Cooperation · Activity

Team Cup Stacking

5th & 6th Grade



Materials needed: same size plastic or paper cups (6 per team of 4 students); rubber bands; string; table space



Directions: Divide the students into groups of 4. Provide each group with table space, 6 cups, a rubber band big enough to go around a cup, and 4 strings, each about 2 feet long. The task is to make a pyramid out of the cups -  3 on the bottom, 2 in the middle, and 1 on top - without touching the cups with their hands or any other part of their bodies, even if a cup falls on the floor. The only way to move the cups is by manipulating strings attached to the cups.  Instruct each team to pick one cup, put a rubber band around it and attach 4 strings to the rubber band.The team members stand around the table each holding a string that’s attached to cup #1. Instruct them to move cup #1. Four students, each holding a string, move the cup to a place on the table. Once that cup is set, they remove the rubber band, place it on cup #2 and move that cup in place, manipulating the strings, next to #1. The groups build their pyramid in this way, moving the cups one by one using the strings until it is finished. When the groups have had enough practice, have a competition to see who can do it the fastest. After the activity, lead a discussion using the following questions: 



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  • What were some of the challenges you had building the pyramid? 


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  • How was your communication within the team - were you able to talk about strategies and solutions, or not? 


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  • Did anyone get frustrated, and if so, did that help or hinder your progress as a team? 


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  • Do you think your group would get better if you practiced more, or not?  


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  • Share about a time when you were part of a team, and what that was like for you - did you enjoy the experience or not and why? 






Wrap it up: Congratulate students for their efforts. Explain that good communication and teamwork are essential life skills and that it takes a lot of practice to gain those abilities. Successful businesses and organizations have team building activities for their employees regularly because they know how important this is.  

 
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