Break the Rules: Paper Airplanes Creativity Challenge

Category: Games & Activities
Estimated Time: 20–25 minutes
Group Size: Teams of 4–5 participants
Best for: Creative thinking, assumption-breaking, problem-solving

Objective:

This energetic team challenge demonstrates how quickly we fall into unspoken rules and assumptions, even when given minimal constraints. The task seems simple—get paper airplanes across a line—but the real challenge is thinking beyond default designs and questioning what an “airplane” even is.

Materials Needed:

• 10 A4 colored paper sheets per team (each team gets a different color)
• Masking tape for marking the start and finish lines
• Measuring tape or string (1.5 to 2 meters between lines)
• (Optional) Stopwatch or timer

Setup Instructions:

1. Use masking tape to mark a start line and a finish line, spaced 1.5 to 2 meters apart.
2. Divide participants into teams of 4–5.
3. Provide each team with 10 sheets of A4 paper in their designated color.
4. Explain the task and rules, but do not provide any examples or elaboration.

Activity Rules:

• Teams get 3 minutes to plan—without touching the paper.
• Then, they have 5 minutes to build and launch their paper airplanes.
• The goal is to get as many “airplanes” across the finish line as possible.
• All launches must happen from behind the start line.
• No outside materials or tools may be used.

Trainer Tip:

Let teams struggle with ambiguity. Avoid giving clarifications like “what qualifies as an airplane.” This is part of the learning experience. Most teams will stick to traditional designs—until they realize the instructions never said they had to.

Debrief & Discussion:

After the activity, lead a discussion using the following prompts:

• What assumptions did your group make about the task?
• Did your team spend enough time planning before jumping into building?
• How creative were your designs—did they really test the boundaries of the rules?
• Why do we default to familiar patterns even when there’s room for creativity?

The 8 Blocks to Creative Thinking:

Use the activity outcomes to reflect on these classic creative blocks:

1. Believing you aren’t creative
2. Making assumptions
3. Following the rules too strictly
4. Being too serious
5. Fearing mistakes or risk
6. Sticking to routines or habits
7. Believing there’s only one correct answer
8. Judging ideas too quickly

Ask participants: Which of these blocks influenced your team’s thinking? What could you do differently in the future to challenge these patterns?

Creative Examples from Past Groups:

• Crumpled Paper: Teams balled up paper into heavy shapes that were easy to throw across the line—quick, effective, and rule-compliant.
• Stack-and-Throw: Groups bundled all their airplanes together using a rubber band to ensure more mass and easier flight distance.
• Rolling Delivery: Some teams used wheeled office chairs as delivery systems—placing their planes on top and pushing the chair across the line.

Learning Outcomes:

• Challenge assumptions and uncover hidden mental blocks
• Develop flexible thinking and group innovation under vague instructions
• Reflect on how structure and habits can restrict creativity
• Encourage risk-taking and non-traditional thinking in teams

Related Training Material Packages:

• ✅ Team Building Training Package
• ✅ Communication Skills Training Package
• ✅ Creative Problem Solving & Decision Making Training Package