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Nicofiends activity

Power Up Tower

A team building challenge about tempting offers, hidden catches and quick decisions.

What it explores

This activity helps young people think about how offers can sound useful or exciting at first, but may come with a catch. It opens up discussion about quick decisions, group pressure and what can happen when people do not get the full picture.
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Time
15 to 20 mins
Age
Ages 11 to 16
Setting
Classroom, Youth group, Community setting
Group size
Small groups

Activity at a glance

Best for

Hidden catches, quick decisions and pressure to say yes.

You’ll need

Per team: 10 straws 6 strips of tape 2 sheets of A4 paper 1 small paper ball for the top 1 pair of scissors For the facilitator: Timer Power Up cards Ruler or measuring tape Spare straws, spare tape, spare paper

Key message

Not every offer gives you the full picture.

How to run it

  • Put young people into small teams.
  • Give each team the same building materials and explain that they have a set time to build the tallest freestanding tower.
  • During the challenge, offer teams Power Up cards. Each card gives them something that sounds useful, such as extra time, more materials or help from another team.
  • Each Power Up card must also have a hidden catch. For example, the team may lose one material, have less time, build with one hand only, or remove one piece from their tower.
  • Let teams decide whether to accept or reject each Power Up.
  • At the end, measure or compare the towers. Then talk about which offers sounded useful, which catches were missed and whether teams felt pressure to say yes quickly.

Discussion prompts

  • What made a Power Up sound worth taking?
  • Did your team ask enough questions before accepting it?
  • Did anyone feel pressure to say yes quickly?
  • What changed when the catch was revealed?
  • Where might young people see offers or messages that leave out the full picture?

Reflection

This activity helps young people notice that pressure can come through offers, excitement or quick decisions. It encourages them to pause, ask questions and think about the hidden catch before following the group.

Download printable materials

Link To Smoking, Vaping or Nicotine

Power Up Tower links to the way smoking, vaping and nicotine products can be presented through offers, flavours, packaging, social media or peer pressure.

Some messages can make a choice seem easy, fun or low risk, but leave out the catch. This activity helps young people practise pausing, questioning the offer and thinking about what might be missing.

Adapting the activity

Make it Easier

Use fewer Power Up cards and explain the catches clearly before the game starts.

Make it Harder

Keep the catch hidden until after the team accepts the Power Up.

Safety Note

Use scissors safely and remind teams not to run with materials. Keep the discussion general and scenario based. Do not ask young people to share personal or family experiences of smoking, vaping or nicotine. Follow your setting’s safeguarding process if a young person raises a concern.

Ready to Run The Acitvity

Download the activity PDF or go back to the resource hub to find another activity.

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