Two Rainy Day Activities - The Paper Chain and Skittles Challenges

Here are two team building activities that can be done when your classes are confined to their rooms on a rainy day:

1. The Paper Chain Challenge

• Divide class into 4 teams
• Provide each team with the following:
• 10 sheets of writing paper (I usually get this out of recycling), a sheet of mailing labels (a 100 sheet box costs about $13 at Staples) and a pair of scissors
• The Challenge:
• To build the longest paper chain in 10 minutes
• Teams have 2 minutes to plan, 10 minutes to build.  Teams must start each and finish each segment together
• The Catch:  
• Students may only use one arm.
• Rules violations result in time penalties.
  

The longest chain I've seen constructed was 24' long.

2.  The Skittles Challenge

• Divide the class into four teams
• Provide each team with the following:
• A bowl, or some other wide mouthed container, a blindfold, 5 different colored sheet of construction paper (I use foam pads from Michael's) and approximately 2 oz. of Skittles (32 oz bag of Skittles, $6, 2 oz scoop)
• Set the bowl containing the Skittles at one end of the challenge course and the construction paper at the opposite end.
  
• The Challenge:
• To sort the skittles by transporting them, one at a time, from the bowl to the appropriate colored sheet of paper
• The sorter is blindfolded.  Other teammates serve as guides
• Teams have 2 minutes to plan, 10 minutes to sort.
  
• The Catch:
• Guides may not use any form of oral communication
• Guides may not touch the sorter.
• Touching the sorter or use of oral communication results in time penalties
• Peeking from the blindfold results in disqualification.
  
• Scoring:
• Teams are awarded 5 points for every correctly sorted Skittle, but lose 5 points for every incorrectly sorted skittle.
• Bonus:  
• Kids divvy up, then eat the Skittles at the end of the challenge

Enjoy!