Finger-Snaps

1. In advance, cut one or more foam (pool) noodles into a series of small 25mm pieces, and then slice each piece into two semi-circles of ‘finger-snaps.’
2. By way of demonstration, place one finger-snap between your thumb and index finger, and squeeze it to cause it to pop into the air. If possible, aim to catch it.
3. Distribute at least one finger-snap to each person, and ask them to practice their popping and catching skills.
4. After several minutes, ask each person to join with a partner, to launch and catch one another’s finger-snaps simultaneously.
5. Then, after a few minutes, invite each pair to join with another pair, to make a finger-snapping quad, etc.
6. Challenge each small team, over the course of several rounds, to pop all of their finger-snaps simultaneously and attempt to catch as many as possible.
7. Finally, ask each team of four people to join with another team of four to attempt the same task with a group of eight players.
8. Challenge your group to continuously improve and/or try one of many variations.

Video Transcript for Finger-Snaps
presented by Mark Collard

This next exercise is going to feature possibly one of the most versatile, cheapest props, and again I could spend a whole day just giving you all the different ways I know that this exercise can be developed and enthuse my group.

We’ll use the space here. My plan is to show you a medley of different ways in which this particular prop can be used. If I can scoot in here for a second… A little sack. You will know it immediately perhaps when you see it, but… what do you know this as?

(A pool noodle.)

It is a piece of a pool noodle. If I could find another part of it… This had been cut off and of course then formed into little two, three-centimetre pieces of a long pool noodle.

I refer to these as finger-snaps. When placed between your forefinger and thumb and you exert pressure on both sides, it provides this wonderful little popping sound, and your object is having popped it is to try and catch it.

They appear to come in three fashion colours. Make sure you pick one that doesn’t clash with your clothing, and your object over the course of the next minute is to refine this highly refined skill of… let me try it again… finger-snapping, to pop and catch your own finger snap. Go. Find yourself a little bit of space.

(people playing Finger-Snaps)

(Once you pop, you just can’t stop.)

Once you pop, you just can’t stop. I love it. Use both hands. If you’re particularly dextrous you could use two, one in each hand.

(people playing Finger-Snaps)

Your object now is to pop your finger snap to them as they pop their finger snap to you. How often can you do that and catch both of them at the same time?

(people playing Finger-Snaps)

Okay, your partner and yourself now join with two other people to form a group of four. Same concept, pop all at the same time, catch all of the finger snaps. You make a group of six.

(people playing with their Finger-Snaps)

Oh, nicely played. Good job. Thirty more seconds.

(people playing Finger-Snaps)

These two groups may now form one large group. These two groups form one large group, group of ten.

(people playing Finger Snaps)

Make this your last attempt.

(people playing Finger-Snaps as a group)

Okay, hold it there. Make this your last attempt, last attempt.

(people playing Finger-Snaps as a group)

When I first saw this prop introduced, it was like being a five-year old boy all over again. I love this game, and so has every group I’ve had the pleasure to present it to.

Your first task is to prepare the snaps. Grab a couple of bendy foam noodles from your local pool supply shop – they are normally pretty cheap.

Take a serrated knife, and laying the noodle long ways in front of you, slice it into 25 mm (1”) circular pieces.

Then, with each piece, lay it cut-side down, and cut the circle into half to provide two semi-circle ‘finger-snaps.’ Why call them finger-snaps? Because when you hold the semi-circle (curved side facing up) between your thumb and index finger, and squeeze, they SNAP out of your fingers. It’s so cool.

This simple, snapping exercise should be your first port of entry to introduce your group to the joy inspired by this versatile prop.

After a minute or so of snapping (and catching) as individuals, ask each person to join with a partner, to launch and catch one another’s finger-snaps simultaneously.

Then, after a few minutes, invite each pair to join with another pair, to make a finger-snapping quad. Then, a quad joins with a quad, to make a finger-snapping octuplet, attempting to snap and catch as many of their group’s finger-snaps as possible. And so on…

Keep playing as you encourage each small team to continuously improve their performance.

From here, the options are endless. Take a look at the Variations tab for more awesome ‘finger-snapping’ activities, from short, playful games to challenging group initiatives.

Through experience, I have found that pool noodles with a small hole that runs the length of the foam work best, but the lack of such is generally not critical to a finger-snap’s performance.

Have (or make) more than you think you need. Sprinkling your playing space with an unused set of these colourful props is visually very attractive. And they just might inspire some creativity.

You are highly recommended to demonstrate the initial use of finger-snaps before you distribute them to your group, lest you lose their attention, especially twitchy young people.

Finger-snaps do not last forever, but given that they cost so little to produce, you can afford to replace them regularly when they start to wear out.

This prop is still new to me, so there has to be a ton of new finger-snapping ideas out there just waiting to be discovered. And when you do, please share it with others in the Comments section below.

You could integrate Finger-Snaps as part of a well-designed SEL program to promote and maintain healthy and supportive relationships in your group.

Specifically, this activity offers opportunities to explore and practice the following social & interpersonal skills:

Self-Awareness

• Demonstrating Self-Confidence, Honesty & Integrity
• Experiencing Self-Efficacy

Self-Management

• Demonstrating Self-Discipline & Self-Motivation
• Setting Personal & Group Goals
• Taking Initiative
• Use Planning & Organisational Skills

Social Awareness

• Taking Other’s Perspectives
• Demonstrating Empathy & Compassion
• Recognising Strengths In Others
• Respecting Others

Relationship Skills

• Communicate & Listen Effectively
• Seeking and/or Offering Support
• Build Positive Relationships
• Demonstrate Cultural Competency
• Work Collaboratively
• Showing Leadership
• Resolving Conflict Constructively

Responsible Decision-Making

• Demonstrating Curiosity & Open-Mindedness
• Identifying Problems
• Making Reasoned Judgements
• Identifying Solutions
• Promoting Personal & Collective Well-Being

You can learn more about SEL and how it can support character education here.

There is no specific health & wellness perspective to this activity other than promoting the benefits of enjoying a small bout of physical activity and having fun.

In a small way, you could argue that the focus and effort required to successfully play Finger-Snaps could speak to certain elements of a full value agreement insofar as supportive behavioural norms and goal-setting are concerned. For example, the manner in which your group plays and interacts often reflects the way they work together to solve problems in ‘real-life.’ You may find it useful to invite your group to reflect on how decisions were made, how empathy and compassion were demonstrated and what it took to cooperate effectively with others.

If you can think of more explicit ways in which Finger-Snaps could be purposefully integrated into a health and wellness program, please leave a comment at the base of this page.

• Tag To Ten 1: Arm every person with at least one finger-snap. On “GO,” everyone aims to score a point by popping their finger-snap so that it comes into contact with the back of another person. When a player scores ten points (hits,) they are entitled to run around the area with their arms flailing in the air shouting “I’VE GOT TEN, I’VE GOT TEN” over and over. Or, if this victory lap is too much ‘self-expression’ for your group, invite them to simply depart the playing space and smugly observe the continuing action from the outer perimeter.
• Tag To Ten 2: Adding to above, all those who have scored ten points (hits), are invited to move to a second playing space, and the game resumes anew, ie these players will attempt to score a second round of ten points, but only among those who have also achieved the same level of success.
• Chicken Transformer Tag: When an individual scores ten hits into the back of other people with a finger snap, they become a chicken. The game ends when everyone has transofrmed into a chicken.
• Foam Bridges: Form pairs, with each partnership holding four to six finger-snaps laid side-to-side to build a ‘foam bridge’ held gently together between one outstretched index finger of each person. It’s precarious, and it’s meant to be. Next, invite each pair to move around the area, aiming to move their bridge in all directions without the bridge collapsing.
• Bridge Busting 1: Adding to above, arm each person with a finger-snap held in their unoccupied hands. Instruct each pair to aim and pop this finger-snap at one or more ‘foam bridges’ belonging to other pairs in an effort to ‘bust’ it. Naturally, a person may only pop a finger-snap if their bridge is intact.
• Bridge Busting 2: Set up as described for Bridge Building, but this time, any person supporting an intact foam bridge may use their outstretched index finger (not supporting a foam bridge) to hit and destroy another pair’s bridge. No defending or hovering of bridges is allowed. The only defence is to move the bridge safely out of the way of a menacing finger.
• Longest Bridge: Challenge small teams of 2 to 4 people to build the longest, continuous, horizontal finger-snap bridge possible. To succeed, the team must elevate the bridge starting from the floor, to a position above their heads (while standing) and back to the floor without breaking. Success is further measured by the number of finger-snaps used to form the bridge. Permit each person in the team to use one index-finger to support the structure, or allow only a total of two fingers (one at each end of the bridge) to apply the necessary pressure.
• Fireworks 1: Form a circle, a finger-snap prepared for launch in the hand of each person, and on “GO,” create a cacophony of snaps as the impulse travels around the circle. If you close your eyes, it can sound like popcorn or fireworks going off.
• Fireworks 2: As above, with a finger-snap in each hand, effectively doubling the cacophonic sound. As a further challenge, send the impulse (starting with you) in two directions (left and right) at the same time, where each person pops one of their finger-snaps as each impulse passes by them.
• Do you have a fun way to use Finger-Snaps? Please make a comment below to share with others.

Where do pool noodles go when they wear out and die? They transform into one of the most versatile props ever used…

Close your eyes for a moment, and listen to this sound [… secretly pull a finger-snap from your pocket, and then pop and catch it, before hiding it again…] Okay, open your eyes. What did you hear, what did the sound remind you of? Would you like to learn how to make this sound too? Then, take a look at these…

Coupled with one or more reflection strategies, here are some sample questions you could use to process your group’s experience after playing one or more variations of this highly interactive game:

• Did your finger-snapping skills improve with practice?
• What systems or plans did you put in place to help you catch a finger-snap?
• In a group setting, what helped you catch as many finger-snaps as possible?
• How did your group make decisions? What was the impact of this process?
• What alternative uses for a finger-snap can you think of?