This one was inspired by the activity Human Bingo where players collect signatures on their “Bingo” card (piece of paper) for different achievements reached, or experiences had, by others in the group. For Cup Networking, each group creates their own questions instead of getting them from the facilitator.
Activity Objective: Small groups write as many questions as they can on their cup. After the cups are passed around from group-to-group, the goal is to have the least amount of check marks – being the group with the most unique life experiences at the time.
Facilitated Objective:
- Discovering commonalities.
- Building relationships.
- Building trust.
- Finding the fun.
Needs Per Group:
- 1 cup per participant
- 1 permanent marker per participant
Have extra cups and markers available for backup.
Numbers: Four to eight players per group. At least four groups will be needed for this one. Plays well with up to 60 participants (divided into at least seven groups).
Time: 20 to 30 minutes.
Procedure: Have everyone gather in a circle, then divide the circle into small groups of four to eight players. The small groups should be arranged together in circle formation, as well, like numbers on a clock (the center of the clock is the center point of the original large circle). The purpose of the clock formation is so that the cups can be passed in a specified fashion later. Give one cup and one permanent marker to each small group. The objective is to have every player in the small group write one unique “Yes” or “No” question on their cup. For example, “Do you like to ride motorcycles?” Or, “Do you know a celebrity?” Each question must be true for the person who writes it on the cup.
When facilitating, ask the players not to write questions that are too common, like, “Have you ever worn shoes?” Everyone wears shoes. Unless you are working with a group from Harley Davidson, the question, “Do you like to ride a motorcycle?” is not likely to result in everyone checking the cup. These are the types of questions you want them to write. The questions should be at the category level and not too specific. For example, “Do you know Tom Cruise?” is too specific. You may ask however, “Do you know a celebrity?”
Keep in mind, you will want to make sure each cup has the same number of questions. If you have a few small groups of six people and the rest of the groups only have five people, you will ask the groups with five to include an additional question that is true for someone in their group.
Cup Networking Guidelines
When all the groups have written out their questions follow these steps:
- Have each small group give itself a name and write it on the bottom of their cup.
- Instruct each small group to pass their cup to the group on their right – each small group will have another group’s cup after switching.
- Start a one minute timer (or start the stopwatch – going to one minute).
- Someone in each small group will read aloud the questions on the cup to his/her groupmates. The reader will make a check mark by the question for each person in the group that can answer the question as true for them – if a question is true for three people in the group, make three check marks. Go on to the next question.
- After one minute ask for all writing to stop.
- Have the small groups pass the cups to the right.
- After the pass the facilitator will start the one minute timer and checking begins.
- Continue passing cups, after every minute, until all small groups have had a chance to read all the other groups’ cups and each group is finally in possession of their own cup.
- Each group is then tasked with counting the check marks on their cup. The group with the lowest number of check marks is crowned the most unique bunch pf people at that moment!
- Be sure to say that each team should never check off their own cup’s questions (dah!). Have each small group give itself a name and write it on the bottom of their cup.
- Instruct each small group to pass their cup to the group on their right (counterclockwise) – each small group should have another group’s cup.
- Instruct everyone to have one person from their group read the questions on the cup aloud to his/her groupmates – one at a time. The reader will make a check mark next to a question for each person in the group that answers Yes to that question. For example, if a question is true for three people in the group, The reader makes three check marks. Go on to the next question.
- Start a one minute timer. (You can be flexible with this time limit.)
- After one minute tell everyone to stop writing.
- Have the small groups again, pass the cups to their right.
- After the cups are passed, give the groups one minute to read the questions and add checkmarks to the cup.
- Continue passing cups, after every minute, until all small groups have had a chance to read all the other groups’ cups and each group is once again in possession of their original cup.
- Each group is then tasked with counting the check marks on their cup. The group with the lowest number of check marks is crowned, The Most Unique Bunch of People! (At that moment.)
- Be sure to mention that each team should not check off their own cup’s questions. (You know you’ve got to say it!)
Safety: Before you begin, remind everyone about mental and emotional safety issues. Ask them not to write questions that will embarrass or pressure anyone into any unnecessary confessions. Also, be sure to use “non-toxic” permanent markers for this one. (Do they still make the toxic markers?)
Facilitation: You may have to coach groups around including “fair” questions – ones that are not too specific. You could say something like, “If you are not sure about a question you could check it with me before writing it on your cup.”
Adjust the time as needed depending on the size of the small groups. For example, if there are groups of eight people, you might want to have 90-second rotations between the passing of the cups.
We have found that breaking up the rules during the presentation leads to better clarity. For example, first share the rules about how to write the questions on the cups. Then allow them to do so before explaining how to play the game. Consider holding off sharing the rule about passing cups until the time is up for writing on the cups. In other words, share the rules when they become necessary.
Observations/Questions:
- Discovering commonalities:
A. Did anyone notice cups with similar questions?
B. What does that tell you about your group?
C. What is good about sharing commonalities with each other?
D. What is good about having differences among each other?
- Building relationships:
A. How does sharing differences build relationships in your group?
B. What drew you the most to your group?
C. How comfortable were you contributing a question to the cup?
D. Did it seem easier for some than others? Why do you think that is?
E. Did you ask for ideas? Are you comfortable asking for help?
- Building trust:
A. How did trust play into this activity?
B. What question or questions did not get answered?
C. Did you trust that others were being truthful, that someone actually did what was written?
D. Did you think that any of the questions were too specific? How did you react to this?
- Finding the fun:
A. What, if anything, made this activity fun for you?
B. Thinking back on the questions you encountered, which questions were the most fun for you?
C. What question did you see/hear that you wanted to know more about?
D. In general, what makes something fun for you – what are your “fun factors”?
E. When is the last time you had a lot of fun? What were you doing?
Variations :
- With groups smaller than 15 players, give a cup and a marker to each person. With five minutes on the clock have each player individually write six questions about themselves. During game play, rotate the cups to the right every 20 seconds. During each rotation players initial the questions on other players’ cups that are true for them. After one complete rotation – each person reads over his/her own cup and counts initials. Find out who has the least number of questions initialed on their cup. Celebrate this person’s (and everyone’s) uniqueness.
- Have players write about themselves related to specific topics. For example, the facilitator will say, “Write questions related to hobbies you have or like.” Or, “Write questions that are related to school” or, “work”. As the group gets to know each other a little more, building more trust, you may choose to make the topics a little more personal. For example, “Write questions related to your family.” Or, “Write questions related to any fears you have about the present or future.” “Write questions about wishes and dreams.”