Strength in
Numbers Activity
Georgia CTAE Resource Network
Instructional Resource Office
Written by: Cate Buchanan & Dr. Frank Flanders
2010
The following activity will
demonstrate that there is strength in
numbers…

When people ban
together they can often
accomplish more than as
single individuals, or the
sum of individual
accomplishments.
Student and professional
organizations are important in that
they allow people to bond together to
accomplish common goals.
Groups can plan and carry out
programs together such as:
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Educational programs
Voting for a candidate
Passing legislation
Lobbying for a pay
increase
Carrying out military
operations
Etc.
This activity will demonstrate
strength in numbers

Students should obtain a 6” or longer piece of
twine and follow directions on the following
slides. Yarn may be substituted.
Try to break the twine with your
hands

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Can you break it?
If so, note the effort it
took.
If you were able to break the
twine, obtain another 6” piece.
Unravel the twine and separate
the individual pieces.
Try to break each piece
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Can you break it?
Break all pieces of the
string.
If you can break it, how
much effort did it take?
Which was easier to
break, the twine as one
piece or each string
individually?
What did you learn from this
activity?
We learned…
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There is strength in
numbers.
A group of people can
accomplish more than
single individuals.
People organizations are
important.
Etc.
What are some organizations in
our society that are important in
helping groups accomplish
common goals?
Example Groups
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Political Parties
Teacher Associations
Volunteer Firefighter Organization
Jaycees
Historical Society
CTAE Organizations including:
HOSA
FFA
FCCLA
DECA
Skills USA
FBLA
TSA
What are some benefits of being a
member of student
organizations?
See the next slide for the important benefits.
Some of the most important benefits
of being involved in a student
organization are:
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Sharing ideas/resources
Professional development
Learning to work cooperatively
Develop skills
Opportunity to be of service to others
Learning skills in preparation for participation in
professional career organizations and becoming
a contributing member of society.
Note to the teacher:

See the next slides
on the use of yarn
if twine is not
available.
Instead of Twine use Yarn

Note yarn is much weaker than twine!

If you wish for your students not to break the
yarn give them two or more 6 inch pieces to be
doubled for more strength.
Yarn

Follow the
procedure
outlined for
the twine
activity.
“Lean on Me”
Additional Activity
“Lean on Me”
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In effective organizations
people help each other.
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This means each person
brings their individual
strengths to the group.
“Lean on Me”
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Acting as one group and using the strength of
each, organizations can accomplish more.
“Lean on Me” Activity

Obtain 2 pieces of
yarn 6-8” long
Procedure:
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1. Tape one end
of the yarn to the
desk as shown,
or have a friend
hold one end.
Procedure continued
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2. Twist the
twine tightly
Procedure continued
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3. Tape the ends
so that the yarn
does not unravel.
Procedure continued
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4. Break each
piece as shown.
Do not let the
twisted piece of
yarn unravel
before breaking.
Note the force
used to break
each piece.
Analysis
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Which was most
difficult to break?
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In most instances, the
twisted twine will be
most difficult to break.
Analysis continued
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Why was the twisted piece of yarn more difficult
to break?
?
Analysis continued
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In the twisted yarn, the fibers form a tight bond,
spreading the force among all the fibers more evenly.
Analysis continued
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In the un-twisted yarn, the looser fibers are more likely
to be stressed individually, when a weak fiber breaks
they all begin to break.
Summary
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Strands of rope and
twine are twisted to
make them stronger.
Also, cotton fibers in
blue jeans, etc.
Summary continued
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So what does this have to do with CTSO’s and
other organizations?
Summary continued
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The closer the members…
The more members work together…
The more members share the load…
The stronger and more successful the
organization!