Strength in Strength in Numbers Numbers ActivityActivity

Georgia CTAE Resource NetworkGeorgia CTAE Resource NetworkInstructional Resource OfficeInstructional Resource Office

Written by: Cate Buchanan & Dr. Written by: Cate Buchanan & Dr. Frank FlandersFrank Flanders

20102010

The following activity will The following activity will demonstrate that there is demonstrate that there is

strength in numbers…strength in numbers… When people ban When people ban

together they can together they can often accomplish often accomplish more than as more than as single individuals, single individuals, or the sum of or the sum of individual individual accomplishments.accomplishments.

Student and professional Student and professional organizations are important organizations are important in that they allow people to in that they allow people to

bond together to bond together to accomplish common goals.accomplish common goals.

Groups can plan and carry Groups can plan and carry out programs together such out programs together such

as:as: Educational Educational

programsprograms Voting for a Voting for a

candidate candidate Passing legislationPassing legislation Lobbying for a pay Lobbying for a pay

increaseincrease Carrying out military Carrying out military

operationsoperations Etc.Etc.

This activity will This activity will demonstrate strength in demonstrate strength in

numbersnumbers Students should obtain a 6” or longer piece Students should obtain a 6” or longer piece

of twine and follow directions on the of twine and follow directions on the following slides. Yarn may be substituted.following slides. Yarn may be substituted.

Try to break the twine with Try to break the twine with your handsyour hands

Can you break it?Can you break it? If so, note the If so, note the

effort it took.effort it took.

If you were able to break If you were able to break the twine, obtain another the twine, obtain another

6” piece.6” piece.

Unravel the twine and Unravel the twine and separate the individual separate the individual

pieces.pieces.

Try to break each pieceTry to break each piece

Can you break it?Can you break it? Break all pieces of Break all pieces of

the string.the string. If you can break it, If you can break it,

how much effort how much effort did it take?did it take?

Which was easier to Which was easier to break, the twine as break, the twine as one piece or each one piece or each string individually? string individually?

What did you learn What did you learn from this activity?from this activity?

We learned…We learned…

There is strength There is strength in numbers.in numbers.

A group of people A group of people can accomplish can accomplish more than single more than single individuals.individuals.

People People organizations are organizations are important.important.

Etc.Etc.

What are some What are some organizations in our organizations in our

society that are society that are important in helping important in helping groups accomplish groups accomplish

common goals?common goals?

Example GroupsExample Groups Political PartiesPolitical Parties Teacher AssociationsTeacher Associations Volunteer Firefighter Volunteer Firefighter

OrganizationOrganization JayceesJaycees Historical SocietyHistorical Society CTAE Organizations including:CTAE Organizations including:

HOSAHOSAFFAFFAFCCLA FCCLA DECADECASkills USASkills USAFBLA FBLA TSATSA

What are some benefits What are some benefits of being a member of of being a member of

student organizations?student organizations?

See the next slide for the important benefits.

Some of the most Some of the most important benefits of being important benefits of being

involved in a student involved in a student organization are: organization are:

Sharing ideas/resourcesSharing ideas/resources Professional developmentProfessional development Learning to work cooperativelyLearning to work cooperatively Develop skillsDevelop skills Opportunity to be of service to othersOpportunity to be of service to others Learning skills in preparation for Learning skills in preparation for

participation in professional career participation in professional career organizations and becoming a organizations and becoming a contributing member of society.contributing member of society.

Note to the teacher:Note to the teacher:

See the next See the next slides on the slides on the use of yarn if use of yarn if twine is not twine is not available. available.

Instead of Twine use Instead of Twine use YarnYarn

Note yarn is much weaker than Note yarn is much weaker than twine!twine!

If you wish for your students not to If you wish for your students not to break the yarn give them two or break the yarn give them two or more 6 inch pieces to be doubled for more 6 inch pieces to be doubled for more strength.more strength.

YarnYarn

Follow the Follow the procedure procedure outlined outlined for the for the twine twine activity.activity.

““Lean on Me”Lean on Me”

Additional ActivityAdditional Activity

““Lean on Me”Lean on Me”

In effective In effective organizations organizations people help each people help each other.other.

This means each This means each person brings their person brings their individual individual strengths to the strengths to the group.group.

““Lean on Me”Lean on Me”

Acting as one group and using the Acting as one group and using the strength of each, organizations can strength of each, organizations can accomplish more.accomplish more.

““Lean on Me” ActivityLean on Me” Activity

Obtain 2 pieces Obtain 2 pieces of yarn 6-8” longof yarn 6-8” long

Procedure:Procedure:

1. Tape one 1. Tape one end of the end of the yarn to the yarn to the desk as desk as shown, or shown, or have a friend have a friend hold one end.hold one end.

Procedure continuedProcedure continued

2. Twist the 2. Twist the twine tightlytwine tightly

Procedure continuedProcedure continued

3. Tape the 3. Tape the ends so that ends so that the yarn does the yarn does not unravel.not unravel.

Procedure continuedProcedure continued

4. Break each 4. Break each piece as piece as shown. Do not shown. Do not let the twisted let the twisted piece of yarn piece of yarn unravel before unravel before breaking. breaking.

Note the force Note the force used to break used to break each piece.each piece.

AnalysisAnalysis

Which was most Which was most difficult to break? difficult to break?

In most instances, In most instances, the twisted twine the twisted twine will be most will be most difficult to break.difficult to break.

Analysis continuedAnalysis continued

Why was the twisted piece of yarn Why was the twisted piece of yarn more difficult to break?more difficult to break?

?

Analysis continuedAnalysis continued

In the twisted yarn, the fibers form a In the twisted yarn, the fibers form a tight bond, spreading the force among tight bond, spreading the force among all the fibers more evenly.all the fibers more evenly.

Analysis continuedAnalysis continued

In the un-twisted yarn, the looser fibers In the un-twisted yarn, the looser fibers are more likely to be stressed are more likely to be stressed individually, when a weak fiber breaks individually, when a weak fiber breaks they all begin to break. they all begin to break.

SummarySummary

Strands of rope Strands of rope and twine are and twine are twisted to make twisted to make them stronger. them stronger. Also, cotton fibers Also, cotton fibers in blue jeans, etc.in blue jeans, etc.

Summary continuedSummary continued

So what does this have to do with So what does this have to do with CTSO’s and other organizations?CTSO’s and other organizations?

Summary continuedSummary continued

The closer the members…The closer the members… The more members work together…The more members work together… The more members share the load…The more members share the load… The stronger and more successful The stronger and more successful

the organization!the organization!