Koosh Balls and Team Building

Whew.

After yesterday's post, I got a little nervous about my plans. It's not like me to be so far behind when planning something like this. Today, I'm feeling better, but I will have a bit of preparation to do before the workshop tomorrow.

I'll need to make up some handouts for the attendees with my email address, website information for where I purchased the products I'm planning to use tomorrow, and try to figure out how much time things will take.

Oh, and what order those things will be done in.

We're going to address ugliness between girls a bit. I'm going to bring a picture of a girl from a magazine, and we're going to tear her apart. We will rip off a piece of her and insult her with each tear.

Then, we'll tape her back together and realize that it left scars.

I am going to really impress upon them that a troop meeting has to be a place where all girls feel safe and cared for. And remind them that if it's not happening, it's really the responsibility of the leader to make sure it does.

I even have real-life examples of poorly handled troops/girl issues.

Next, this little gem:

Have you ever seen the Human Knot? Each participant (works best with 8 to 12 people) is given a bandanna or a cloth napkin. They cluster together, and holding the fabric in one hand, give the other end to someone. That person holds her piece of material in the hand that isn't occupied and hands the end to still another person. Eventually, everyone is tied in a big human knot. The challenge is to untangle the knot while still holding the material and have everyone end up in a big circle. After typing that, it makes perfect sense to me.

Is it understandable to you?

Oh, and the reason pieces of material are used is that no one gets their arm twisted in its socket or inadvertently hurts another person. In groups where we have done this activity, it's been fun and the kids always want to do it again. Adults are usually a little more awkward with it, which is of course, part of the fun.

I am also the proud owner of 11 or 12 Koosh balls. I got them one at a time from the 49 cent bin at the local Goodwill. You know what I'm talking about, right? The little balls made from rubber bands?

When I bought them, I brought them home and ran them through the washing machine with a little detergent and a little bleach to make sure they were clean. After they air dry, they're a teeny bit sticky. A little bit of cornstarch rubbed in seems to take care of that just fine, though.

I've used them at work quite a bit. The kids love them.


I've used them at Girl Scout meetings, too. There are several games a person can play with them as well as just tossing them around. They're fun.

So we'll play a couple games with Koosh balls.

I'm also planning to bring the classroom pack of Cartesian Divers. I'll bring scissors and empty water bottles and cups and teach the leaders how to make a Cartesian Diver.

What? You don't know what a Cartesian Diver is? (And you also don't know that I cannot type Cartesian Diver to save my life... I have typoed it about 14 times in this little blog post. You try it. See how YOU do.)

Anyway, I first heard of them when my sister in law bought a big package of them for Matt. I think he was about eight years old. He adored them. And every group of children I've ever demonstrated them to loves them as well. They're kind of fun. Here's a link to the kind I use.

Cartesian Diver from Steve Spangler Science













(picture stolen from Steve Spangler Science)

I think those little activities will be enough to fill an hour and a half.

And then, I'll probably want to come home but will stay to lend my support to the new leaders who have signed up and want to have fun in their troops.

::sigh:::

I really miss 'my' girls.