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

2. 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”

3. 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

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

5. 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

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

7. Games for Introduction

8. 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

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

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

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

12. Games for Team Building

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Games for Creativity

17. 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

18. That’s Exactly What it is!
Brainstorming in groups of 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”

19. 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

20. Games for Building Energy

21. 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

22. 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”

23. 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

24. 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”

25. 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

26. Questions?

27. Thank you! Omaha Public Library Facilitators
Micki Dietrich |

28. 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