17 Cell phone picture-
Preparation time:
Materials: Make sure each person has a cell phone. If this is not the case and only one or two people don't have one ask if they will share.
Procedure:
(a) Tell students that unlike other days they get to keep their cell phones on.
(b) Ask students to take a few pictures during the course of the activity.
(c) Be sure to get permission from all participants to have their pictures taken.
Alternatives:
(a) If you are cell less, instruct students to stop every now and then and take mental pictures during the course of the activity.
(b) Have available a remote control or a device that makes an audible click.
(c) Pass the device around and ask students to view the pictures “telepathically.”
Notes: This check out is best when your group experience involves activities in which participants are moving around.
18 Slogan Buttons
Preparation time: Five minutes plus a shopping trip
Materials: 30-50 buttons with clever sayings, quotes and slogans
Procedure:
1: Group check-in
(a) Spread the buttons out in the center of your circle.
(b) Participants choose 1-3 buttons to express their current emotional state
2: Partner check-in
(a) Have two of each type of button
(b) Participants choose one button and then find another person that chose the same button.
(c) These two participants share with each other why that particular button reflects their present state.
3: Partner check-in #2
(a) Each person selects one button which reflects their current emotional state.
(b) Instruct participants to find a partner who has a button least like theirs.
(c) These two participants share with each other their present emotional state.
l Following either of the partner check-ins you can bring the group together. With permission each person share their partner's check-in with the whole group. This reinforces listening skills and bring the group together.
Alternatives:
l If your school or organization has a button machine you can make your own set for next to nothing.
l If you get tired of buttons try bumper stickers.
l Following either of the partner check-ins you can bring the group together
Notes: Credit Jennifer Stanchfield with the genesis of this idea. I generally use this strategy with older students in recovery from substance abuse so my buttons are a little edgier (“Why are all the important people self absorbed assholes?”). With younger perhaps elementary audiences you can use simple words or just images.
Activity Credit: Adapted from Jennifer Stanchfield’s conference presentations.
19 Shaped Carabiners
Preparation time: Five minutes plus a shopping trip
Materials: A variety of mini carabiners with interesting shapes
Procedure:
1-----Inside option
(a) Lay the items in the center of the group
(b) Instruct participants to select 1-3 which reflect their present emotional state
2----Outside option
(a) If you are lucky enough to be outside hang your carabiners visibly in trees or scatter them around a field (remember where you put them)
(b) Instruct participants to close their eyes and internally reflect on their present emotional state or state of mind.
(c) After a tolerable amount of time (varies from group to group) instruct participants to walk around your outdoor area and return within 1-3 minutes with a mini carabiner that matches their “head space.”
(d) Participants share which carabiner they chose with the group and why it reflects their present state.
Alternatives: This is another activity that is easy to do in partners. See Slogan Buttons
Notes: At most outdoor stores you can find a variety of mini carabiners with non utilitarian but fun shapes. My set includes among others the ubiquitous hearts, geckos, mini climbers and arrows. If you are operating a high ropes course and you use a variety of different types of carabiners just use those. Perhaps you have self locking, screwgate and gear carabiners. For example the old style screwgates required a different level of consciousness since you always had to triple check that they were locked. A lot of vibration could unscrew the threads. You don't have to worry as much about the self locking carabiners since they lock on their own. Unlike the screwgates you can't see what's happening on the inside Both represent different advantages and disadvantages.Use those and save time by narrowing choices.
20 Bendies
Preparation time: 5 minutes plus a shopping trip
Materials: 10-15 bendies. Bendies are available at most novelty stores. I have an eclectic set which includes a six armed person with the traditional red dot, a punk rocker and a salesman. Many outdoor stores now have outdoor themed miniature bendies with sport themes.
Procedure:
(1) Place your bendies in the center of the circle.
(2) Explain to participants that bendies are the most flexible of creatures. We all would benefit from being as flexible as bendies.
(3) Instruct participants to choose a bendie which best reflects their present state of mind or emotional state.
(4) After participants have chosen a bendie instruct them to shape the bendie into a shape which further reflects their emotional state or state of mind. Most people will naturally do this.
Alternatives
Notes: Although I am not a bendie historian the original bendie was most likely Gumby and his horse Pokey. There is something captivating about bendies. They invite constant twisting and reshaping. Even if you don't choose this activity, I highly suggest investing in a few bendies for your group room or bag of goodies. Give that kid who can't stay still or quit interrupting a bendie to hold during group and you might be pleasantly surprised!
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