Team-building games are an excellent way to build teamwork skills among students. By playing these games, students learn how to work together, cooperate, and think creatively.
Top 10 Games for Team-Building Among Students
Now, here are the top ten games for team building to play with your students:
1: Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts are a great way to encourage students to work together and use their creativity as they try to locate objects or solve problems using only their wits and teamwork. For example, you can create a scavenger hunt that has students working together to find items around the school or community, or you can give them a list of challenges that they must complete as a team.
2: Trust Falls
This classic game is still one of the best ways for students to build trust, allowing them to go outside of their comfort zones and learn to support each other through challenging activities. For example, you can have students stand in a line with one student in front and one behind them. The students at the front must trust that the person behind them will catch them as they fall back into their arms.
3: Human Knots
This game is great for getting students to think outside the box as they try to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. It’s a fun and challenging way for students to learn to communicate and work together as they try to solve the problem.
4: Balloon Stomp
This is a fun and competitive game that works well for larger groups. Students divide up into two teams and then try to stomp on balloons floating in the air while keeping all team members on the ground. The first team whose members are all grounded wins. This will help students actively work together to be the winning team.
5: Blindfolded Drawing
Blindfolded drawing is a great way for students to use their communication skills as they try to draw a picture while blindfolded, relying on their teammates to give them directions. This is a less heard-of team-building game for you to try with your students. It can help with two skill sets: communication and following directions.
6: Marshmallow Towers
This game is a classic team-building activity that encourages students to work together to build the tallest tower possible using only marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. It’s a great way to get students thinking about using limited resources to achieve a goal as a team.
7: Minefield
This game is perfect for working on problem-solving and teamwork skills as students navigate through a “minefield” without setting off any of the “mines.” This can be done by setting up a series of obstacles in an open space, such as cones or chairs, and then having students work together to guide each other through the minefield without touching any objects.
8: Word Association
Word Association is a great game for students to get to know each other better, as it requires them to talk and listen to each other. As a team, students are given a series of words that they need to categorize as positive or negative, serious or funny, etc. This game can help build trust in teams by encouraging everyone to share their thoughts and feelings openly with each other.
9: The Great Egg Drop
Another classic team-building activity encourages students to work together and use their creativity to achieve a common goal. Students are given a set of materials, such as straws, tape, and egg cartons, and then have to use those materials to build a device that will protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height. This activity can help students learn about engineering and design, as well as teamwork and problem-solving.
10: The Yes Ladder
The Yes Ladder is an excellent game for helping students learn to support each other and be positive with their words. Students are given an item, such as a pencil or rubber band, and then have to think of ways in which they can use the object in their lives. For example, they might say, “The pencil is for writing,” “The pencil is for drawing,” and so on. This game can help students build trust with each other and learn to support their teammates.
If you’re looking for great team-building games for your students, these ten are a great place to start. Try them out in the classroom and see how they help your students build trust, communication, and problem-solving skills. Team building among students is essential to their development.
Virtual Team Building Activities for Students
Most of the games listed above are for students who go to school in person. So, here are five virtual team-building activities for those who are online only:
1: Video Chat Games
Video chat games are a great way to get online-only students together in a team. Whether they’re playing charades, trivia games, or another type of game, video chats can help encourage teamwork and communication between remote students around the globe.
2: Online Collaboration Tools
Online collaboration tools such as Google Docs and Trello can help remote students work together on a project or other different activities, providing ways to chat and share ideas. This is great for building teamwork skills among online students.
3: Online Discussion Boards
Online discussion boards are also a great way for students to learn how to communicate and share ideas as they collaborate on an assignment or project. You can set one up on your course website or use a third-party tool, such as Facebook groups or Slack.
4: Social Media Groups
Social media groups are another virtual tool for optimal activities for helping remote students work together and collaborate on projects. Whether they’re using Facebook, Twitter, or another platform, social media groups can help students feel connected to their teammates and build a sense of community.
5: Webinars
Webinars are another great activity for remote students to learn and work together. You can use them to host guest speakers, lead virtual discussions, or even show a video tutorial. Students can then use the chat feature to ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate.
These are just a few of the many virtual team-building activities for students that you can use to help them build teamwork skills. Try out a few and see how they can help your remote students feel connected and work together more effectively.
Team-building games are a great way to help students build trust, communication, and problem-solving skills. If you’re looking for games to play in the classroom or online, these ten are great options to try.
SchoolCues is an all-in-one school management system for small schools with limited budgets and resources. Our solutions include admissions and enrollment, online payments, student information systems, gradebook, communications, parent engagement, donations and fundraising, alumni management, and more. Schedule a demo with us today.