Objective: For the students to think critically about what it means to be part of a team. Props: 10 balloons per group 1 meter of sellotape (name tag tape)  per group 1 measuring tape [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwcPHNd0Xx4[/embed] Step by step instructions
  1. Divide participants into small teams.
  2. Give each team 10 balloons and a strip of making sellotape (wrapped in a pencil).
  3. Explain that the object of this challenge is to build the tallest free-standing tower using bust the balloons and the sellotape that they have been given. The tower must be built on the floor and may not use any other objects to lean against or help support it.
  4. After the explanation, they will have 8 minutes to build their tower.
  5. Once the time is up, each group should present their tower to the rest of the students. The tallest tower that can stand on its own wins! (If it isn’t obvious which is tallest an educator should measure them).
Debrief If you have time ask all the questions below and get 2-3 answers from the participants, if not ask just some of them. What happened:
  1. Did everyone provide input to the plan?
  2. What happened in your group as time was running out?
  3. Was your end product satisfactory? What would you change next time?
What does it mean:
  1. Did you look at what other teams were doing to get ideas? (Mention that this would not be cheating. You did not tell them they couldn’t look.  It is a good practice to use good ideas no matter where they come from.)
  2. What can this activity tell us about working together?
  3. What problems can occur when you work in groups?
  4. Was a leader chosen in your group? Did one emerge?  Who?  Why?
  5. Describe the roles that each person in your group played. Were some people more involved than others?  Why?
Now what can we do with this information:
  1. How does working together help us to solve problems?
  2. What behaviors should you exhibit when working as part of a team?
  3. How important is communication with your team members?