Activity
At-a-Glance
Time:
10 minutes for explanation and processing, plus one minute for each two people in the gorup. A group of 24 would take at least 30 minutes. Sharing cannot be rushed.
Materials:
- Ball of twine, yarn or string
Physical Setting:
Chairs in a large, even circle so all participants can see one another. Or, participants may sit on the floor in a circle.
Youth Workers
The Connecting Web
From Community Partnerships with Youth Inc.
Youth as Trustees
Youth as Trustees
Purpose:
- To use as a closing or team-bonding activity.
Activity:
- Facilitator asks group to sit in a circle. Chairs are better than the floor.
- Facilitator explains, “Let’s do an activity where we share
something about what we’ve learned or how our time together
has personally benefited us. When you receive the ball (of twine, yarn or string), hook the yarn around your hand, fingers, or wrist. After you share your thoughts, you pass, roll, or toss the ball to a person who has not yet spoken.”
Stress the “benefits” of the training, not the participants. - Facilitator demonstrates sharing and saying person’s name
before tossing yarn. Example: “I like your idea for the
Community Center, Angela.” Help facilitate only if the toss-sharing sequence is not flowing. - Facilitator determines that everyone has shared and tossed
once and then sends ball around for a second series of
sharing. Watch the sharing and to be sure that no one is left out. - At closure of activity, facilitator has participants tighten the web by slightly pulling back on the yarn. They also can stand, then sit and wave it up and down.
- Facilitator explains how this activity shows the importance of personal recognition for a good job, strengthening team efforts and the flexible, yet delicate, pattern of working together.
