Video Transcript for Getting Into Teams
presented by Mark Collard
There are times when you need more than one team. So it could be a matter of for example you’ve written… Let’s say you needed four teams. You’ve written the numbers 1 to 4 on a whole series of paper and you basically hand out or they pull out of the tin that number. Everyone who’s got the 1 joins the Team #1.
That’s okay. It’s kind of been around for a long time though. There’s far more interesting ways of actually doing that activity, but that’s definitely relevant. Another one would be and let’s just try this out right now, I’m looking for four teams and I want teams of nine people. Go. Nine people.
(people getting into teams)
Alright. So here’s a great example.
So we have a team of nine, team of nine, team of nine, and then we’ve got a few left over. Now you could find another system that randomly divides them up if you’ve got even numbers of people if that was important or you could use the old scientific method and say hey, two people from each of your groups come and join over here. And you end up actually starting from a fun place randomly and move them into a group that actually gives you that number.
Here’s another way in which you could do that. Right now I’d like you to form into groups of four, four groups, to groups of four people. Groups of four people. Any group of four. Someone over here is looking for a partner. Partner. Partner. Oh, great. So you guys can be my volunteers. So I’m a part of your group.
What I’d like you to do now is to form… I liked your elephant from before, so we’re going to form an elephant. One person, I’m going to be that person, is going to form the trunk. So we’re placing one over the top of the other and the bottom arm grabs the nose. That’s the trunk.
I’m going to have two of my friends, one will have a very large ear on one side and a large ear on the other side, so could I have two ears connected to my trunk, and if you could be our tail that wags in the wind, okay? Or you could do it any way you like.
Okay. So ready? One, two, three. Go ahead and make your elephant now. Go ahead and make your elephant. Make your elephant. So just remember whether you’re a left ear, a right ear, a trunk, or a tail. Alright. Good.
(people forming elephants getting into teams)
Alright, hold it there. So remembering I was going to use a technique that would end up in four even teams. I’ve actually done that, because right now I’m going to ask all of the trunks to get together over here, all the left ears over here, right ears over here, and tails over here.
Trunk, left, right, and tail.
(people getting into teams)
To repeat, all take a few steps in, you can come a little closer. So now we’ve got four random teams. Here’s another quick one and then I’ll describe one more and then we’ll move on. But another quick one would be right now I’d like you to think of a number, and it’s either 1, 2, 3, or 4. So ideally what I’m going to end up with are four groups because everyone who’s thinking the same number is going to be in the same group. So if you’re thinking 1 you’ll be with all the other people thinking number 1.
But here’s the kicker. You can’t say your number. You can’t say hey, I’m number 2, what are you, or you can’t like use your fingers or even clap. That would be a great way of doing it but the way that I’m going to ask you to do it right now is to shake hands.
So for example, Tim you’ve got a number in mind but you’re not going to tell me. Silently but laughter is permitted, we’re going to engage in a standard, normal, common garden variety handshake. But we are going to shake each other’s arms the number of times of the number we’re thinking.
But the key to this is that when you get to your number hold firm and don’t go any further so it’s clear to your partner that you’ve reached your number. Naturally if you haven’t reached your number you want to keep shaking. For example…
(shaking hands with partner getting into teams)
Alright, so clearly I was a 1 because I shook once. Tim was either 2, 3, or 4 because he wanted to keep on going. Have a little laugh, you’re not talking, keep going. But let’s say we did actually shake the same number of times. We stick together and now we look for more people, more of our brethren to join our group. So all of the 3s will find each other, all the 4s will find each other, and so on. Got the idea? Go.
(people shaking hands, getting into teams)
Find yourself a little home and stand there. Make your groups quite distinct.
Okay. Alright. Stay there. We had numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, and now I’m concerned we’ve got five groups. So where are the 4s? Alright. Where are the 3s? 2s? And the 1s? More often than not the least number of people.
I’m not sure why the 1s and the 2s are often less than the 3s and the 4s when put together. My theory is we just love shaking hands and that’s why we want to do it so often.
Alright. So there is a selection of random and fun and engaging ways of dividing your group into smaller groups and groups of say five, six, seven, or eight or whatever that number might be.
Ask your group to separate according to the categories or groupings you are about to announce.
For example, if the category is ‘primary colour of your pants,’ everyone wearing blue will group together, all those wearing black pants will get together, etc.
Simple two-group splits:
Simple multi-group splits:
Here are four ideas that require a little more explanation:
If you’re looking for some fun and random ways to form pairs or partners, take a look at Getting Into Pairs.
If you’re looking for an even split, and can’t find a method to achieve this goal, simply move a few people (“Hey, you and you, move over here…”) to even out the groups.
On occasions, some people may find themselves alone, but in most cases, small groupings of commonality will develop. This is a useful learning point – everyone has something in common with others, but also many unique characteristics too.
For mixing purposes, alternate between two-group splits and multi-group splits. The emphasis of this strategy is to invite lots of mixing. The more interaction you generate, the more balanced your teams will be, and the more comfort and trust will develop within your group.
To break down cliques, nominate a category that would separate particular clique members you are concerned about, eg the colour of their tops.
If you can find the time, there is a lot of value to invite newly formed teams to share something about themselves before you move on. Ask them to share something about a topic you nominate, eg an Olympic sport they would love to compete in. It can take just 30 seconds, but the energy and bonding that can occur during these moments is priceless.
You could integrate the mixing strategies of Getting Into Teams as part of a well-designed SEL program to promote and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse people.
Specifically, this activity offers opportunities to explore and practice the following social & interpersonal skills:
Self-Awareness
Self-Management
Social Awareness
Relationship Skills
Responsible Decision-Making
You can learn more about SEL and how it can support character education here.
Behavioural Norms
The stronger the relationships in your group, the more likely individual team members will feel comfortable forming a team with any other member of the group. A particular preference to join with one person and not with another may reflect dysfunction within the group. Therefore, the frequent use of a variety of random techniques to form teams (or pairs, for that matter) can help to break down these social barriers and build pro-social relationships.
Only when individuals are given the opportunity to interact and share can they start to understand and learn more about other people. And when these opportunities for interaction are based on nonsensical or random factors such as shoe colour or certain preferences for doing things, some social barriers can be diminished or perhaps eliminated altogether. This greater comfort will make any conversations regarding the development of full value behaviours easier to lead.
Here are some random team-forming ideas which involve simple props:
Fun partner-matching strategies based on random criteria.
Series of fun, engaging & random ways to mix people.
One of the best rapid-fire group-splitting methods ever.
Rarely do the traditional methods of ‘pick two captains’ or the old ‘count off’ method of 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on, produce balanced teams (in terms of players, skill levels or both.) Can you remember these being used at school? Maybe you still use them today? Now, while these tried and true group-splitting methods may work as such, they are about as much fun as they are self-esteem building exercises – not! We’re not going to do that today. Instead, I would like you to…
There is no one particular source for all of these creative Getting into Teams ideas – they have been learned and refined over many years in the field. That said, many of these techniques are shared in the following publications:
Contributor Mark
Brand NEW book featuring 150+ outrageously fun group games & activities. Scan QR codes to connect to tons of digital content including video tutorials.
Add to CartWhen you’re a member of playmeo’s learning community, you can immediately access 100s of fun group games & activities like this one.
Click below to login or become a member today.
The best-selling book featuring 150+ outrageously fun group games & activities. Scan QR codes to access exclusive digital content including video tutorials.
Ten of the best no-prop, interactive ‘get-to-know-you’ games & activities. 100% fun, your group will love ’em. Our most successful giveaway, 10,000+ downloads so far…
As a playmeo member, you can reach out to our team for help & support at any time. Holler & we’ll do whatever we can to assist.
We offer a range of membership plans with no surprises.
Click an option below & discover our simple pricing.
Click here if you’re a:
Click here if you represent a:
Explore plans for
10, 50, 200 or more
potential users
Join & SAVE today
Upgrade or cancel at any time
Check out playmeo's new COMMUNITY tab.
Exclusive to playmeo members, this space is designed to help you share, learn & connect with others.
Add your Comments...
Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?