The Tower Builder Exercise
Can also be facilitated as "How to Build a Better Dog House" or "Building a Bridge Up On a Hill".
INTRODUCTION: This teambuilding activity can help a group understand the assets and challenges they possess when working as a team. It can also serve as a useful lesson to teach about material limitations and working under timelines.
INSTRUCTIONS: This activity requires close adherence to the following instructions. Additional options include using a stopwatch and altering the materials. This activity is "resource intensive", so make sure to plan ahead and provide all necessary items.
• Teambuilding through hands-on problem-solving
• Successful completion with limited resource
• Meeting time-constraints under pressure
• Following project planning steps through completion
Materials Needed for Each Team
• 3 sheets of flip-chart paper
• 4 full-size paper plates (stiff, not flimsy)
• 4 paper cups (12 or 16 oz)
• 4 straws (regular drinking straws)
• 3 feet of masking tape
• 1 pair of scissors
Build a 3-dimensional free-standing tower using only the materials provided by the facilitator.
Criteria for Success
• The tower must be at least 5 feet tall, and;
• The tower must be able to withstand a moderate breeze (as blown by the facilitator).
• Your group has 12 minutes to plan, 8 minutes to build, and 10 minutes to debrief the exercise;
• You can not touch any of the materials during the planning phase, and;
• Your tower must stand free of any outside support (i.e., it can not be attached to the floor, ceiling, wall, or a team member).
Phases to Follow
PLAN: Choose a team leader, a time keeper, and a recorder, and as a team, plan how to build the tower.
BUILD: When you are given the signal by the instructor, construct a free standing tower.
DEBRIEF: Conduct a team assessment of the exercise using the following Dimensions of Success.
Dimensions of Success
• Completion of task
• Achievement of goal
• How the work gets done
• How the work is designed and managed
• How the work is evaluated and monitored
• How was your experience working with the people in your group?
• How people feel about their involvement and contribution to this project?
• How did your team balance the three dimensions of success during the exercise?
• Did you complete the task but neglect relationships?
• Was everyone in your group involved?
• Did the process work for you, or did you sacrifice results so that everyone felt good about the group and the exercise?
• Which of the three dimensions listed above was the most important for your team?
• How does this experience relate working in our organization?
Fletcher, A. (2002). FireStarter Youth Power Curriculum: Participant Guidebook. Olympia, WA: Freechild Project.