Shark Islands

Use this activity when you want to give a group a playful way to form groups of a specific size. Works best for forming groups of 4-8 people. 

Facilitator instructions
"In a moment ~ not now ~ the floor will turn to an ocean filled with hungry sharks. The only way to be safe is to be a group of X people and form an island. You need the exact number of people to form the island. In order to be safe, everyone in this room needs to be on an island. Before we do this, I am going to remind you to be aware of everyone around you. Be quick and also be safe with your movements. Ready? The floor is turning into an ocean of sharks in 5,4,3,2,1!"

This is one of my favorite methods of getting a group to form smaller groups. The psychological trick of this activity is that you have now defined safety as being WITH other people. People will move quickly to form islands and help others get onto islands too. This is the exact opposite experience of participants awkwardly trying to find a group they feel comfortable approaching. The groups will form quickly and its fun. Of course you need to be 100% committed energetically to this activity too as the facilitator for it to work.

Once they are in island groups you can release the floor from being an ocean of sharks and proceed with your next activity (this is important for some people who are really strong visualizers!).

Safety & inclusion
Instruct people to be aware of others before you release them to this activity. People in any group have different mobility abilities. Normalize this and remind the group that the goal is that EVERYONE gets to safety. If your group includes people who have limited ability to move from their location, people will naturally form islands around them. 

Forming new groups
At any time the floor can turn back into an ocean of sharks and you can reform new groups. "Look around the room, see the locations of the islands. Remember these locations. In a moment all the islands will melt down and the only way to be safe from the sharks is to get to a new island in3,2,1 GO!"

Larger groups
If its a big group then be more flexible about island size. ie. 5-6 people. Also make sure you give safety instructions! After most groups have formed but not everyone is in an island you can ring a bell and give the instruction "if you are still in the ocean and need to be saved, wave your hands in the air so someone can save you!"

Pairs
For pairs add an instruction like "find someone who is wearing the same color shirt" or something like that to give some challenge to find a suitable partner in the group.