Game Play for Building Community Omaha Public Library Facilitators Yes, And! Game Play for Building Community Omaha Public Library Facilitators

Woosh Move Chairs to outside of room Stand in a circle Pass the “woosh” around the room Add... “Nope” - hands crossed to send it back the other way “Zap” - clap hands towards someone across the circle “Freak out” - everyone changes place “Everybody Dance Now” - dances in place Training to Imagine | Page 245 “Gesture Pass”

Yes, And! Why we play games? Facilitation as Community Engagement How we got to this - what has facilitation done for OPL - culture change Why we play games Talk about elevator speeches and visioning

Yes, And! What can games do? Introduction Team Building and Communication Creativity, Brainstorming, Problem Solving Building Energy

Yes, And! Where do we find games? Training to Imagine, Kat Koppett Yes, And, Kelly Leonard & Tom Yorton Gamestorming, Gray, Brown, & Macanufo Facilitator Game Lists

Yes, And! Things to remember: Space Supplies Consider Your Audience Ground Rules

Games for Introduction

3 Things in Common Get into pairs Find three things in common that you didn’t previously know they had in common Switch partners and try it again Training to Imagine | Page 239

Smart Phone Photos Find a partner Pull out your phone Tell your partner a story about a photo Switch partners Strategic Play | Page 23

Paper Strips Take a paper strip Pair up, discuss for 2 minutes Exchange questions and find new partners Repeat Facilitator Game List

Make a Nebraska Stand in a group Tell your neighbor where you are from Work together to arrange yourself geographically Facilitator Game List

Games for Team Building

Empathetic Listening Get into pairs Person A rants for 2 minutes about something they care about Don’t ask questions Person B’s reflects back what they heard that the person cares about. “I hear you care about….” Training to Imagine | Page 184

Stop/Go Walk around following the “go” and “stop” commands Now, do the opposite of what I say Now, shout your name out loud when I say “name” Now, shout your astrological sign when I say “birthday” Now, shout the opposite when I say “name” or “birthday” Facilitator Game List

But vs. And Groups of 3-5 Start with an idea Everyone responds with “Yes, but…” Continue until it degenerates Start again, new idea Everyone responds with “Yes, and…” Training to Imagine | Page 141

Games for Creativity

Giving Gifts Stand in a circle A presents B with an imaginary gift B accepts and says “Oh, it’s a _______. Thank you! I love it!” B presents C with an imaginary gift Training to Imagine | Page 168

That’s Exactly What it is! Brainstorming in groups of 4-8. Give them an object (i.e., paper clip, napkin, rubber band) first person has to say something the object could be and everyone else in the circle replies enthusiastically “That’s exactly what it is” and the object gets passed to the next person who needs to come up with a unique use for the object. Training to Imagine | Page 127 “Accept This”

Word at a Time Story Stand in a circle Decide on a story topic Tell the story, with each person contributing one word Training to Imagine | Page 186

Games for Building Energy

Ball Toss Stand in a circle Throw the ball to someone across the circle Throw the ball to someone else in the circle until everyone has received the ball only once Repeat the pattern, throwing the ball in the same sequence Add more balls! Movement! Running! Training to Imagine | Page 137

Paparazzi Look around the room and decide privately on one person whom will be Person A Pick on person to be Person B Person A is a celebrity, Person B is a paparazzi, you’re the bodyguard Stay between the celebrity you’re guarding and the paparazzi Training to Imagine | Page 195 “Safety Zone”

Untangle Stand in a circle Close your eyes and walk towards the center Clasp hands with someone Open eyes Untangle the mess without letting go Facilitator Game List

Statue Stand in a circle Person A jumps into the middle and poses Person B jumps in and completes the statue Person A jumps out Person C jumps in and completes the statue Yes, And | Pages 136, 219 “Thank You Statues”

Single Clap Stand in a circle Hold one arm in the air and hold one out in front (like an alligator) Clap Try to get the whole group to clap together at the same time Facilitator Game List

Questions?

Thank you! Omaha Public Library Facilitators Micki Dietrich | mdietrich@omahalibrary.org

Cover Story Groups of 4-6 Pretend you’re all from the same library Envision what an article about your library would be Brainstorm - initial ideas Cover - the story of your BIG success Headlines - convey the substance Sidebars - reveal interesting facets Quotes - can be from anyone Images - supporting content with illustration Present to group Gamestorming | Page 87