1. In advance, source a long length of PVC piping (25-50mm diameter) which can be cut into multiple 2 metres lengths, one for each small group.
2. Form small groups of 2 to 6 people.
3. Distribute one PVC pipe to each group.
4. Ask one person in each group to balance the pipe vertically (with the assistance of other teammates, if necessary) with the base opening sitting on their palm.
5. Carefully fill all of the pipes with water to the very top of the opening, ie keeping the hand firmly pressed to its base.
6. Encourage all of the groups to keep their pipes as steady as possible during this time.
7. When ready, challenge all groups to tip their pipes upside down two (three or four) times losing as little water as possible in the process.
8. Measure the drop in water levels inside each pipe at the end.
9. The team that loses the least amount of water from their pipe wins.

This group initiative is so much fun and is ideally suited to warm or hot conditions, and especially outdoors because your group is going to get wet.

Your first task is to source long lengths of PVC piping of approx 25-50mm (1-2”) in diameter. Look for discarded lengths from a building site if possible, otherwise, you will need to purchase them.

You’ll need one 2-metre (6′) length for each group. There is no magic in a 2-metre length, but resist the temptation to cut the lengths much shorter lest you will reduce the challenge.

Split your gathering into small groups of (at least) 2 to (and up to) 6 people and distribute one pipe to each.

Perhaps with the assistance of their teammates, ask one person to take the pipe and balance one end of it – standing vertically – on their upward-facing palm.

Then, armed with a hose connected to a water tap and standing from a higher vantage point, fill each of these pipes with water one by one, all the way to the tippy-top.

When all pipes are full, announce that each group is challenged to rotate their pipe upside-down once then twice, or even three or four times. That is to say, the pipe will spin at least 360 or 540 or 720 degrees, each time returning to a full upright vertical orientation.

As you can imagine, there is a very high likelihood that water will be spilt. Exactly. And the challenge for each group is to prevent as much water from being spilled as possible.

Note, the water is more likely to leak from the bottom than it will from the top, but the pipe changes its orientation at least a couple of times, so it doesn’t really matter where it comes from.

Once all the requisite rotations are performed, it’s time to record how much water (if any) remains inside the pipes. The team that manages to keep the most amount of water inside their pipes, wins. Whatever that means.

My first experience with this problem-solving activity was with transparent pipes, so it was really easy to see the water levels. Hard to get your hands on, but worth it for the visuals.

Even those who are not actively holding the pipe are likely to get wet if they are anywhere near the pipe because of the extraordinary pressure placed on the hand at the bottom. Expect (a lot of) water to squirt out from the bottom.

Be prepared that no team will win, ie all teams lose every drop of water from their pipes.

If the activity does not roll into a big water fight, then you’ve done something wrong 🙂 I have often presented this unique challenge directly before I expect my group to get wet, eg swimming.

You could integrate Upside Down as part of a well-designed SEL program to develop your group’s ability to manage their emotions, thoughts and behaviours effectively in different situations and to achieve goals.

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

Self-Awareness

• Identifying Personal, Cultural & Linguistic Assets
• Recognising Strengths, Prejudices & Biases
• Demonstrating Self-Confidence, Honesty & Integrity
• Experiencing Self-Efficacy
• Having A Growth Mindset

Self-Management

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

Social Awareness

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

Relationship Skills

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

Responsible Decision-Making

• Identifying Problems
• Making Reasoned Judgements
• Identifying Solutions
• Anticipating & Evaluating the Consequences of One’s Actions
• Promoting Personal & Collective Well-Being

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

Behavioural Norms

The complexities of this fun group initiative will invite your group to interact and engage with each other in a manner that will necessarily speak to the benefits of having developed a set of supportive and healthy behavioural norms in advance. Or, if not, you could focus on any less-than-desired interactions or outcomes to explore what sorts of behaviours your group would prefer to see and commit to in the future.

For example, in addition to those described in the Reflection Tips tab, you could invite your group to reflect on the following questions to explore a variety of full-value behaviours such as:

• How did the group demonstrate its ability to care for itself and others?
• Generally speaking, how did the group make decisions? How were all members involved?
• Describe your group’s goal-setting process.
• What types of leadership were demonstrated during the exercise? Were they effective?
• Was adaptability a key component of the group’s success? How?
• Were there moments of accountability that concerned you? Why?

• Tube to Tube: Use two shorter (1.5 metre) lengths of pipe and challenge each group to dispense the water from one pipe into the other and then back again (and back and forth one more time if you choose.) Again, the team that loses the least amount of water wins.
• Take a look at Water World as another wonderful group initiative slash water fight opportunity.

Are you ready to get wet? Yes, me too, it’s been a hot day and yet, I have just one more team-based challenge to offer you…

Sometimes it can be hard to believe how something so small can be so powerful. Take, for example, the diameter of this pipe. Compared to the length of the pipe, it’s quite small, but by simply adding just one ingredient, you will see quickly see how difficult it will be to manage…

Our next group initiative is going to require all hands on deck. If your team collaborates well, you can expect to succeed at this next challenge. Your task may look simple, but it’s not easy. Are you ready..?

Coupled with one or more reflection strategies, here are some sample questions you could use to process your group’s experience after leading this fun group initiative:

• How much fun did you have during this exercise? Why?
• What the task more or less difficult than you imagined? Why?
• What were the most difficult components of this challenge?
• Did you discover any useful strategies that helped you preserve the water in your pipe?
• Do you think this task was possible for one person?
• What might this exercise teach us about working together?