Team Building Activities
You can try these fun team building exercises to encourage class spirit and unity this fall.
By Jennifer Sinsel
Although it’s the end of the school year for most teachers, many of us spend a large part of the summer planning for next year, and it’s not too early to starting thinking about how to turn your next class of individuals into a close-knit team. It is important for your students to learn to work together and depend on each other throughout the school year, and the following activities can help your students develop their skills in working as a team. Before attempting any of these exercises, conduct a brainstorming session with your students. Ask them what skills are important when working in a group. Emphasize that listening skills are essential, and everyone’s idea should be heard. Challenge them to come up with a system that ensures the sharing of all ideas. Often the best solutions come from the quietest students.
Siamese Twins Challenge
This challenge is done in pairs. Each student sits back-to-back with their partner and links arms. The now-connected partnership must stand up without breaking the links between their arms. It is amazing to watch some kids struggle with this, until they realize they have to lean against each other and push up at the same time. This is a valuable lesson in that BOTH partners must communicate and push at the same time. Although the activity is simple, the point is very strong – students are quick to see the value of communication and teamwork right off the bat.
Human Knots
This spatial challenge requires groups of eight to ten students (five to seven for younger students). The object is to tangle the students into a “knot” that can be untangled by stepping over and under each other in a series of steps. Each group stands in a close-knit circle facing inward. Each person should grab the hand of someone else in the circle. If the activity is done right, students should be able to untangle themselves and form a full circle again without breaking hands. For this to work, some simple rules must be followed:
- No student should be holding both hands of another student (for example, Christine’s right hand might be holding Josh’s hand, and her left hand might be holding Tara’s. Christine should not hold both of Josh’s hands, or the challenge is impossible).
- No student should hold the hand of a person standing directly next to him/her.
- Grips on hands can be changed, but the team is disqualified if they break grips at any time.
During this activity, frustrations can run high, especially since several students may find themselves in uncomfortable positions while waiting for someone else to make a decision. However, completing the challenge is usually a very rewarding experience!
Magic Carpet
For this activity, you’ll need one standard-sized sheet (a larger sheet may be necessary if you have more than 15-20 students). All students should stand on the sheet before receiving directions. Once they are ready to begin, you can tell them that they must now turn the sheet over so the side facing the floor is now facing up. The catch is that they must not step off the sheet. If anyone steps off, everyone must start over. There are several solutions to this challenge, but students may become frustrated before coming up with one. Encourage them to remain positive.
A variation on this activity is to use two standard-sized sheets with two teams of students. Be sure they understand that it is NOT a race to see who can accomplish the task first; rather, BOTH teams need to have their sheets turned over for the challenge to be complete. Often, teams will help each other by moving all students onto one sheet and turning each sheet over one at a time. For more fun team building ideas, try the following lesson plans.
Team Building Lesson Plans:
In this lesson students use oral directions to make their way through a maze. As part of this activity, they discuss the challenges astronauts face when communicating while in space. They show how astronauts communicate using verbal directions during space walks, and simulate this activity.
Cooperative Carbon Copy LEGO Creations
This lesson is great for all those Lego enthusiasts out there. Students work in groups to make a Lego structure. They discuss their work, and answer questions.
Students get to play a survivor simulation by participating in relays, races, and rope challenges. They hone their teamwork and leadership skills, while having a great time. They learn how to work in cooperative groups as well.
