“Saving Sam” is a popular team-building icebreaker activity commonly used in classrooms, workshops, and corporate training sessions.

This is a good icebreaker activity or introduction to the scientific method. Students work in pairs to solve the problem of saving a gummy worm named Sam.  They also learn to communicate with their team and how to problem solve.

First, you will need a gummy worm, which represents “Sam”. You will also need gummy lifesaver, which represents life jacket, two paper clips and a small cup, which represents the boat.  

Introduce the activity by telling a story about Sam, who is stranded on a boat that has capsized, leaving him trapped underneath. The task is to “save” Sam by turning the cup right-side-up and putting the lifesaver on Sam.

The activity starts with the life preserver (lifesaver) under the boat and Sam needs to get the life preserve and put it on so that he can swim to shore

Participants cannot directly touch Sam or the cup. They can only use the materials provided to save Sam by getting him into the lifejacket and on top of the boat.

Grade Level:  Any   | Time Required:  15-20 min