Challenge Your Team with Calculator Game

The calculator game promotes better communication between team members and highlights the importance of planning. How smoothly the activity goes depends largely on how well the team plans their approach to the ‘calculator’.

In this activity, the team has to touch all the numbers on the ‘calculator’ from 1 to 20 in sequence. They will get two attempts and the objective is to improve their time.

You need 20 pieces of paper, numbered 1 – 20, rope or masking tape to mark out the calculator (approx. 7m in length) and a timer. The ideal group size: 6 – 10 participants.

Create the ‘calculator’ by marking out a large rectangle (approximately 1.5m by 2m) with enough rows and columns for 20 numbers. Place the numbered pieces of paper into the ‘calculator’. You can do place the numbers in sequence or jumble them up to make the task more difficult.

Mark out a starting line that is 5m away from the ‘calculator’. Each team is tasked with pressing each ‘button’ on the ‘calculator’ in sequence, from 1 to 20.

They will get 5 minutes of planning time before each attempt. Once ready, the facilitator will begin the activity and time how long it takes for the team to complete the task.

In the second round, the team’s aim is to lower their time.

At the end of the activity, the team is informed of their time. Then the second round begins; they are given 5 minutes to devise a new strategy that will lower their time.

If you think that the team can further improve their time after their second attempt, you can give them a third try at the activity.

Rules

• The team must start and end the activity with all members standing behind the starting line.
• Each team member must touch at least two number.
• All team members must stand on the outside of the ‘calculator’ except for the person who is touching a number.
• The numbers must be touched in sequence; if not, the team must restart from 1.

Moment of Reflection

• Would this task have been easier or more difficult without planning?
• Does group planning achieve better results?
• What is the advantage of being part of a team? Are there any downsides?

The topics of this publication: interactions, strategy, collaboration, teamwork, leadership