Divide group into equal-sized teams. This activity works best with teams of 5 to 10 people.
- Instruct teams that they will be competing with each other on a scavenger hunt. The first team to find all of the items wins. If no one finds all the items within a certain amount of time (e.g. 15-20 minutes), then the team with the most items at the end of the time frame wins.
- Explain to the group that each team will need to find one object that begins with each letter of the alphabet. They may use objects they have in their possession or may search for objects in a designated area. They may also barter with other groups.
- When a team has completed the task, they may jump up and down and make a lot of noise so that all other groups stop and then the group leader can make sure all items are valid.
Tips for Discussion and Processing
While this activity can be a lot of fun and can provide an opportunity for participants to get to know each other, it also is a way for participants to discuss leadership and communication. You can ask groups to discuss how a process was chosen to complete the task. What happened when the process stalled? Who took charge? How did the group communicate ideas? Was this done in a way that was acceptable to all in the group?
Note: These activities can be modified to reflect a variety of skills.