- Human Scavenger Hunt From parent information survey, write a list of 20 interesting things that parents do, and put them on a sheet of paper with a blank line next to it. Give each parent a copy and ask them to go around the room and find one person in the room that can do each thing on the sheet. Give them 10 minutes to complete. Raise hands for people who filled all, 20, 15 or 10 questions. Highlight some interesting ones to let families know about each other. Samples of questions: Has a set of twins, Is an alumni family as well as a current family, Has a pet iguana, Speaks Dutch in their home, Is a writer for the Washington Post, Has been a firefighter, Can sing the ABCs backwards, Knows at least 3 ways to cook kale.
- Stand If (this is a great one for coop trainings) Stand if...
...You grew up in Washington, D.C.
...You have a daughter
...This is your first year at the school
...you belong to another coop
...you know where the toilet paper is kept at school
...you have ever changed a diaper while the child is standing up
...you have ever built a catapult from recycled materials
From Marcy Mistrett, trainer and former director of Amazing Life Games Preschool in Washington, D.C.
Two Truths and a Lie Each person writes down two little known facts about their lives, funny, mundane, obscure, whatever. Then write down one untrue fact and when you turn to share them with someone next to you, they try to figure out the untruth.
I Remember When...Keeping the group in mind, choose a year and share things that prove you were born before that date. If the date is 1980, for instance, you might remember when you didn't have to wear a seatbelt, what a rotary phone looks like, what an LP is, or riding a bike helmet free.
From Jen Hinrichs, a meeting facilitator in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
- Life Map Supplies Needed: poster board or easel/flipchart pad sheet (one for each participant), crayons, colored markers and masking tape.
Take top half of a poster board and ask people to draw a map of their life up to this point in time. Use pictures and symbols. On the bottom half, divide into 2 parts, left side-list skills you can teach someone else; right side-list expectations for your program. Each person then interprets their map for the whole group.
- They're Only Jellybeans Using a large selection of jellybeans, ask each person to take the one that is their favorite color, not necessarily the flavor they prefer. Ask them not to eat the jellybean. Begin the activity by eliciting from the group how the jellybean color they have chosen tells us something about them as people. This activity is geared toward stressing the issue of diversity NOT true personality traits.
White or Black
This person is highly structured and organized
Surroundings are neat
If given an assignment, wants to know how many pages, exact requirements
Always wants to know the rules
Memorizes well
Can't stand sloppy, unorganized people
Deliberates before making decisions
Yellow:
Not usually outspoken
Always in a state of transition
Usually smart and innovative, often artistic
Sometimes confused in making decisions, not sure where they're supposed to be
Hard workers
Exciting to be with and will try anything as long as it's safe
Spiritual aspects usually important to them
They look at things with perspective and respect other's opinions
Orange:
Cheerful and good natured
Have the ability to get along with almost anyone
They are friendly and have a ready smile
Usually have a quick wit
Fluent, often eloquent and profound in speech
Do not like to be alone
Enjoy life and inspire others to reach their highest potential
Red and Pink:
Are courageous and their energy seems boundless
Smile much of the time
If they see someone not smiling, will ask what the problem is
Genuinely care about people and become involved in other's problems
Highly influenced by others, share their sadness or grief
Make their decisions with feelings, act on impulses of the heart
Spend a great deal of time on the phone, usually listening to others
Sensitive, enthusiastic friends and lovers
Violet and Dark Blue:
Flirty and passionate
Highly creative and highly excitable
Have new ideas and are visionaries
Short attention spans...can't stay put for a long length of time
Set high standards for themselves and those who work for them
Disorganized, often choosing to close doors rather than deal with the organization
Procrastinators who thrive on chaos, enjoy the challenges of different problems
Have a problem dealing with highly structured time
Questioning...when given an assignment, asks why it must be done a certain way, want to do it differently
Green (ask these people to stand while traits are read)
We always ask green to stand because they love recognition
These people are leaders, usually in highly visible positions
They are respecters of authority and tradition
They are decisive, directed, and focused
They love the black and white jellybeans people to organize their projects for them
Reiterate points made at the beginning. If appropriate, emphasize the following:
No one is just one color, but one color is predominate.
All of us have some of the traits associated with each color.
This is important to consider while dealing with others.
From Beth Englehardt of Ohio who also recommends the book Early Childhood Workshops that Work: The Essential Guide to Successful Training and Workshops by Nancy Alexander.
Toilet Paper Teaser When people enter the room, they are greeted by someone holding a roll of toilet paper. They are invited to take as much as they need. If they ask what it is for, only repeat to take what they need. Once the session begins, ask them to find someone they don't know. Once they have done that, they are instructed to tell this stranger something about themselves for each square they have taken. Each time they tell something, they tear off a square and hand it over.
From Brenda Gavloski, a Reggio inspired educator
Play Talk I love it when parents and educators are encouraged to write about their favorite play experiences as children. These are then displayed so the adults can bond over the play they enjoyed as children and also used to promote the value of a play based curriculum.
From Tobie Dos
Speed Networking Either give everyone a prompt or just allow them to pick a partner and tell about themselves and ask about their partner in a short time frame. Ring a bell and ask them to choose a new partner and repeat.
Anonymous Musings Everyone writes down the thing they most love about the school community and then crumple up their paper and toss it across the room like a snowball. Someone else picks it up and shares what was written with the group.
From Janice Simsohn Shaw, alum of Silver Spring Nursery School, and a meeting organizer in the DC area.
We wish you well on your new school year and hope these ideas will bring a fresh approach to your orentations, trainings and staff meetings.
