Objectives
- To provide a way to discuss team qualities and to learn about how other team members see themselves and the work of the team.
- To help build team identity.
- To use visual material to support discussion about team member values and assumptions.
Time
45 minutes
Materials Required
Flip chart and marker pens or blank copies of the ‘Coat of Arms’.
Instructions
Instructions:
Distribute blank copies of the ‘Coat of Arms’ to each team member on A3 paper, or ask team members to draw their own on a sheet of flip chart paper.
Sometimes teams can have difficulty getting started on unfamiliar creative tasks – so the activity leader should prepare one or two ideas to get the discussions started.
Ask the team member to draw their personal Coat of Arms as follows:
In space 1 – ask the team as a whole to draw something that characterises a recent peak performance (e.g. a project completed, school built).
In space 2 – draw something about yourself that few people know (e.g. I can play the trumpet).
In space 3 – draw a symbol of how you like to spend your spare time.
In space 4 – draw something that stands for your own personal beliefs and values (e.g. honesty above all).
4. After 10 minutes ask each person to pair up and discuss their Coat of Arms with their partner.
5. Ask as many team members as you have time for to describe their Coat of Arms to the rest of the group.
Debrief
- What major themes were identified?
- Ask why this activity can help build human relations.
- Ask if the discussion of the Coat of Arms helped team members understand other team members better.