The team is tasked with creating balloon sculptures that reflect how they view the team. This activity works well with participants that are of different job levels and allows everyone to show creativity and make connections.
Resources: One long balloon for each participant, and spare balloons. Balloon pumps.
Space Required: Small. Indoors or outdoors.
Group Size: 8 to 30.
Total Time: 30 minutes
- 5 minutes to brief and setup
- 15 minutes for the activity
- 10 minutes for review and debrief
Running the Activity
- Explain the activity: The group has to put together a balloon sculpture that represents what they think of the team. Each participant is given a long balloon, and together they have 15 minutes to build their balloon sculpture.
- Hand out one balloon to each participant. Demonstrate how to blow up the balloons, with at least one inch available on either end so that the balloons can be tied together to form a sculpture.
- Once they are ready, they can begin the activity.
- At the end of 15 minutes, the group is to present their sculpture and explain the significance behind it.
Suggested Learning Outcomes
- Communication
- Creative thinking
Activity Guidance and Notes
This is an informal activity that does not rely on technical knowledge or skills, so it works especially well when your group consists of participants of different job levels. It’s a fun activity that allows for the group to work together without thinking about their formal roles within the organization.
You may notice that participants may behave in ways contrary to their job levels or job roles (e.g. someone with lower authority in the office may step up and lead the team or someone who does a more technical job may turn out to be more creative).
Review
Suggested questions to ask:
- What did you learn about your team members that you didn’t know before?
- What communication methods did your team use?
- Did everyone agree with the idea for the balloon sculpture? If not, did you have to compromise?
- How well did you work as a team?
- Did others in the team listen to your opinion? Did everyone have their input?
- Did anyone emerge as a leader, and how did having a leader help?
- What is the one thing you can take away from the task?
