Activities

Virtual Team Building Events

Activity Description

Sorting It Out Team Building Game

Sorting It Out is a fast paced fun yet challenging group initiative which addresses problem-solving skills and the benefits of collaboration and effective communication. 

Benefits of the Sorting It Out Activity 

  • The set-up is easy and simple
  • Encourages teamwork
  • Focus on planning & systems
  • Motivates creativity

Required Props for Sorting It Out Activity

  • Stop-watch (or use your cellphone)
  • Deck of playing cards per team

How to Play Narrative the Sorting It Out Activity

This activity is very easy and simple to play game with plenty of time afterwards to review and discuss the activity.

The first thing to do is to get yourself a regular pack of cards. Take the cards and hand out one card, face down, to each member of the group. Nobody should look at their own cards or show others what they have.

The activity involves two commands during the entire game, one is ‘Go’ and the other is ‘Stop’. Start off with ‘Go’, everybody must now turn their card over. All members with upturned cards should now form a straight line with the cards, which must be in numerical order.

When placing the cards in order, it doesn’t matter what suite it is, only that the numbers are placed correctly. For instance, you will start with 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, Jack, Queen, King and finally Aces. If there is more than one similar card, for example, three members holding a five, then these cards must all lie between four and six. The leader or facilitator must then use a stopwatch in order to time the entire process from the word ‘Go’

Members are allowed more than one round to play, in between each round allow members to get together and come up with a plan to complete the task faster. This is where the group’s creativity comes into play. Before the next round commences, have all members place their cards face down, have everyone swap their card with another member. Try to make as many swaps or moves as possible, so as to mix the cards up properly. This will make it difficult for anyone to track the cards. The facilitator must then shout ‘Stop’ when they feel the cards have been thoroughly mixed.

Before allowing players to turn the cards over again, give them an opportunity to strategize. Then shout out ‘Go’ again and activate the stopwatch. Continue for about four or five rounds and determine the fastest time from each round.

Contextual Framing Ideas for Sorting It Out Activity

Every organization has a system, which members must adhere to. What happens when this system becomes outdated, many would, in fact, fight to keep the system going. A new system can only be implemented and function if the old one has been removed. The next activity is a great example of this observable fact within our society.

When trying to come up with a solution to a problem, sometimes the most difficult part is to identify what exactly the problem is. You may be faced with a larger situation, which is difficult to handle. In order to successfully handle the situation, the specific problem has to be identified, which in turn will make the whole situation easier to handle.

So, how do you go about identifying a problem? There is a method, you can ask The Five Whys?

For example:

  1. Why did the car break down? Because it needed a new part that wasn’t available.
  2. Why? Because the garage didn’t have the part.
  3. Why? Because the delivery of parts was delayed.
  4. Why? Because the company delivering parts only has one driver.
  5. Why? Because everyone else is on strike

Looking at the problem like this, the reason the car broke down, was because of the strike. You can fix the situation by buying a whole new car, but that would not be the best solution to the problem, as the car is not the actual problem. Now think about these questions and how you can make use of them in the following activity.

Step-by-Step Instructions to facilitate the Sorting It Out Activity

  • Take a normal deck of cards and randomly hand out a card to each member, make sure it is face down.
  • Nobody is allowed to look at the card.
  • Shout out the word ‘Go’ and have members flip their cards over. Everyone must line up their cards in numerical order, as fast as possible. It doesn’t matter what suite the cards are, from 2 through to Aces.
  • Time the group with a stopwatch.
  • Before the next round, allow members to strategize and plan for the next round.
  • Have members turn all their cards face down again, then have everyone randomly swap cards until you shout out ‘Stop’
  • When everyone is ready, shout ‘Go’ for the next round to begin.
  • Continue with four or five rounds, using a stopwatch to record the time for each round.
  • Out of all the rounds, see which one has the quickest time.

Facilitators and Leaders Tips

Sometimes groups focus on the wrong problem, point out to groups that they should rather be working out how to complete the task faster, and not focusing on how the cards are mixed and swapped in between each round.

Coming up with the best solution often involves problem-solving skills as well as determining outcomes. The activity also encourages creativity and different methods or systems, which can help to solve the problem.

During the game, there might be one who cannot resist taking a peek at their card, once you have handed them out. If you happen to catch them out, simply swap their card for another one. Caught out!

Debriefing and Reflection Strategies

Here are some questions to ask groups, which will help them to process their experience of the game ‘Change-Up’.

  • While playing the game, what process did members use and did they change it at any time during the game?
  • Did the group effectively make decisions? Give reasons.
  • Describe what plans or strategies the group used that were successful.
  • Does this activity reveal how the group usually performs together?
  • Did you learn anything about initiating effective systems?

Variations of the Sorting It Out Activity

  • Instead of playing cards use coins: Collect a bunch of coins and hand them out, members must them to form a line of coins according to the year of manufacture on each.
  • Alphabetical order: Play the game as you would, but instead of placing the cards in a line numerically, they must be placed in alphabetical order. This might take a few more moments to get right, as it makes you think a bit harder. For example, Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades. This is where the difference comes in, as the suits now play a major role. When you get players with the same value cards, they won’t be lying next to each other, but in between all the cards.

Sorting It Out Team Building Activity

Basic Details
Property Type : Team Building
Listing Type : Placeholder
Activity Type : Team Building
Focus On : Communication, Collaboration, Having Fun, Leadership, Problem Solving
Outcome Based : Yes
Facilities : Indoor, Outdoor
Props Required : Minor
Duration : 16 - 25 minutes
Exertion Level : Medium
Group Size : 1 - 8, 9 - 16, 17 - 30, 31+
Age : Children, Youth, Adults