2+2=5 Team*WORKS

 2+2=5 is proud to announce that they will be sharing some sample activities that are a part of the 2+2=5 curriculum. Please enjoy a sample activity below called “Straw Skyscrapers”. This has been a really effective teambuilding activity for fourth and fifth graders and is something that the 2+2=5 frequently uses to kick off the ten week series of activities. For more discussion about the impact of this activity and how to facilitate this activity, I encourage you to consider purchasing “What a CEO Can Learn From a 4th Grader.” See the purchase page.

Straw Skyscrapers

Each team is to receive twenty five drinking straws, five feet of scotch tape or masking tape and twenty five small paper clips. All teams begin together and have twenty minutes to construct the tallest skyscraper out of the materials provided to each team. Of course, facilitators have the ability to manipulate the variables, such as how many straws or how much time to complete the project. These variables are dependent upon time, resources, and management’s goals for the activity.

The structures must be completely freestanding and cannot be adhered to the floor or ceiling. The team with the tallest structure at the end of the activity is the winner. Careful attention must be paid to the process employed by the team, taking into consideration the extent of the planning and strategy development, as well as a team’s willingness to stop construction in favor of committing time to evaluate and assess its strategy.

Reflection Questions: Please note that the following questions can be used by the facilitator to help lead the reflection discussion after the activity is completed. Facilitators can use these questions or other questions generated as a result of the observations from the activity.

1. Describe the process that which your team used to complete this activity. Was it effective? Upon reflection, how could your team’s approach have been more successful?
2. What interpersonal skills were important in this activity? What did we learn about those skills that we can use in our everyday life?
3. What are some effective ways for teams to develop strategies? Are these consistent with what you use in other team activities?
4. How did small successes or small setbacks during the activity impact the morale and emotions of the team? Were emotions contagious between individuals on the team?
5. How did the contagious emotions affect the team? What can we learn about the importance of team morale for ourselves and others?