Pass the Stone
This activity engages participants in a fun way to demonstrate teamwork and strategy through observation and communication. Teams will try to determine the location of a stone being passed between members, fostering interaction and collaboration.
How to run it
- 1
Arrange participants in two parallel lines facing each other, about two feet apart.
- 2
Ensure both lines have an equal number of participants and provide each line with a small stone.
- 3
Participants will either pass the stone or pretend to pass it while keeping their hands in front.
- 4
On a signal, both lines simultaneously try to detect where the stone is passed.
- 5
Once the stone reaches the end, teams huddle to guess who has it on the opposing team and score points for correct guesses.
- 6
After scoring, switch leaders by moving the head of the line to the back, repeating the process.
- 7
Encourage teams to discuss strategies on how to improve their next guess after each round.
Tips
Encourage participants to focus on the other team rather than their own.
Remind teams to share their thoughts on strategy clearly during the huddles to improve teamwork.
Keep the energy high by celebrating correct guesses and good communication strategies.
Variations
To modify the exercise, you can increase the number of lines or add time limits for discussion to increase the challenge.
Where it fits
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Pass the Stone?â–¾
Use Pass the Stone when you want to: team building exercise; strategy session; interactive workshop; icebreaker activity; project kickoff.
How long does Pass the Stone take?â–¾
Pass the Stone typically takes 10–15 minutes.
How many participants does Pass the Stone work for?â–¾
Pass the Stone works best for groups of 10–30 participants.
What materials do I need for Pass the Stone?â–¾
Pass the Stone requires no special materials — just participants and a space.
How difficult is Pass the Stone to facilitate?â–¾
Pass the Stone is rated beginner — straightforward to facilitate even without prior experience.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from SessionLab. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.