You might be able to tell that I love games! Games are a great way to teach youth and also a wonderful brain break when teaching. Jim Cain author of The big book of low-cost training games along with several other outstanding publications created the game Raccoon Circles. The game objective is to introduce yourself. How many of us have used the same introduction game over and over? It is fun for staff and for the youth to introduce themselves in a new way even if the topic is still the same. Below you will find the details about the game along with a “how to” video link.
Group Size: 5 people per group
Game Set-Up: Begin with multiple unknotted Raccoon Circles (rope), one for each small group of 5 to 6 participants. One person in each group begins by introducing themselves while wrapping the flat Raccoon Circle webbing (rope) around his or her Index finger. The participant continues talking until he or she has completed wrapping the entire length of the Raccoon Circle around his or her finger. After the teen complete wrapping the rope around their finger their turn is over and they pass the rope to the next person in the circle. Watch video link as needed to further understand the game
Link: https://youtu.be/YnCusfSCLNA
Supplies: 6 Raccoon Circles or rope for a class size of 30
Notes about Activity: This activity will help ease the group into speaking in front of others by providing a topic to discuss and something to keep the youths’ hands busy as they speak (like a fidget spinner). By performing this task while speaking, most participants feel more comfortable and relaxed. The result of having youth wrap something around their finger as they speak also encourages/forces youth to share more details since they have to share as long they are wrapping the rope around their finger. Generally, groups will learn more than just name, where they are form, and what they like to do.
Topic Suggestions: Tell your group about yourself, tell us about your favorite foods, tell the group about something you enjoy doing and why you like to do it, and if you could be anything what would you be and why?