Helium Stick

Materials
You will need a light stick. A yard stick or two taped together at the end so it is long enough for your entire class works, but so would any stick you have that is lighter than a broom stick. The constant upward pressure students will need to use to stay connected to the stick needs to be greater than the weight of the stick.

Task

This task is deceptively simple but a powerful exercise for learning how to work together and communicate. Line your class up in two lines facing each other with their pointer fingers pointing across to the opposite line. When all fingers are lined-up place the stick across their fingers. Instruct the group to cooperatively move the stick to the floor without anyone taking their fingers off the stick.

The “trick” is that once everyone focuses on the stick and not taking their fingers off they will push up to stay connected. Just that little bit of movement upward will make everyone move their fingers up to stay connected…. Up and up the helium stick will “float.”

Extensions to simplify

Some groups will get frustrated with the paradox of the helium stick. Try to add a little humor. Pull the stick down like it is out of control and has a mind of it’s own. You may also press on the stick when you lay it along their fingers. This pressure jump start the group in their quest. Also, the less people you have the easier it is. You can split the class and add more students in as they become more successful.

Extension to challenge

Usually groups need no more challenge, but if you run into a group that is particularly awesome at this activity you can be EXTRA vigilant about fingers remaining connected to the stick and stop and start the group for any disconnect.  You may also take away their freedom to speak. Doing this task silently adds another layer of challenge.

This video shows another direction this activity can go in. You may want to have some studnets walkign about the group encouraging them to go UP with the stick. Shouting "UP" puts the pressure on the participants. Will they buckle under pressure? Only add this level if your class is already exceptional with the initial challenge or if you have many that have already experienced the activity.

Debriefing

Eventually the group will need to calm down and focus. They will need to move slowly and be patient.  After the group is successful or if time runs out you may ask the following questions:

·         What was the initial reaction of the group to the task?

·         How well did the group do with this challenge?

·         What skills did the group need to use to become successful?

·         What was the most frustrating part of this activity?

·         What other situations at school, home, or in other groups you participate are similar to this situation of working together to conquer a deceivingly difficult task?

Helium Stick reference