Background:

To Download click on the thumbnail image which will take you to the original image, and then right click and ‘Save As’.

Time:

10 – 20 minutes

Materials:

The image and some way to display it.

Participants:

Good for all ages

Objectives:

Perception

Interpretation

Judgment

Familiarity

Time Fillers

Brain Teaser

Critical Thinking

T-up:

Exercise:

Read out loud.

The word THE is repeated twice; but did you notice?

Variations:

Discussion:

Perception versus reality

Being right

Belief systems

Prejudging

Follow Up:

Credits:

Various and Unknown

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Objectives:
Group/Team
This is a quick warm-up activity designed to stimulate thought about what makes a team/group effective.
Goal Setting
Defining Success

Time: 20 Minutes

Materials: phone books

Exercise:

Place a phone book (cement blocks work best, they are usually hard to find at work) on the ground.

Explain that this is an exercise that will allow the team to examine how effectively they work together as a team.

Announce:  “Your job is to get as many people off the ground as you choose, for as long as you choose.”
The Rules:  “Off the ground means that no one may touch the ground. You may only use yourself and the telephone books. You cannot use anything else in the room to assist you.
“You have 10 Minutes to complete the job.” and repeat “Your job is to get as many people off the ground as you choose, for as long as you choose.”
If it is appropriate tell them you have been talking to the competition – name your biggest competitor and tell them they told you they could do it in seven minutes.
Ask for questions, clarify anything then start the clock.

Process:
Have group/team rate their effectiveness on a 1-10 scale, 1 being the worst, 10 being the best.  Comment on their ratings

Variations:
Depending on the number of participants you could have two groups or more working at the same time and could be used, depending on the existing dynamic of the group, to explore co-opetition, competition, cooperation and team.
For example, if you’re dividing the team in half and are careful with the instructions, by putting the phonebooks fairly far apart from each other the implication could be that they’re in competition with each other but the rules do not state that they cannot work cooperatively together.

Discussion:
“What would you have had to do to rate your teamwork a 10″? Ask high raters what made them rate the team so high (or low depending on response.)
Lessons to look for:  what were the goals they set for themselves and how did it relate to what they accomplished?  What did the goal they set have to say about how they feel about risk?  How can they relate to the lessons they learned to having other people set goals for them?  Bosses?  Teachers?  Parents?  How they did relate to not meeting the goal?  Meeting the goal? Exceeding the goal?

Credits: Unknown

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Teamwork Checklist

You will find the following techniques helpful in maximizing the success and satisfaction of working in teams. You may want to use this as a checklist when working as a team.

Tips for working in groups:

1. Participate fully, whatever your role.

2. Pick a leader, being sure they possess team leader skills.

3. Leader asks members what they are each most interested in and able to contribute, and members respond honestly.

4. Collectively establish written guidelines for team’s performance, including rewards
and sanctions.

5. Collectively establish a written work plan, including “pad,” “plan B,” and checkpoints.

6. Be sure the labor is divided wisely, fairly, and equally.

7. Identify problems early on and solve them mutually.

8. Implement the plan, making adjustments if needed.

Using the “TEAM” approach (source – Communication Briefings Video):

1. Teach teammates what you do, and learn about what they do: identify strengths,
skills, and roles.

2. Empathize with teammate’s feelings and attitudes: show that you understand and
care about their feelings, opinions, and worries.

3. Ask questions to spark creativity: build greater understanding, increase
communication and participation, and encourage creative thinking.

Use open-ended questions to solicit input, build consensus, or invite creativity.

Use closed-ended questions to gather specific information and decide on action.

Use clarifying questions to understand, be understood, and invite feedback.

Use what if question to open team thinking to the big picture and maximize creativity.

4. Motivate each individual to work toward the common goal.

Express your own enthusiasm.

Demonstrate your own commitment.

Recognize your teammates’ achievements.

Discussion:

Follow Up:

Credits:

Author Unknown

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I now prepare to center myself and become more aware of my inner being.

I close my eyes for peace and quiet.

I straighten my spine to stimulate energy.

I open my hands to receive and I just let go and relax.

Relax, relax, relax.

My breathing is slow and peaceful.

I can feel my body becoming more and more relaxed with each breath that I take.

As I take a deep breath now and slowly exhale I visualize something red from nature.

As I see the color red clearly in my mind’s eye I relax my body from head to foot.

I feel a wave of relaxation moving downward through my body. And I bring my body into a complete state of relaxation.

Relax-relax-relax.

I let go of my body and I just relax.

Next as I take another deep breath and slowly exhale I visualize something orange from nature.

As I see the color orange clearly in my mind’s eye I release and let go of my emotions.

I neither dramatize nor deny my feelings.

I desire only that which is good for myself and others.

As I take another deep breath and slowly exhale I visualize something yellow from nature.

As I see the color yellow clearly in my mind’s eye I calm and still my mind. I bring my mind to rest.

I find that when I calm and still my mind that answers come to me naturally from within.

As I relax and go deeper still.

Next as I take another deep breath and slowly exhale I visualize something green from nature.

As I see the color green clearly in my mind’s eye I sense a state of peacefulness within.

Peace-peace-peace.

I sense that indwelling presence of peace.

This peace is always there and I can experience it whenever I relax my body-release my emotions-and calm my mind.

As I take another deep breath and slowly exhale I visualize something blue from nature.

As I see the color blue clearly in my mind’s eye I feel myself full of love. I feel love moving to me and through me to others as if I am a living conduit for love.

I always remember that love in my heart wasn’t put there to stay-love isn’t love until I give it away.

Next as I take another deep breath and slowly exhale I visualize something purple from nature.

As I see the color purple clearly in my mind’s eye I aspire to that inner secret place.
I seek out the depths within.

I desire to find and fulfill my life’s purpose and I know that I will make a positive difference with my life.

As I take another deep breath and slowly exhale I visualize something violet from nature.

As I see the color violet clearly in my mind’s eye I enter the innermost part of my being.

I am now there. I am centered.

In order to go deeper within I will count backwards from 21 to 1 going deeper and deeper with each number.

21 – 20 – 19 deeper and deeper.

18 – 17 – 16 deeper still.

15 – 14 – 13 deeper and more inward.

12 – 11 – 10 deeper and deeper.

9 – 8 – 7 deeper still.

6 – 5 – 4 even deeper and more inward.

3 – 2 – 1 I am more centered than before.

I am now at one with myself.

A state that encompasses all of time.

I just become aware of the totality of the now.

Only conscious of the present I feel and sense this one moment in time.

I am at one with my inner self.

I am calm.

I am still.

I am at peace.

I am centered.

For the next few minutes I will remain centered and I will experience whatever I am led to experience.

I relax and let go-I just relax.

My experience reminds me of how much I want to live and celebrate life.

I now prepare to return to the everyday world.

I come back slowly from the center of my being from the inner to the outer.

I remember that after centering myself spiritually I become more enlightened.

In fact my inner light shines so brightly that it affects all of those in my world in a positive manner.

This in turn affects me mentally and I become more enriched-my thoughts are more pure and creative.

Which in turn affects me emotionally and I become more enthusiastic-with more love for others.

Which affects my physically and I become more energized-with the fullness of life.

For after centering myself I know that with my inner spiritual power-all things are possible in my life.

And that whatever the spirit within leads me to do I will do better that ever before.

In fact each day in ever way I am getting better and better and better.

Now in a few moments I need to open my eyes so I prepare to visualize the colors of the rainbow in reverse sequence.

Starting with that innermost color violet-moving upward and out to purple-then further up to blue-then to green-next yellow-orange-red.

I open my eyes and I am wide awake.

Revitalized refreshed and in tune with life.

I am enlightened.

I am enriched.

I am enthused.

I am energized.

I just am.

I just am.

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I Now Prepare to Center Myself

I close my eyes for peace and quiet.

I straighten my spine to stimulate energy flow.

I open my hands to receive,

And I just let go and R-E-L-A-X, R-E-L-A-X.

Whenever I hear the word “relax” mentioned

I let go more of my outer physical body,

My emotions and my mind so that

I may be more aware of my inner beingness.

I just let go and R-E-L-A-X, R-E-L-A-X.

I first visualize the color RED.

I relax my body from head to foot.

I relax — let go of my body — relax.

I next visualize the color ORANGE.

I release and let go my emotions.

I desire only that which is good for others.

I now move down the rainbow to YELLOW.

I calm and still my mind.

I bring my mind to rest.

The next color I visualize is GREEN.

I allow peace to come into my life.

I sense a state of peacefulness within.

I now move down the rainbow to BLUE.

I let love permeate my entire being.

I feel myself full of love.

I next bring into focus the color PURPLE.

I seek out the depths within.

I aspire to that inner, secret place.

I lastly visualize the color VIOLET.

I enter the innermost part of my being.

I am now there — I am centered.

PEACE — PEACE — PEACE

I am now one with my Inner Self,

A state that encompasses all of time.

So I just become aware of the totality of the Now.

I am only conscious of the present.

I feel and sense this one moment in time.

I just realize myself right now.

I feel and sense the center of my being.

I am at one with my Inner Self.

I am calm — I am still — I am at peace.

And as I become aware of my oneness with Peace, I center myself in this indwelling presence of Peace.

PEACE — PEACE — PEACE

To help me remain centered and to be at peace, I place myself in my scene from nature. I use all my five senses to let this come to pass. I see the wonders of creation that surround me. I hear the sounds of nature loud and clear. I smell the fragrance that permeates the air. I taste of the great beauty that fills my scene. I am touched by the very movement of nature. This oneness with all life draws me ever inward And I become more centered than ever before.

PEACE — PEACE — PEACE

For the next few minutes I will remain centered with my eyes closed and I will experience whatever I am led to experience.

PEACE — PEACE — PEACE

I NOW PREPARE TO RETURN TO THE EVERYDAY WORLD.
I come back slowly from the center of my being, from the inner to the outer.

I remember that, after centering myself,

Spiritually, I am more enlightened;

Mentally, I am more enriched with pure thoughts;

Emotionally, I am enthused with love for others; Physically, I am energized with the fullness of life.

And whatever the spirit leads me to do

I now know that I can do this better than ever before.

For after centering myself, I find that

With this inner spiritual power available to me,

All things are possible in my life and this is so.

Now in a few moments I need to open my eyes. So I prepare to visualize the colors of the rainbow in reverse sequence — starting with —

The innermost color, VIOLET,

Moving up and out to PURPLE,

Then further up to BLUE,

Then to GREEN,

Next, YELLOW,

ORANGE, RED.

I open my eyes and I am wide awake.

I am enlightened, enriched, enthused and energized.

I JUST AM.

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