Group Quilt
Materials Needed: choose two colors of construction paper and cut a square for each participants, have materials to be glued on the squares (i.e. ribbon, pipe cleaners, contrasting paper pieces), glue, scissors, and large piece of poster board (It Is easier if you have "quilt materials" individually packaged ahead of time)
Time: 60 minutes (depends on the number of people doing this activity)
Activity:

1. Have participants sitting around tables, facing each other.
2. Hand out "quilt' packets to each person, make sure the participants receive contrasting packets, so like colors are not next to each other.
3. Have enough glue for every two people to share a bottle.
4. Using a quilt as a metaphor for a collaboration, talk about the materials and explain the process for the activity.
5. Tell the group that during the "quilting bee" the group will be discussing the partnership (or name the topic).
6. When a person finishes their square they are to place it on the poster board.
7. Have each participant talk about their work in the partnership or their home agency, etc.
8. Glue quilt pieces down on poster board.
9. Display quilt.
   
   Extension of the activity:
10. This activity is another visual experience and a good way to Introduce new members at meeting: It will help them also to get a sense of what the partnership is like and where they fit in to the scheme of things. Depending upon the size of the group and the topic chosen for discussion this activity can take time

Graffiti Wall
Materials Needed: large pieces of paper put together to form a "wall" (you could draw brick pattern on this paper), tape, and markers
Time: 30 minutes
Activity:

1. Have participants form dyads or triads to discuss their goals for families (or pick one of the focus points of your collaboration), have each group make a short word list.
2. One at a time have each group report back the words they have recorded on their list.
3. Have 1-3 people with markers up at the "wall" recording the words as they are called out.
4. The end result will be a visual of what the group feels about families (or what you have selected).
   
   Extension of the activity:
5. The dialogue of the dyads or triads could be extended into a longer activity.
6. The wall can be re-visited more than one time during a meeting. For example, if a set of goals are discussed then the wall could be visited for each item discussed.
7. At some point you can have the group draw' what they feel a family is (or another focus) and place the drawings on the wall.

Symbol of Commitment
Materials Needed: chart paper and markers
Time: 10-30 minutes
Activity:

1. List the changes that the group is experiencing lately.
2. Ask: "How are these changes altering us as a group?"
3. What object or symbol could we create to remind us of our commitment?
4. Have group brainstorm in small groups and do a report back to whole group.
   
   Extension of the activity:
5. Group could do a check-in with the validity of the symbol

Team Story
Materials Needed: chart paper, markers, tape, pencil and paper
Time: 30 minutes
Activity:

1. Ask the group to think about a success they have experienced as a member of this team.
2. Have them form three small groups and talk about their team successes.
3. While they are doing this, in the front of the room, put up three pieces of paper which are headed: PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.
4. Reconvene the group and have people regroup under one of the headings.
5. Have each group write a paragraph about the heading around the activities of the partnership
6. Share with whole group.
   
   Extension of the activity:
7. Extend the time of each step in the activity.

Broken Squares
Materials Needed: five envelopes with puzzle pieces (instructions follow), rule sheets (one per group), chart paper, and markers
Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Activity:

1. Have a whole group discussion about cooperation and make a list of the highlights of the points made by the group.
2. Form small groups of 4-6 people.
3. Have each group elect an observer, go over with whole group the observer's role.
4. Give the observer a copy of the rule sheet.
5. Observer distributes the envelopes of "broken squares" to their group.
6. Give the signal for the game to begin (up to 30 minutes)
7. Debrief with group list made in #1
   
   Extension of the activity:
8. Enlarge all the discussion pieces

Change Game
Materials Needed: none
Time: 20 - 40 minutes
Activity:

1. Have participants form pairs, take a good look at each other and then sit back to back.
2. Have pair make two physical changes.
3. Have pair turn. around, facing each other and identify the changes.
4. Have pairs turn around and make another change.
5. Repeat #3
6. Have pairs do as many changes as the group will tolerate.
7. Discuss with whole group the change process
   
   Extension of the activity:
8. Discussion depends on the time constraints