APRIL
A Lightweight Idea
You need:
- Balloons: 2-3 per group member
- An obstacle course (e.g. school or park adventure playground) Don’t make it too large an area or too long a course because this is not an easy challenge. Think about safety as they will be moving through the course with one hand already occupied patting the balloon.
- A day with NO wind
To play:
- Give each player two or three balloons.
- Game leader point out the route through the obstacle course, explaining details such as “Over the pipe, through the hoop, weave in and out of those three trees” etc. Allow players to walk the course first, balloon free.
- Each player blows up and ties off one balloon. On a signal, players move from the starting line to the first obstacle and must continue through the course without ever gripping or holding their balloon. The balloon must remain airborne at all times (they may pat it to keep it in motion).
- If the balloon touches the ground, the player either loses 15 seconds or must repeat the previous obstacle (their choice). If 15 seconds penalty is chosen, the player must stand and count to 15 (one and two and three and …)
- If a balloon breaks, the player must retrieve a spare balloon from his/her pocket, blow up and tie the balloon, then continue the course.
- If the second (or third – as decided) balloon breaks the player is disqualified for 150 seconds, then may continue the course without a balloon.
Debrief discussion
- How did the players overcome the various problems associated with keeping the balloon aloft without holding it and moving through the obstacle course (share problem solving ideas)
- How did they deal with frustration?
- What was the worst/most difficult section of the course?
- Were they honest about balloon drops (allow no accusations of others’ balloon drops) and accepting the penalties?
- Did anyone help another player?
