Objective:
Work together to solve a problem,
and learn about choosing
different strategies, and being
persistent to reach a goal.
Time:
20 minutes
Materials:
10, 8 oz. paper or plastic cups per
team, one rubber band and string
tool for each team. Instructions
to make rubber band and string
tools: on one standard size rubber
band—it must fit snuggly over
one cup—tie four 12 inch string
pieces. Tie strings at 12 o’clock, 3
o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock on
the rubber band. In other words,
the strings should divide the
rubber band into quadrants.
Facilitator Tips:
Let the teams decide how to stack
the cups. If you start the game
with the cups scattered randomly
(some up, some down, and some
on the side) it makes the
challenge more difficult. If you
scatter the cups all up or all down,
it makes the challenge easier.
This activity is not designed as a
competition between teams,
however if the team members
view it that way that’s okay. If
a member of a team touches a
cup with anything other than the
rubber band and string tool, the
whole team starts over.
Assign an activity leader to
facilitate the activity and keep
time.
Cup Towers
(pages 25 & 26 in
iThrive)
Directions:
1. Scatter the cups on the table or floor.
2. Divide your group into teams of 3 or 4 people.
3. Instruct teams that their goal is to build a tower with
the 10 cups. Four cups should be used to form the
base, with the remaining cups stacked to form a
pyramid shape. In the end, the top of the tower
should have one cup.
4. Here are the rules:
a. each member of the team needs to control at
least one string
b. you can only use the rubber band and string
tool to get the job done
c. if anything or anyone touches the cups with
hands or body the team must start from the
beginning
5. When everyone understands the rules, let them begin.
6. Allow enough time for all teams to complete the task.
7. Bring the whole group back together to debrief and
apply what was learned. Ask:
What Happened?
What feelings did you have during that activity?
What strategies seemed to work? How did it feel
when other teams were getting it?
So What?
What does this remind you of in the real world? Have
you ever had a goal that was hard to reach? What
strategies did you use to achieve it?
Now What?
When you have a difficult goal ahead of you, what do
YOU think you might do next time?
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Wrap Up Statement:
Research shows that people who reach their goals are
persistent and resourceful in getting to their goals.
Michael Jordan got cut from his high school basketball
team. Einstein got Cs in school. However, they kept on
being persistent in their effort to reach their goals.
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