Group Games

1
Group Games

• Lynne Hughes-Guy
• Ramesh Mehay

2
Aims of this Session

• Why Use Games
• How do you run a game?
• How do you build it into a programme?
• What types of games
• Examples of the greatest hits
• Pitfalls
• The booklet

3
The Life Cycle of a Group
4
Why Use Games

• EDUCATIONAL
• Games are fun
• Experiential learning
• Safe environment ( Receptiveness)
• Flexibility Relevance
• Promotes change

• GROUP DYNAMICS
• Involvement
• Promotes cohesiveness
• Interpersonal skills
• Motivates
• Encourages responsibility
• Framework Structure

5
Running the Game

• Game Preparation
• - homework (game selection, practicalities)
• The Activity
• - giving instructions
• - allocating roles
• - ground rules
• - playing the game
• Reflection and Discussion
• - importance of discussion
• - phases of discussion
• Review You Facilitator Role

6
Reflection/Discussion
4 things

• Phase 1 expression of feelings
• Phase 2 thoughts
• Phase 3 planning for further action
• Phase 4 evaluate the game

7
Encouraging Participation

• Make it Fun
• Build trust
• - ground rules
• - avoid exlusion games
• - feedback (give take)
• - acceptance

• Participants feel valued
• - being listened to
• - democratic style of
• leadership
• Facilitator as a model
• Facilitators personal qualities

8
How to build it into a programme
talk
game
film
group work
game
close
9
Putting it into Practice
Brainteasers Skill builder Energisers

• Icebreakers
• Ground Rules
• Openers
• Activities for team building
• Problems Main teaching Activity
• Evaluation Closure Games

Problem curers
10
Types of Games

• Icebreakers
• Ground rule setting games
• Energisers
• Brainteasers

• Problem Curers
• Skill builders
• Closing Games
• Evaluation games

11
Icebreakers (1)

• The boring traditional one

What I Learnt Last Year
The most Important People in My Life
What I like To do
What I hold most dear
My famous 3 minutes
Hobies etc
12
Icebreakers (2)

• Write down 5 facts about yourself.
• One must be a lie
• Present yourself to the others
• Others have to spot the lie

13
Icebreakers (3)

• ANIMAL FINDER
• Get some blank cards and write the name of four
  different animals several times
• eg for a group of 12 sheep x3, pig x3, cow
  x3, dog x3).
• Give the cards out randomly..one to each person.
  
• Ask the members to find each other by making an
  appropriate noise to that animal...but no
  speaking.

14
Ground Rule Games
TACADE, 1986

• Listen to others
• Dont put other people down
• Respect Confidentiality Trust
• Show Respect
• Dont Interrupt others
• Try to accept others views

15
Mid Course Energisers

• DONT FALL INTO THE SEA
• Lay out an appropriate number of chairs in a
  circle (according to your group size).
• Get everyone to stand on the chairs.
• The chairs are safety points floating in a sea
  which is full of sharks.
• The task....the group has to arrange themselves
  in birth date order (day and month
  only....exclude the year).
• BUT they must not fall into the sea!

16
Brain Teasers

• See later for examples

17
Problem Curers (1)
Dominant Talkers

• A Personal Talk
• Talk Limitation Exercise

18
Problem Curers (2)
Silent Sitters

• Challenging them
• Get them to Observe
• Using Matchsticks

19
Skill Builders

• Team building
• Communication skills
• Facilitator-Presenter skills
• Learning
• Perception Lateral thinking games
• Self management

20
Lateral Thinking 1

• LEFT PRICE
• Answer the price is right!

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Lateral Thinking 2

• ESROH RIDING

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Lateral Thinking 3

• S
• M
• O
• K
• E

23
Lateral Thinking 4

• G E
• L
• E N
• I
• S F

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Lateral Thinking 5

• TEEXAMRM

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Lateral Thinking 6

• LISTING
• LISTING
• LISTING
• LISTING

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Lateral Thinking 7

• FORGOTTE

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Lateral Thinking 8

• T P G
• S P N
• E I

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Lateral Thinking 9

• FEET
• HANDS
• FACE

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Lateral Thinking 10

• ME/REPEAT

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Lateral Thinking 11

• BONBNET

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Lateral Thinking 12

• PERSON

32
Closing Games

• Each participant is handed pieces of paper
• Each paper has the name of other participants
• Each participant has to write I am glad I met
  XXX because.
• The pieces of paper are distributed to the
  appropriate people and read when they get home

33
Evaluation Games

• Lay out 5 chairs
• Inform participants which is 1 and which is 5 (1
  meaning bad, 5 good)
• Ask a question
• Participants have to stand behind the appropriate
  chair
• Repeat with more questions

34
Pitfalls why games dont work

• Games not selectively chosen
• Timing
• Groups too big
• Poor Briefing/Feedback rules?
• Poor facilitation skills

35
Why are we Writing a Booklet

• Loads of books on games
• Most are boring and traditional
• This will be a collection of greatest
  hits!.real funny stuff
• Also included, activities for specific purposes
  eg encouraging to talk
• For intending and established trainers

36
When Will It Be Ready?

• How long is a piece of string?
• No, seriously, within the next 6m
• 150-00 per book (just kidding!)
• Keep them coming in (email us)