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Rollercoaster Check-In

schedule
Time Frame

30-60 min

groups
Group size

10-40

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Facilitation lvl

beginner

window
Comfort zone

safe

This playful method creates a powerful shared picture of the feelings in the group. Checking-in is a simple way for a team to start a meeting, workshop, or activity. By using the metaphor of a rollercoaster this alternative version supports participants to think differently about how they are feeling. People place themselves at different points on the rollercoaster, explaining their dominant feeling right now.

Materials

Pens/Markers
Flipchart Paper/Whiteboard

Step 1

Gather the group in a horseshoe around a flipchart/whiteboard. Explain the purpose of a check-in if necessary, that it’s an important tool to take the group’s emotional temperature, to uncover any fears, concerns, or needs. Explain that this is a method to explore the whole group’s feelings in a playful and visual way.

Facilitator notes:

In certain cases some participants may choose not to check-in. Make sure that everyone is given the opportunity to check-in but if some choose not to, simply check with them after the session to see if there are any issues that might need to be addressed.

Step 2

Draw a wavy line across the entire flipchart/whiteboard that resembles a basic rollercoaster with loops, steep sections, and shallow sections.

Step 3

Explain that we are going to draw ourselves on the rollercoaster, depicting how we feel right now, then share that feeling with the group. We’ll do this one-by-one, either in order around the horseshoe or at random.

Step 4

Give each participant as much time as you think is necessary and practical. It can be as little as one word, or as much as 5-10 minutes.

Step 5

When everyone has checked-in, if there is time then look at the rollercoaster as a whole group and share/discuss any thoughts that emerge.

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