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Exercises/Reflection and Learning/Bean Bag
Team Reflection ยท Reflection and Learning

Bean Bag

The object is for the group to establish a forward and reverse pattern while throwing one bean bag around, and then repeat the pattern with two or more bean bags added.

5 to 15 minutesTIME
Small group (4-8)GROUP SIZE
ActiveENERGY
In person, RemoteSETTING
High cognitive loadCOGNITIVE LOAD
Strengthens Learning Transfer This reflection and learning exercise strengthens Learning Transfer, one of the eight Gathering Effectiveness pillars.

How to run it

  1. Resources Needed - three bean bags. Alternatively you could use juggling or koosh balls. You will also need plenty of space for the activity.
  2. . Ask participants to stand and move apart so there is space between them.
  3. . The object is for the group to establish a forward and reverse pattern while throwing one bean bag around, and then repeat the pattern with two or more bean bags added.
  4. . The first person will pass the bean bag to any member in the group, then wait until the fifth person in the pattern has caught it, then pass the second bean bag.
  5. . When the first bean bag arrives back at the first person he/she must reverse the pattern by passing it back to the person that threw it to them.
  6. . Play continues until all bean bags are back with the person who started the pattern.
  7. . If participants do not know each other well then you could get the thrower to call the name of the person they are throwing it to.
  8. They are starting with objects at a close distance and then the distance increases and they have to speak louder.
Live facilitator

Run this exercise live

The facilitator console stays in this browser. Its QR handoff is a short-lived participant snapshot containing only public exercise instructions, phase, prompt, and timer state.

Prompts to use +

Resources Needed - three bean bags. Alternatively you could use juggling or koosh balls. You will also need plenty of space for the activity.

. Ask participants to stand and move apart so there is space between them.

. The object is for the group to establish a forward and reverse pattern while throwing one bean bag around, and then repeat the pattern with two or more bean bags added.

. The first person will pass the bean bag to any member in the group, then wait until the fifth person in the pattern has caught it, then pass the second bean bag.

. Play continues until all bean bags are back with the person who started the pattern.

. If participants do not know each other well then you could get the thrower to call the name of the person they are throwing it to.

Run this with your AI assistant +

Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Bean Bag. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Resources Needed - three bean bags. Alternatively you could use juggling or koosh balls. You will also need plenty of space for the activity.; . Ask participants to stand and move apart so there is space between them.; . The object is for the group to establish a forward and reverse pattern while throwing one bean bag around, and then repeat the pattern with two or more bean bags added.; . The first person will pass the bean bag to any member in the group, then wait until the fifth person in the pattern has caught it, then pass the second bean bag.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.

Origin unverified

  • Where we observed it: The exercise appears across 2 observed source organizations in the current corpus. (2 sources observed, including TrainerBubble, SessionLab.)
  • What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
  • No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
  • Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.

Pairs well with