Deceptively
simple but powerful exercise for learning how to work together and
communicate in small to medium sized groups.
Line up in two rows which face each other.
Introduce the Helium Stick- a long, thin,
lightweight rod.
Ask participants to point their index fingers
and hold their arms out.
Lay the Helium Stick down on their fingers.
Get the group to adjust their finger heights until the Helium Stick
is horizontal and everyone's index fingers are touching the stick.
Explain that the challenge is to lower the
Helium Stick to the ground.
The catch: Each person's fingers must be in
contact with the Helium Stick at all times. Pinching or grabbing the
pole in not allowed - it must rest on top of fingers.
Reiterate to the group that if anyone's finger
is caught not touching the Helium Stick, the task will be
restarted. Let the task begin....
Warning: Particularly in the early stages, the
Helium Stick has a habit of mysteriously 'floating' up rather than
coming down, causing much laughter. A bit of clever humoring can
help - e.g., act surprised and ask what are they doing raising the
Helium Stick instead of lowering it! For added drama, jump up and
pull it down!
Participants
may be confused initially about the paradoxical behavior of the
Helium Stick.
Some groups or individuals (most often larger
size groups) after 5 to 10 minutes of trying may be inclined to give
up, believing it not to be possible or that it is too hard.
The facilitator can offer direct suggestions or
suggest the group stops the task, discusses their strategy, and then
has another go.
Less often, a group may appear to be succeeding
too fast. In response, be particularly vigilant about fingers not
touching the pole. Also make sure participants lower the pole all
the way onto the ground. You can add further difficulty by adding a
large washer to each end of the stick and explain that the washers
should not fall off during the exercise, otherwise it's a restart.
Eventually the group needs to calm down,
concentrate, and very slowly, patiently lower the Helium Stick -
easier said than done.
How Does it Work?
The stick does not contain helium. The secret (keep it to
yourself) is that the collective upwards pressure created by
everyone's fingers tends to be greater than the weight of the
stick. As a result, the more a group tries, the more the stick
tends to 'float' upwards.
Processing Ideas
What was the initial reaction of the group?
How well did the group cope with this challenge?
What skills did it take to be successful as a group?
What creative solutions were suggested and how were they
received?
What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and
weaknesses of the group?
What roles did people play?
What did each group member learn about him/her self as an
individual?
What other situations (e.g., at school, home or work) are like
the Helium Stick?
Equipment
A thin lightweight stick (plastic, or other very light
material)
Summary
Deceptively simple teamwork activity.
Form two lines facing each other. Lay a long, thin rod on
the group's index fingers. Goal: Lower to ground. Reality:
It goes up!
Group Size
8 to 12 ideal, but can be done with 6
to 14
Time
Total time ~25 mins
~5 minute briefing and set up
~10-15 minutes of active
problem-solving (until success)
Booth Sweeney, L. & D. Meadows (1996). The systems thinking
playbook: Exercises to stretch and build learning and systems
thinking capabilities. The Turning Point Foundation.
Gass, M. A. (1999). Lowering the bar. Ziplines: The Voice for
Adventure Education, Summer, 39, 25-27.
Deceptively
simple but powerful exercise for learning how to work together and
communicate in small to medium sized groups.
