The Snowflakes Falling Challenge

Snowflakes Falling is a game of physical dexterity, but it is also a fun and entertaining team building activity to promote collaboration. This exercise is all about catching as many (artificial) snowflakes as if stuck in a blizzard.

I assure you that it is very difficult to catch a thin strip of paper when it is falling, they rarely travel in a straight line. Catching sheets of paper is difficult, so this is a good problem for a group to solve.

In advance, take a couple of sheets of paper and use the scissors to cut out as many rectangle strips about 4cm x 1cm (1.5” x 0.5”.) in size. Each strip represents a snowflake.

Gather your group in a wide-open space and explain that over the course of multiple rounds, their task will be to catch as many snowflakes (little strips of paper) before they hit the ground. At first, their task is that each person to catch one snowflake and then for the second round, two snowflakes, three snowflakes for the third round, etc.

For each successful round, your group will be entitled to catch one extra snowflake.

To create the blizzard-like conditions, simply equip your group with the requisite snowflakes for each round and instruct all those who are holding a snowflake to toss them high into the air simultaneously on your signal. You may wish to start your group standing in a circle.

Naturally, as more snowflakes enter the blizzard, the likelihood of one or more hitting the ground increases. When this happens, simply repeat the round (with the same number of flakes) to invite your group to make another attempt.

Moment of Reflection

• Did this task seem like an easy problem to solve in the beginning?
• What was the most difficult part of the problem to solve? Why?
• Was it possible to activate a solid plan? What got in the way of success?
• How did your group make decisions?
• Raise your hand if you thought of at least one idea during the exercise? Keep it raised if you believe it was heard? What does this mean?
• How did your team achieve its goal?
• How might the task of catching snowflakes represent real life?
• What lessons might this exercise teach us?

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