Rollercoaster Check-In

This playful method creates a powerful shared picture of the feelings in the group. Checking-in is a simple way for a team to start a meeting, workshop, or activity. By using the metaphor of a rollercoaster this alternative version supports participants to think differently about how they are feeling. People place themselves at different points on the rollercoaster, explaining their dominant feeling right now.

Time frame
5-60min
Group size
2-40
Facilitiation lvl
beginner
How experience one should have to lead this exercise
Comfort zone
safe
How stressful or challenging this exercise can be for the group
Materials
Pens/Markers Flipchart Paper/Whiteboard

Step 1:
Gather the group in a horseshoe around a flipchart/whiteboard. Explain the purpose of a check-in if necessary, that it’s an important tool to take the group’s emotional temperature, to uncover any fears, concerns, or needs. Explain that this is a method to explore the whole group’s feelings in a playful and visual way.

Facilitator notes
In certain cases some participants may choose not to check-in. Make sure that everyone is given the opportunity to check-in but if some choose not to, simply check with them after the session to see if there are any issues that might need to be addressed.
Step 2:
Draw a wavy line across the entire flipchart/whiteboard that resembles a basic rollercoaster with loops, steep sections, and shallow sections.
Step 3:
Explain that we are going to draw ourselves on the rollercoaster, depicting how we feel right now, then share that feeling with the group. We’ll do this one-by-one, either in order around the horseshoe or at random.
Step 4:
Give each participant as much time as you think is necessary and practical. It can be as little as one word, or as much as 5-10 minutes.
Step 5:
When everyone has checked-in, if there is time then look at the rollercoaster as a whole group and share/discuss any thoughts that emerge.

Staff picks

innovation

Apple-Drawing Ideation

The purpose of this simple exercise is to demonstrate three key principles useful for creativity and idea generation: quantity is a condition for quality; building on the ideas of others; the ideas we come up with are usually all the same. The format is simple, with small groups standing and drawing apples. At the end of the exercise the whole group reflects and draws out learnings and reflections.

action

IDOARRT Meeting Design

IDOARRT is a simple tool to support you to lead an effective meeting or group process by setting out clear purpose, structure and goals at the very beginning. It aims to enable all participants to understand every aspect of the meeting or process, which creates the security of a common ground to start from. The acronym stands for Intention, Desired Outcome, Agenda, Rules, Roles and Responsibilities and Time.

self-leadership

Stinky Fish

A short activity to run early in a program, focused on sharing fears, anxieties and uncertainties related to the program theme. The purpose is to create openness within a group. The stinky fish is a metaphor for "that thing that you carry around but don’t like to talk about; but the longer you hide it, the stinkier it gets." By putting stinky fish (fears and anxieties) on the table, participants begin relate to each other, become more comfortable sharing, and identify a clear area for development and learning.

team

Crocodile River

A team-building activity in which a group is challenged to physically support one another in an endeavor to move from one end of a space to another. It requires working together creatively and strategically in order to solve a practical, physical problem. It tends to emphasize group communication, cooperation, leadership and membership, patience and problem-solving.

action

Action Plan Workshop: The Arrow

This workshop aims to help participants define, decide and achieve their goals. By supporting participants to envision where they want to be in a number of years on a holistic level, and defining the steps that will take them there, participants get a clearer picture of the action they need to take.

team

Appreciation Train

This exercise is useful for bringing groups together, to create interpersonal bonds, and to build trust. Participants stand opposite each other and have 30 seconds to give appreciative feedback to the other person. The group rotates until everyone has given feedback to everyone else. It is often used as part of wrap-up activities, to create an energized feeling to leave with.

Methods & Tools curated by Hyper Island

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Rollercoaster Check-In

Step 1:

Facilitator notes

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Staff picks

Apple-Drawing Ideation

IDOARRT Meeting Design

Stinky Fish

Crocodile River

Action Plan Workshop: The Arrow

Appreciation Train

I want to know more about using these tools and the Hyper Island methods.

Rollercoaster Check-In

Step 1:

Facilitator notes

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Sources and Related

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Staff picks

Apple-Drawing Ideation

IDOARRT Meeting Design

Stinky Fish

Crocodile River

Action Plan Workshop: The Arrow

Appreciation Train

I want to know more about using these tools and the Hyper Island methods.