Tag Archives: breakthrough

Time
25-40 minutes (depending upon group size)

Description

This fun icebreaker can be an energizing way to get participants thinking out of the box.

Materials

o  Flipchart paper (several sheets for each group)

o  Markers (different colors to allow for creativity)

o  Masking tape to hang flipcharts

o  Prizes for the winners (optional)

Preparation

None

Procedure

Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):

• “We are going to do an activity to help us think out of the box.”
• “It will get us ready for some possibility thinking.”
• “Before we begin, I need to separate you into teams.”  (Separate participants into groups using whatever sorting technique you like.  Group size should be about 6-8 people.  Once they are sorted, read the following few paragraphs.  You might want to ask someone with artistic abilities to draw the planet and its characteristics as you tell the story.)
• “Each group represents a team of scientists who has discovered intelligent life on two planets in a distant galaxy.  The planets are called Inner Zebox and Outer Zebox.”
• “Your deep space probe has returned findings that have led you to believe that Inner Zebox is a dying planet.”  The atmosphere is stale and toxic and limits the thinking abilities of those who live there to safe, comfortable and uninspired ideas.
• “Outer Zebox, however, is flourishing!  The atmosphere there is crisp and full of energy, and it gives those living there the ability to think new, innovative and exciting ideas.”
• “You are a little surprised that life is flourishing on Outer Zebox, because conditions on the planet are quite unusual.”
• “For example, it has three suns.”
• “It spins five times faster than the rotation of the earth.”
• “Strong winds on the planet blow straight up from the surface.”
• “And the planet is located right in the middle of an asteroid belt, where it receives meteor showers three times a day.”
• “Your government is very excited (and a little worried) at the idea that another planet has intelligent life, and they have asked you to draw a sketch of the type of being you are likely to meet when you make contact.”
• “In your groups, discuss and then draw the intelligent life form that would flourish on this planet.”
• “Your probe has not yet returned photographs, so you will have to make some educated guesses about what it looks like and what it is able to do.”
• “Use the data you’ve collected about its environment to help you imagine this new life form.”
• “You have fifteen (15) minutes to complete your drawings.”  (After groups have finished their drawings, have them hang them up on the wall.  Then have each group do a short presentation about their life form.  After all the presentations, invite the participants to vote on the creature that is the most “Outer Zebox” (innovative and most likely to flourish on the planet) by putting a single dot in the corner of the drawing they like best with a marker.  Award a prize if you wish.)