Slow Mo Marbles Group Activity

Divide larger groups into teams of 8 -12 members. Provide each team with 2 rolls of Sellotape and 2 full pieces of flip-chart paper. Each team must now come up with ideas for creating something that will keep marbles rolling as far as they can go. These marble movers will then be tested out and the team that can make their marbles travel the furthest, wins the game. Each team can have more than one turn and then the combined times will determine who wins.

This is one of the best team building activities  available that offer great interaction between team members. 

Resources: 2 x flip chart paper (per team), scissors, Sellotape and marbles.

Space Required: Indoors

Group Size: Any size space permitting, split into teams smaller teams of 8-12

Total Time: 75 minutes

• 5-10 minutes to brief and setup
• 50 minutes to build marble movers
• 10 minutes for testing
• 5 minutes to review and debrief

Running the Slow Mo Marbles Group Activity

• Split the group into smaller teams of between 8-12 participants. Designate an area for each team to use for the rest of the activity (ideally away from other teams).
• Introduce the activity: Working in your teams, you are required to design and build two marble movers. The aim of the marble mover is to keep a marble rolling for as long as possible. Once your marble movers have been built, you will then compete against the other teams. The team with the longest combined time wins the challenge. To create your marble mover, you will be provided with 2 pieces of flip chart paper and a roll of Sellotape.
• Give the equipment to the group and let them start creating their marble movers. Allow groups to use a marble for testing.
• At the end of the 50 minutes, stop the group and bring all teams together for final testing.
• Time each marble mover one at a time. Start timing once the marble is on the mover and begins rolling and stop timing when the marble stops rolling.
• Allow just one person from each group to launch/place the marble onto their marble mover. Keep track of the times and then add up the times for a combined score for each team.
• Once you have tested all teams’ marble movers, review and debrief the activity before letting the teams know the results.

Rules of  Slow Mo Marbles 

• Teams are given between 35 to 50 minutes to come up with and create their marble mover designs.
• Participants are only allowed to use the items provided.
• The designs for the marble movers, must all be self-supporting.

Suggested Learning Outcomes

• This activity encourages cooperation among teams
• The activity inspires creative thinking
• Teams will have to set goals in order to finish on time
• Participants will also have to utilize time management skills

Activity Guidance and Notes

Highlight the importance of successful planning strategies and allow teams to allocate 5 to 10 minutes towards discussing ideas before constructing takes place. If you are not able to get your hands-on Flipchart paper, you can always just use normal paper or newspaper. You will have to provide at least ten pieces of A4 paper or you can also use a number of newspapers.

Instead of only providing Sellotape and paper, you can include things like paper clips or rubber bands. See how creative participants can be with all the resources you provide. To help prevent any of the teams from spying on other teams, make sure to separate teams from each other. Provide them with a space away from each other or even in a different room. This will only help to improve the competition outcome and adds a bit of anticipation and mystery to the whole activity.

This activity is for both the young as well as for older adults. When it comes to a younger group, help them out by giving them a heads-up on the time left over during the activity. The adults can discuss the issue of time management and how they managed during the review time after the activity.

This is a great activity for the facilitator, as it is mainly an assessment task. You only have to observe players and there is no need to direct teams. Your main task is to ensure all players are following the rules laid out.

Debrief and Review of Slow Mo Marbles 

Here are some questions, which will help teams process their experience for the game Slow Mo Marbles Group Activity:

• What was the process for coming up with the marble mover design?
• Were all members of the team involved in providing ideas?
• What were the responsibilities of each member of the team?
• Did you complete your marble mover design in time?
• What did you do in order to complete your design in time?
• What goals did you set during the activity?
• Did all members of the team have a purpose?
• Were sub-teams supportive and how?
• If there is something you could have done differently, what would it be?
• What did you learn from the experience?