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This Blowin' in the Wind activity also includes:
Working together isn't as easy as it looks! Small groups of classmates try to keep a balloon in the air using only a straw, their breath, and team communication.
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Concepts
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
- Use at the beginning of the year as an icebreaker to establish a collaborative class culture
- Extend the activity by encouraging groups to use only body language to communicate
- Incorporate into a language class in which group members can only speak their new language to each other
- Introduce a professional development seminar or retreat with teachers in each subject or grade level on the teams
Classroom Considerations
- Requires balloons and enough straws for each class member
- Needs an area with a lot of space to run around, preferably indoors to prevent wind interference
- Allows learners to sacrifice themselves to save the balloon; eliminate this rule if you think they will get too rowdy
- Blowing at each other through straws could spread germs during flu season
Pros
- Promotes teamwork and collaborative communication
- Versatile for any subject
Cons
- None