Some New Belonging Activities
Belonging—
Youth need to know they are cared about by others and
feel a sense of connection to others in group settings.
4-H gives youth the opportunity to feel physically and
emotionally safe while actively participating in a group.
1. Action-Singing Game
The Sons of Job (Pass the Rock) (use any item that easily fits in a hand - candy, toy,
rock, shoe) The sons of Job were playing pass the rock,
Take it or leave it. Take it again.
They went “Niddy Noddy Niddy Noddy Niddy Noddy Nid.”
They went “Niddy Noddy Niddy Noddy Niddy Noddy Nid.”
Directions:
Participants standing in a circle with shoulders less than six inches from one another.
Left hands placed palm up at a comfortable position on their left side with their
“rock” in the palm. Their empty right hand poised palm down over their neighbor’s
left hand. Move the “rock” from their neighbor’s left hand and place it in their own
left hand on the count underlined in the above song.
See how many passes they can accomplish without losing a “rock.”
2. Pairing Up
Using a set of cards that you make up ahead of time, ask participants to pair
up and share whatever question you have prepared for each round. Working
with others and learning to talk to anyone is a skill that we all get better at
through practice. Use the following sets of Cards for the group to pair up and
talk about a topic you will provide.
Some suggested Pairings
Salt
Pepper
Dog
Cat
Sun
Moon
Bucket
Shovel
Hot
Cold
King
Queen
French Fries
Ketchup
Lost
Found
Romeo
Juliet
Night
Day
Wet
Dry
Some Suggested Discussion Topics:
What is your favorite movie and Why?
What are you most looking forward to doing this summer?
Tell about a Childhood Injury or Illness…
What are your favorite foods?
Prepared by David Seilstad, Youth Field Specialist, seilstad@iastate.edu
4/10/2006
What did you notice about your pairings? Some are opposites, some are
companions
What things did you have in common with the people you were paired with?
In what things were you unlike or opposite with the people you were paired
with?
How can you find out the things you have in common with someone?
3. Let me Tell you a Story
This activity links to personal heritage. It builds understanding about different cultures and
traditions, and allows kids to share something important about themselves and their heritage.
Treasures handed down from generation to generation help set us in place. They also have
important stories to tell. Ask your youth to bring in one favorite thing from their family's heritage
and to be prepared to tell its story. If it is too large (like a piano) or too precious (like an expensive
family heirloom or an old photograph), suggest that they bring in a photo or drawing of it. Then, as
a group, share the stories behind these personal family mementos. This activity often draws great
parental interest as they help their children decide what important piece of their family they can
bring.
4. Emphasize cooperation, not competition.
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How can we become the very best at this that we can possibly be
That might mean helping each other out and doing whatever it takes to
make us all successful…thinking of others as you do what you need to do
 When you have more than one group, it is our combined or our total time
that we use when the last group is done…cheering on the other team to
do their very best
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The Ultimate World Championship in Balloon Passing
Four events to Use or Choose From
Single Circle Pass
Left Right Double Circle Pass
Over and Under Pass Single Pass
Over and Under—round the world and Back to the Start
5. Fill Me In
A name reminder game; i.e., don't play this game until the participants have, at an
earlier time, tossed each other's names around. Line up in a circle again. The
diameter of the circle should be such that it would take about ten steps to cross; say,
thirty feet. You begin the action by stepping into the circle, simultaneously
announcing someone's name that is directly opposite your position, and then walk
toward the person. That verbally named person must immediately duplicate your
action by identifying another person in the circle, saying their name, and begin
walking toward that person's position. So each named person ends up heading toward
another player's position. Establish eye contact with the person whose name you call
in order to make sure that the player recognizes their immediate responsibility to
move out and name another person on the way. Emphasize the need for
compassionate movement and occasional bumpers up.
End the game with lots of people calling out names combined with a chaotic
combination of crossings.
Prepared by David Seilstad, Youth Field Specialist, seilstad@iastate.edu
4/10/2006