TRAINING ON SOCIAL SKILLS

MARSHMALLOW CHALLENGE

Preparation (what needs to be prepared beforehand to make the activity’s implementation successful):
The aim will be for the participants to build the tallest free-standing structure with spaghettis and a marshmallow which must be on the top of the structure. Groups should be limited to 3-4 participants for a better distribution of tasks.

Activity’s step-by-step description:
1. Make groups of 3-4 participants and give them each the materials for the activity.
Each group designates an "observer". He/she does not participate in the activity; he/she will be responsible for noting down all his/her observations: who does what, what are the different steps of the work...
2. They have 18 minutes to build the structure that has to stand on its own (at least 3 seconds).
Notes:
They cannot cut the marshmallow into pieces.
They can use all or part of the materials given.
Their structure must NOT be attached or taped up to the table or the floor.

3. At the end of the time limit, the structures are measured and the winning team is designated.

4. At the end of the activity, the whole group debriefs on how the teams worked out with the challenge: strategies, group work, social skills involved, possible improvement in the team work…

VIDEO CAPSULE

THE EXERCISE IN SITUATION

Necessary materials (per group):
20 sticks of spaghetti, one-meter tape, one-meter string, one marshmallow, timers (phone application for instance).

Emotional competencies that will be developed:
Interpersonal and intrapersonal: Initiative, attentiveness, mutual aid, time management, patience.
Emotional skills that will be developed:
AWARENESS: Self-identification of skills, Empathy, Awareness of others’ skills.
MANAGEMENT: Management of own resources towards problem-solving, Resilience, Coaching, Cooperation, Proactivity.

Key terms / special vocabulary about / during the activity:
...

Final observations and methodological recommendations towards the activity’s implementation (do’s and don’ts):
The final debriefing could be divided into 3 parts:
1. The observers say what they have observed (Time management, Leadership - Listening - Strategy - Cooperation /Collaboration).
2. The facilitators ask specific questions to focus the analysis on social skills.
3. How to analyze the work of the different groups / their strategies?y.

"The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein."

Type of activity: intrapersonal & interpersonal

Number of participants: Maximum 16-20 (groups of 4-5)

Participants’ academic profile(s): irrelevant

Participants’ average age: Undetermined.

Duration: 60 minutes

Evaluation:
The facilitator could ask a few follow-up questions in order to assess the activity’s results:
- “How did you feel during the activity?
- Have you discovered anything new about yourself? About others?
- Has there been something that you have not realized about yourself / about your behavior which your partners have realized? What was it, if you want to share about?