Connection Games
"The main advantage of collaborative games is that everyone cooperates ... That everyone one wins ... everyone has fun. Everyone plays with each other and not against each other ... A game is a way to create a positive relationship between the participants and the world that surrounds him."
What Everyone Wants
Materials: cards with simple actions written on them
Target Audience: A group of 11 or more.
Objective: Understanding that through cooperation we have more fun, more success
Rules of the game: Each participant receives a note on which is detailed a specific action. Participant must get as many other group members to perform the action detailed on the note without ever saying what's written on the note, in 3-4 minutes. Examples of actions: blink 5 times, jump on one leg twice, clap hands, etc. It is recommended to hold a discussion after the game and examine when participants felt that others cooperated with them and when they did not, and why.
Both Sides of The Swamp
Materials:
· Paper plates
· Rope to mark the boundaries of the swamp
The objective: Cooperation between the participants.
Rules of the game: Divide the participants into two groups.
Each group stands on the opposite side of the room.
In the space between them is an imaginary swamp that can only be crossed by treading on stones made of cardboard or paper plates.
The swamp should be large enough, so that crossing it would take at least five stones.
Each group receives three stones with which, they must try to cross to the other side of the swamp. If one of the participants falls into the swamp, start over.
The task is only possible when both the groups collaborate. After the game, it is recommended to discuss the participant’s experience.
Printing house
Materials:
· Pen and paper
Target audience: A group.
The objective: To succeed together, accurately an illustration drawn on the back of each participant, from the first to the last.
Rules of the game: Participants stand in a row, one by one, back to front. The very first person in line (that does not have anyone in front) holds a pen and paper. The last participant in a row, takes the first turn, and with his finger draws something on the back of the participant in front of him. The next person draws the very same illustration on the person in front of him, and so on and so forth, when it is the turn of participant with the pen and paper he then draws the illustration on the paper. Participants should not speak during the game. To start with, it is advisable to choose simple shapes, such as letters or numbers. Once the participants’ progress a little, more complicated illustrations can be used.
Reverse Circle
Target Audience: A group of 6 or more.
The Objective: inducing cooperation, a happy atmosphere
Rules of the game: The group members stand in a circle, facing inwards, and hold hands. They must turn around, so they all face outwards, while holding hands at all times. A quick way to solve this problem is for all participants to pass under the held hands of two participants.
Parts of the Whole
Target Audience: A group of 6 or more.
The Objective: Cooperation and coordination.
Rules of the game: Each participant starts pacing around the room and repeating in his mind all the meaningful moments he's had this week, or anything else to distract himself. The leader then asks everyone to stop and close their eyes. With eyes remaining closed, the group must form a circle, all holding hands. As soon as they feel that they're finished, everyone in the circle says "One" and they all open their eyes.
Triangles
Target audience: A group aged 12 and older. The objective: To demonstrate the strong relationship between us.
Rules of the game: Participants stand in a circle. Each participant chooses two people they want to create a triangle with. The participant does not tell the participant who chose, or the participants that he didn’t choose. After all participants have chosen two people, the instructor gives the signal and each participant try’s to create an isosceles triangle with two other participants, so the distance of the first player chosen will equal the distance of the second person chosen. Since all participants are trying to create a triangle, all triangles that are in motion need to stabilize. If one of the participants that was chosen moves, the participant that chose that person also must move so that the distance from each person chosen remains the same. Once all participants stop in their triangles, ask one of the participants to move, for example: the tallest or someone wearing a striped shirt. This change of location of only one participant, will force everyone to move again to re-establish their isosceles triangles. After the game, have a discussion about our dependence on each other, and how the movement of one element affects everyone.
The Longest "Aaaaaaah"
Target Audience: A group of up to 7 participants.
The Objective: Connection, bonding, coordination.
The rules of the Game: The participants stand in a circle. They must, together, say "aaaaah" for as long as possible without pausing. The first participant starts by bellowing the longest "aaaaaah" he can possibly bellow, until he is nearly out of air. The one next to him must continue the "aaaaaaah", taking over a moment before the participant before him runs out of air. Continue according to the standing order, trying to yell out the longest "aaaaaah" without pausing. Measure the time and try to improve our performance each time. The moment a person continues your "aaaaah", you must stop. If the "Aaaaaah" is broken, we start again.
Creating Shapes Together
Materials: rope tied with ends tied together
Target Audience: A group of 6 or more. The Objective: To practice making plans together, teamwork
Rules of the game: Tie a piece of rope in a loop. The participants then stand around the loop. Each one holds the rope with one of the fingers of each hand. Now, everyone closes their eyes. The group must then form the rope into a certain shape. For example, a circle, a square or a triangle. When the group agrees that they've managed to create the shape, they open their eyes. Participants are allowed to speak during the game, and the group can then try to improve their performance, forming the rope into shapes more rapidly. To increase difficulty: The group may only converse during the planning phase, but not while making the shape.
Balloon caterpillar
Materials: balloons
Target audience: A group. The objective: Formation and creating closeness between participants.
Rules of the game: Each participant inflates a balloon, and all participants stand in line one after another. Each participant puts his balloon between his stomach and the back of the participant in front of him. The First participant in line can hold the balloon in his hand. Set a target or track ahead, all participants should try to reach the target without dropping the balloon. Participants must not touch the balloons with their hands. Every time a balloon falls, start over. The line must not disconnect, all participants must remain connected together all the time.
Mirror
Target audience: A group.
The objective: to act as one.
Rules of the game: Step 1 -Participants divide into pairs. Each pair performs together perfect moves without talking amongst themselves. The participants should look like they are the mirror image of the other. The motions need to be continuous, with no intermissions. Each participant can change the movement whenever he wants, but all participants must perform the movements together. Step 2 - The participants perform the same moves in groups of four. Step 3 – Together all participants perform the same moves; a song can also be played. Afterwards, the participants can discuss their experience.
Tangle
Target audience: A group.
The objective: Bonding and feeling togetherness.
Rules of the game: Participants stand in a circle and put their arms in front of them.
Each participant with his right hand holds the left hand of another participant in the circle, and with the left hand - holds the right hand of another participant. Now all participants are connected in a circle, but in a muddled tangle, the participants must try to untangle without letting go of each other’s hand to ultimately create a perfect circle without a tangle.
Count To Ten
Target Audience: A group of up to 7 participants
The Objective: Bonding
Rules of the game: Participants stand or sit in a circle. They must then, without any forward planning, count together to 10 with each person saying a successive number. The first participant says "One", and then the others, by instinct and without order, each say a successive number. If two people say a number together, we start counting from 1 again. If the participants get to ten, we try to get to twenty, or more...The idea is to go by feeling, so the 'order' of counting should not be organized or planned. No signs between participants or any other form of 'cheating'. The game can be played with words as well; the group tries to form a meaningful sentence by saying words alphabetically from A to Z. If two people speak together, we start again.
Rhythms in a circle
Target audience: A group of up to 10 participants.
The objective: Exploring, creating a good atmosphere, closeness and a sense of listening from the participants.
Rules of the game: The participants sit in a circle. The leader selects a particular action, for example clapping and repeating it five times. When he finishes the first beat, the participant sitting next to him in a circle does the exact same thing, clapping, five times. Meanwhile the leader starts another action, for example: drumming on his stomach and repeats this 5 times. The leader begins the third act, for example: a pat on the head. The second participant is now performing the drumming on the stomach and the third participant starts the clapping of the hands. If someone in a circle gets it wrong – we start again, when the game begins again that person becomes “the new leader ". If everyone succeeds and all the movements in the circle were correct, the leader becomes a participant and the movements flow to each participant in the circle. You can have a discussion about how the success of participants depends on participation, willingness and ability of each to perform his duties accurately, with full concentration. "The game is a way of releasing tension to exit the monotony and routine of every day life."
Maintaining Balance
Materials:
· Marble
· Piece of cloth
Target Audience: A group
The Objective: Cooperation and teamwork.
Rules of the game: The participants place a marble on an upside-down plastic cup, the cup is then placed over a piece of cloth. The participants hold onto the edges of the cloth. The participants then try to move a certain distance without the marble falling