Stacking Books

Description

This physical activity (with digital alternative) gets participants finding books in their home or office, stacking them to form a sequence, and sharing their interpretation of their book sequence (plus specific book info when needed). 

Why we like it

Physical activities in virtual sessions are great ways to keep people active and attentive. This one makes a great ice breaker or energizer, or it serves as storytelling fodder.

Process

1. Show participants your example stack of books and any example explanation you’d like them to give (revealing personal interests, interpreting the sequence, creating a story, etc.).

2. Ask participants to collect books from their location (ideally their home or office) and stack them in a self-chosen sequence.

3. Depending on the information you’d like participants to share about their books and sequence, have participants prepare talking points. Suggestions are: how you interpret your sequence; what the books say about your interests; what single book you’d like to recommend to others and why; what narrative your sequence tells (this can expand into a longer story). Alternatively, you can ask participants to be ready to interpret other people’s books and sequences.

4. Ask participants to share their stack of books with the group. Sharing via webcam is quick. Uploading photos is another option. 

5. Continue the activity with the talking points you’ve arranged and debrief takeaways as needed.

Digital alternative

For participants away from physical books, allow them to upload photos of book covers in their chosen sequence. Creating a collage using a program like PowerPoint or an online whiteboard like Miro are easy options.

Daisy chain options

a) As mentioned, this activity works well with storytelling content as participants can create narratives from their book sequence. Plot points flow from the first book to the second book and so on. Story structure and details can be added by individuals or by groups using book sequences.

b) The facilitator might link specific books or groups of book to specific audiences for audience analysis activities.

c) By focusing on specific books, participants can share book content relevant to the virtual session content. For example, if the group is discussing body language in a presentation program, any presentation book available could be used as a resource or talking point. 

d) Finally, by collecting images of participants’ book sequences, the facilitator might arrange quizzes, scavenger hunts, or other activities.

Attribution

Thank you to Darwin Antipolo for conducting this exercise on LinkedIn. Darwin further credits Sarah Urist Green and Nina Katchadourian for the original idea.

Share using the icons below or direct link to this activity:  https://knowmium.com/tools/2020/11/4/stacking-books