Objective: Teams to earn as many points as possible to approach the predicted outcome. Props: 3 buckets, 15 balls the size of a tennis ball (you can make the balls by crumpling up paper if needed), paper, pens. Step by step instructions
  1. Before to start the the activity, place the buckets in three different places around the room and draw lines on the floor, approximately 4 meters away from each bucket (or at a distance that is appropriately challenging).
  2. Ask for three volunteers to assist you so that there is one person stationed at each bucket to collect balls and keep score.
  3. Divide the members into three groups and ask each group to stand at one of the lines facing a bucket. Give each of the groups 5 balls.
  4. Explain that the goal of the game is for each team to score as many points as possible in 5 minutes. Each ball that successfully lands in the bucket is worth 1 point and will be noted by the scorekeeper. Once all 5 balls have been thrown, the scorekeeper will bring the balls back to the group, so they can continue shooting.
  5. However, before they begin, the teams need to estimate how many points they think they will earn in 5 minutes and who will score those points. Explain that every member of the team needs to participate – they cannot simply give all the balls to the best basketball player; each player needs to take a turn. Give the teams a piece of paper and a pencil to write down their estimates of how many points each team member will score and the total they’ll score in 5 minutes.
  6. Explain that the winning team will be the team that scores the most points and is closest to guessing their score accurately. To calculate this, the scorekeeper will calculate the number of points scored, and then subtract the difference between the number guessed and the actual number scored.  For example, if a team scored 100 points, but guessed they would score 130, the difference between their number guessed and number scored is 30 points.  Therefore, their final score is 100-30, or 70.
  7. Once everyone understands the rules and has made their estimation, begin the game!
  8. Once the 5 minutes have passed, yell “Stop!” and give the scorekeepers time to do the math. Then announce the results!  Close the activity with a debrief, using the questions below to get started.
Debrief
  1. What was the hardest part of this game? What was the easiest?
  2. What can help us set realistic goals?
  3. What can you take from this game as a lesson learned about setting goals?