The main objective of this activity is to remind and reflect on what group members or participants have experienced together, thus creating a collective experience and a shared story. Each individual will gain a common understanding of what the group has gone through. This activity is ideal at the end of a project or program to reinforce learnings, celebrate highlights, and create closure.
To begin, prepare a long piece of paper (5 to 10 meters) and roll it out on the floor or on a wall. A timeline is drawn on it, representing the period of a project or the team's experience, with dates and a few key events. Next, participants are invited to draw elements of their experiences on this timeline. They can include highlights and lowlights of their journey, insights, emotional highs and lows, challenges, successes, frustrations, stories, surprises, and anything else that had meaning for them. An alternative is to use images cut out from magazines, with scissors and glue available. During this activity, background music is played to create a reflective atmosphere, and enough time is given for the paper to fill up as much as possible.
Once the map is finished, participants walk around it in silence, reflecting on the experiences they have shared. They should think about the most important moments for them individually. This step lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. Then, participants sit or stand in a circle around the map. One by one, they place a candle (a tea light) or a colored post-it on the moment that was most important to them and briefly describe that moment and its significance. This continues until all participants have placed their marker and shared their experience.
In the context of team building, this activity is particularly interesting because it encourages personal and collective reflection on shared experiences, thereby strengthening cohesion and understanding within the team. By identifying and sharing significant moments, participants become aware of common challenges and successes, which can enhance the sense of belonging and motivation. This activity also allows for the celebration of collective achievements and the closure of a period in a positive and meaningful way, highlighting individual contributions and reinforcing group dynamics.
English