The Activity

TeamBuild! is a two-stage, competitive activity. Teams first receive a Team Brief, a set of 16 Tasks and a Scoresheet. The tasks are a mix of conundrums and puzzles, requiring different skills. Some are easy some less so. Each team is given a unique PIN to access the (one) computer program and enter their solutions. If a correct solution is entered into the program, the team banks a full score for the task - BUT it has to be right first time. Second and third attempts score progressively fewer points. So attention to detail and double-checking are crucial!

Key to the activity is the need for teams to organise themselves in such a way as to maximize their point score. Who is best suited to do this task and who will double-check it? How can time be maximised? Coordination is key. As well, for each correct answer, the program reveals a letter of the alphabet (16 in all) which can be arranged to spell out a simple instruction. This leads to the second stage of the activity, a construction task, and the need for a totally different skills-set. Using newspapers, sticky tape and scissors, teams must build the tallest, free-standing giraffe possible. All attempts to cheat (strapping to table legs, leaning on pillars etc) is strictly forbidden - but that won't stop teams from trying! Fun activity, serious learning.

Leader Option

With a slight variation in the running, TeamBuild! you can be used to address both leadership and teamwork skills. all in the Trainer's Notes.

Trainer's Role

• Divide participants into teams. Introduce the session - briefly. PowerPoint provided.
• Issue a Team Brief and set of the Task Sheets to each team. (For the leadership option, select or elect team leaders. Call the leaders to the front and issue a Leader’s Brief to each.)
• Observe participants at work. Are they forming an effective team? Do they organise themselves? Do they minimize the chance of error? Do they cooperate with each other? Etc.
• When teams collect all their points and letters of the alphabet and worked out the message, issue additional resources (newspapers, tape and scissors) for stage two - the construction.
• At the deadline, stop all work. Measure the height of each construction (that conforms to the conditions).
• For each team, retrieve their problem-solving score, from the computer, and add it to the height (cms) of their ‘construction’.
• Before announcing the final scores and winning team, lead a discussion on what happened and what key lessons were learned from each stage.

Pack Contents

• Trainer's Notes
• Computer Program (internet access required)
• PowerPoint Presentation
• PDF Handouts ('Performance Checklist' & 'The Best Approach')
• PDF Brief for the Leadership option
• Team Briefs
• Sets of 16 Task Sheets
• Team Scoresheets
• Scissors, & Sticky Tape (5 sets)
• Tape measure

The computer program is accessed via the Northgate trainerhub.

Northgate Trainerhub

Benefits of the online Northgate Trainerhub include:

• Easy-to-access resource library which stores all the digital files for the activity in one place
• Immediate access to upgrades made to the activity over the five-year licence term
• Access to an online Trainer Forum where you can post questions, share experiences & network with other Trainers
• Access to free activities and icebreakers
• Option to send information to team leaders digitally via the hub using Team Access Codes
• Unlimited Trainer logins for all Trainers based at the licence-holding site