Water Fountains

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Share multi-topic information across small parallel groups with two-way conversation rather than a single plenary lecture.

Use it when: Use when multiple presenters have distinct updates or topics to share and participants need time to ask questions in small groups.

Skip it when: Skip when the whole group must witness the exact same briefing simultaneously, or when there is only one topic to cover.

Group arrangement: 3 parallel station groups with 2 to 8 participants each, led by 3 station hosts.

Timing: Relationship Makers Handbook suggests 60 to 180 minutes. This 75-minute plan provides three 18-minute discussion rounds plus setup and debrief.

Materials and tools

• 3 station signs with topic titles
• Chairs arranged at 3 separate station areas
• 1 shared timer or bell
• 1 notepad and pen per station host

Before participants arrive

1. Designate 3 distinct physical stations around the room.
2. Place a station sign at each station. Set out chairs as evenly as possible across the 3 stations so the total number of chairs equals the total count of visiting participants, differing by at most 1 chair when the count is not divisible by 3.
3. Brief the 3 station hosts in advance to prepare a 5-minute briefing followed by 12 minutes of two-way discussion.

Say this to open

Today we will skip a long lecture. We have three station hosts running small-group conversations called water fountains. You will visit each station across three rounds. At each station, your host will speak for five minutes, and then open the floor for discussion and questions. When the bell rings, rotate to your next station. If a station has no empty seats, move to one with an open seat.

How to run it

1. Introduce stations and assign first round 5 minutes

   Say the opening script. Announce the three station topics. Direct participants to choose a starting station, aiming for an even spread. Enforce the seat limit at each station. Once all participants have taken an open seat, start the timer.

2. Run station round 1 18 minutes

   Station hosts deliver their 5-minute briefing and facilitate 12 minutes of conversation. Hosts note key questions raised. Ring a bell at 17 minutes to give a one-minute wrap-up signal, then call time at 18 minutes.

3. Rotate and run station round 2 20 minutes

   Give participants 2 minutes to rotate to a new station with an open seat. Once seated, run the second 18-minute discussion round using the same format. Station hosts adapt their brief based on prior questions if helpful.

4. Rotate and run station round 3 20 minutes

   Allow 2 minutes for participants to move to their final unvisited station. Run the third 18-minute session. At the bell, invite all participants to return their attention to the plenary group.

5. Debrief and synthesize 12 minutes

   Gather the whole room. Ask each station host to share two notable themes or questions raised across their rounds (2 minutes each). Invite 2 to 3 voluntary comments from participants to close.

Debrief questions

• To the station hosts: What was a common question or surprising perspective that emerged across your groups?
• To the participants: What is one detail or takeaway you learned that you would have missed in a single slide presentation?
• What outstanding questions still need an answer before we move forward?

Finished output: Station hosts produce notes of questions and feedback gathered from participants across three rotations.

Remote

Set up 3 persistent breakout rooms named after each station topic. Station hosts stay in their designated rooms. Participants move between breakout rooms at each round interval. Facilitator broadcasts time warnings to all rooms via broadcast text or timer.

Hybrid

Station hosts remain stationed in separate digital breakout rooms. In-person participants join individually on laptops with headphones or gather at designated room tables with dedicated laptops logged into the respective digital breakout rooms. Remote participants join the same digital rooms. Seat caps apply equally across rooms.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may listen without speaking during station discussions.
• Stations should provide seating and step-free access between tables.
• Hosts provide printed copies or digital outlines of their key points at each table.

If the session gets stuck

Too many participants cluster around one popular station.

Enforce a hard chair limit. If all chairs at a station are filled, instruct remaining participants to choose an open seat at another station.

A station host talks the entire round without inviting discussion.

Remind hosts before starting to set a personal timer and stop presenting after 5 minutes to reserve at least 12 minutes for questions.

Terms used here

• Water Fountain: A small-group station where a topic owner shares information and hosts an interactive discussion with rotating participants.