Equal parts fun and practical.
The term desert island activity might seem challenging, but the essence is simple: it’s effective.
Of course, we all use free training icebreakers for online teaching, but it’s always important to know exactly what to do.
The desert island activity is a popular team-building exercise used in workshops.
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Although we may think that it’s just a bit of fun the purpose of this activity is to improve teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.
It requires participants to imagine they are stranded on a desert island and must choose items that are most crucial for survival.
Where to begin: desert island choices and ice-cream islands.
Instructions
Because the steps involved are so important, we want to show you exactly how to complete this desert island activity:
- The facilitator divides participants into small groups of 4-6 people.
- Each group is given a list of 10-15 items, such as food, water, tools, etc.
- The group must discuss and agree on choosing 5-7 items most essential for survival on the desert island.
- Groups take turns presenting the selected items and explaining why they chose them.
Cost and Resources
When you try to use this icebreaker, this activity requires minimal resources.
According to experts, the facilitator only needs to prepare the list of items for each group.
Adopting this approach means no cost is involved, meaning you should not feel overwhelmed when using this icebreaker game.
Time Required
The full activity requires 30-45 minutes, including discussion, selection, and debriefing.
Number of Participants
This is an instant and accessible solution ideal for groups of 4-6 people. The total number of participants can range from 12-30.
Best Suited For
The desert island activity works well for any team as an icebreaker or deeper team-building exercise. It’s best for colleagues who work together directly.
Facilitator’s Role
The facilitator divides people into groups, distributes the item lists, times the activity, and leads the debrief discussion.
Participants’ Role
If you’re not familiar with this activity, it’s essential to get acquainted with the participants’ roles. The participants’ roles are instrumental. Their role is to discuss which items are most crucial for survival and work together to select the agreed-upon items for their list.
Debrief Questions
The role of debriefing has been spotlighted recently. We recommend that after the activity, the facilitator debriefs using these reflection questions:
- What was challenging or accessible about choosing the items?
- How did your group approach decision-making?
- What strategies helped your teamwork? What could you improve?
- How does this relate to collaboration at work?
Conclusion
Icebreakers may be all the rage lately, but remember to keep a close eye on the prize. According to our research, the desert island activity teaches important skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and communication.
Here’s why the desert island activity may be just what you need.
The desert island activity provides a fun and engaging way to improve collaboration that can be applied to real work situations. We hear this from customers who have ordered our full set of courses.
With thoughtful debriefing, it’s an impactful team-building experience.
Learn more about how to use training games.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
