Madagascar Rescue
A creative group initiative that combines many problems into one.
At A Glance
A group standing on a large tarp must first manage to flip the tarp upside-down without touching the ground, and then rescue a series of objects strewn around them.
What You Need
- A large tarp (preferably non-rip material)
- One “stepping stone” per person
- Bunch of objects, such as soft toy animals
What To Do
This initiative is a classic example of how much fun it can be to combine two or more individual problem-solving activities into one. In this case, I am adding Turn A New Leaf to Stepping Stones.
Start by placing the large tarp (approx 2m x 3m works well for 15 people) on the floor, and randomly distributing a bunch of soft toys around the area. Now, ask your group to stand on the tarp entirely, that is, no overlapping of feet or other body parts. Distribute a piece of driftwood (stepping stone) to each person.
Set the scene by describing that the group is standing on the underside of a capsized ship which was bound for Madagascar (ie think of popular animated movie of same name). The ship was full of exotic animals, and sadly, they have now been tipped into the ocean, and will drown within 30 minutes (or other seemingly appropriate time-frame).
Explain that the group’s first task is to upright their vessel, and then, to rescue all of the animals using the drift wood they have been supplied.
In an effort to flip the tarp, the group is not permitted to step off or touch the ground at any time. Without giving too much away, most solutions normally involve twisting the tarp at one end and moving people from one side to the flipped-side. Dispense whatever penalty for outside touches seems reasonable, but I normally require the group to start over.
Then, upon uprighting the ship, the group’s next task is to rescue the strewn animals. Again, no one is permitted to step into the ocean (ground), but may use the drift wood (stepping stones) to traverse the area safely. But, two rules apply – every stepping stone MUST maintain total physical contact with the group at all times (ie if a stone is left untouched for even a split-second, for example, between steps) that stone will sink (ie it is removed from the game), and if someone happens to touch (or fall) into the ocean, they must return to the ship. Note, if a person should “fall” (requiring them to return to the ship) and no one else is touching the stepping stone at the time the first person fell, that piece of drift wood is also removed from the game. Yeah, I know, it’s brutal!
Clearly, there are tons of opportunities for teamwork, communication, leadership and problem-solving skills to be exhibited here. Game continues until all of the animals have been safely rescued, or… all of the stepping stones have sunk!
Variations
- Extending the scenario, explain that owing to tidal patterns, some animals may “drift” (ie change their location) relative to the ship at any time. Alter the tides at your discretion.
- Use a tarp that is too difficult to flip with everyone standing on it. This will invite the group to be creative, to discover perhaps that some members of the group will have to float on their drift wood (stepping stones) until the ship is righted.
- Rather than a higgly-piggly distribution of animals, place them in a zig-zag formation away “behind” the ship. Or, place the animals in an upside-down Y shape requiring the group to split left and right perhaps to complete the rescue.
(with thanks, and adapted from David Wright, NS, Canada)
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
One Duck
Another one in a long line of hilarious it-should-be-so-easy-to-do activities.
At A Glance
Sitting in a circle, each person recites one part of a four-part phrase which multiplies each time it is completed, until the group has recited each part five times in a row without mistake.
What You Need
- A comfortable, open space possibly with chairs.
- Minimum of 8 and up to 15 people.
- 10 – 15 minutes
What To Do
Form your group into a circle and ask the participants to repeat the words “One duck – fell in – the pond – kerplunk”. The punctuation is deliberate, and should be reflected in the way you recite the verse the first time, ie it goes something like this “one duck” (pause) “fell in” (pause) “the pond” (pause) “kerplunk”. Consider it a stanza comprising four parts.
Instruct the group that you would now like them to repeat this verse – one person at a time in a clockwise direction – saying only one part at a time. For example, the first person will say “One duck”, and the person to his / her left will then say “fell in”, and so on.
Now for the tricky bit. When you get to “kerplunk”, the verse is repeated again, but this time, each part of the stanza is said twice. So, the next person (ie fifth person in turn) says “One duck”, followed by their neighbour repeating “One duck”, then passing to the next person who says “fell in”, and the next repeats “fell in”, etc, etc. Keep going, until you get to the “kerplunk” and “kerplunk” parts.
No prizes for guessing what happens next (I told you this was easy). The verse continues around the circle, this time with each part being repeated three times, then four times, and to achieve the all-time world’s record, a climactic fifth time!! One duck, one duck, one duck, one duck, one duck, fell in, fell in, fell in, and so on and on it goes. If your group can make it to this level, you all deserve a huge round of applause, or a long lie down!
Explosions of incredulous laughter will break out when someone, typically, forgets how many of which part of the verse has already been uttered. It seems so easy to count to five, yet after many failed world record attempts, I totally understand why the record is so elusive. Give it a go.
Variations
- Have the verse circle the group in the opposite direction.
- Make up your own little verse, with perhaps five, six or even seven parts. Arghhhh…..
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Dead Ant Tag
A crazy tag that involves a little co-operation.
At A Glance
Upon being tagged, a person is obliged to lie on their backs with arms and legs extended into the air, and wait to be lifted by others to a designated spot, at which point they can return to the game.
What You Need
- A large, flat open space with boundaries.
- Minimum of 10 ants.
- 5 – 10 minutes.
What To Do
Make up whatever story you care to tell your group (such as “someone has just kicked off the top of an ant-nest, and all of the ants are now frantically searching for their home”), and then spread your “ants” all about your space. Then clearly designate one or more areas as “ant farms.” Ask for a volunteer who would like to be “it” first, and on “go,” this person runs around trying to tag everybody else. Pretty basic set up so far.
Next, explain that when a person is tagged, they are obliged to suddenly drop to the ground and, lying on their backs, wiggle their arms and legs into the air exclaiming “dead ant, dead ant” ad nauseam. This will act as an emergency signal to all other still-in-the-game ants to rescue one of their own. These paramedic ants (no more than four) will grab one or more limbs of the dead ant, and lift them gently to the safety of the closest “ant farm”. As long as the paramedic ants remain in contact with the dead ant, they can not be tagged by “it,” ie this is just one incentive to save souls.
Upon being gently placed (notice, I have used the word gently twice now!) onto the spot of the ant farm, the dead ant will experience a miraculous recovery and swing back into the game. And so it goes on.
Variations
- For really large groups, introduce two or more ants.
- Designate an area that is somewhat to the periphery of the action representing an “abandoned picnic”. Each ant is now called to visit the picnic –eating the scraps, so to speak – as many times as possible, by placing any part of their body inside the designated area. For each visit, the group gets a nominal point (or crumb), and collectively the group will work to earn as many points as possible. Of course, they must continue to save lost souls in the process.
- Just for the fun of it, call “dead ants” anywhere, anytime (ie long after you have played), and watch as people just drop to the floor and wiggle their way through a impulsive “dead ant, dead ant” chorus.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
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Who am I?
Hi, I'm Mark Collard.
This blog shares some of the most successful group games, team-building activities & programming tips I know.
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