Lego Replication – Communication or Teambuilding Activity

This game usually takes about ½ hour. Before the activity takes place, the teacher needs to make a structure that the lookers can view.

Participants: Form several groups of 4-6 to a group.

Builder (1) – Receives a bag of Legos. Only person who may touch the Legos. Takes direction from the Runner. The Builder may not speak and may not see the model.

Runner (1)– The Runner tells the Builder what the Looker told him/her. When the Runner can’t remember any more details or wants to confirm a detail or ask questions, the Runner and Looker may converse freely about the details. The Runner may not touch the Legos – the Runner may only tell the Builder what to do.

Looker (1) – Sees the original model. The Looker looks at the original model and tells the Runner all the details he/she can remember about the model. The Looker may not see what the Builder is doing, only the Runner may see what is being built.

Observers (1-3)– Non-participants in the interaction who write down observations from a communication standpoint. (Any breakdowns in communication, misunderstandings, frustrations, giving up, anything positive about what is going on?). Observers may only observe – they observe the Looker, Runner, and Builder and write down what they observe. They may not talk nor answer questions – they are invisible.

This goes back and forth for 15 minutes.

Each small group then gathers together and looks at their group’s finished model, comparing it to the original. (Small group discussion for about 10 minutes.)

Discussion takes place about what was observed, felt, experienced, learned, etc?

How similar is the original model to the newly built model?

How does this activity help us be more aware of how effective our communication is? Be more aware of our role in communication?

Next, go back to the larger group and briefly discuss the highlights of what was learned or observed during this activity. (Large group discussion for about 5 minutes) Ask for one representative from several of the small groups to give a brief (1 minute or less) overview of what happened in their group.