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43 Awesome Team-Building Activities for Kids

Build trust and community in your classroom.

Looking for great ways to help students learn to work together, listen carefully, communicate clearly, and think creatively? Try some of these awesome team-building activities for kids. They’re a super way to give your students the chance to get to know one another, build trust as a community, and, best of all, have fun!

1. Seeing Spots

The Teacher Dish: Brain Break Dots via theteacherdish.blogspot.com

For this activity, you’ll place a colored sticker dot (blue, red, green, or yellow) on each student’s forehead without them knowing what color it is. When the game begins, each “team” of students (with the same color) must find each other— without speaking. This is a wonderful team-building activity because it encourages non-verbal communication and cooperation.

2. Elbow Pass

Looking for team-building activities for kindergarten kids? This silly activity helps them make new friends and learn to work together. Not only do they get to work on hand-eye coordination, they are looking each other in the eye and having a laugh together.

3. Common Thread

Fun 365/Team-Building Banner via fun365.orientaltrading.com

Divide students into groups of four and have them sit together in these small groups. Give each group five minutes to chat among themselves and find something they all have in common. It could be that they all play soccer, or pizza is their favorite dinner, or they each have a kitten. Whatever the common thread, the conversation will help them get to know one another better. Check in with the groups after five minutes to see if they need more time. After each group has come up with their common element, have them work together to create a flag that represents it.

4. Fingertip Hula-Hoop

There are quite a few team-building activities for kids that use Hula-Hoops. In this game, your students stand in a circle and raise their arms with only their index fingers extended. Place a Hula-Hoop so that it rests on the tips of the children’s fingers. Tell the students they must maintain a fingertip on the Hula-Hoop at all times, but they are not allowed to hook their finger around it or otherwise hold the hoop; the hoop must simply rest on the tips of their fingers. The challenge is for the children to lower the hoop to the ground without dropping it. To make this more challenging, you can place communication constraints on the children—no talking or limited talking, for example. Watch the video for a demonstration.

5. Four-Way Tug-of-War

This classic outdoor activity is double the fun of the traditional tug-of-war. Tie two long jump ropes together at their center points, creating an X shape. Tie a bandanna around the center point. Next, use cones to form a circle that fits around the X. Form four equal teams, and have each team stand at one of the four ends of the ropes. At your signal, each team begins pulling. The objective is to be the first team to pull the others in their direction far enough for the bandanna to cross to the outside of the circle of cones. Students who feel nervous about participating can serve as referees who make sure everyone is safe.

6. Hot Seat

This fun game is a lot like the game show Password . Split your class into two teams and have them sit together in teams facing the whiteboard or chalkboard. Then take an empty chair—one for each team—and put it at the front of the class, facing the team members. These chairs are the “hot seats.” Choose one representative from each team to come up and sit in the “hot seat,” facing their teammates with their back to the board.

Flash images one at a time on the screen behind the people in the hot seat. Taking turns, each team will offer one clue to their representative. If they guess the image correctly, their team gets one point. If not, it’s the other team’s turn to help their representative. Continue until one of the representatives gets the image correct. Then switch out students in the hot seat and continue.

7. Classification

Inspiration Laboratories/Classification Practice via inspirationlaboratories.com

For this activity, prepare a tray with 20 unrelated items—for instance, a spool of thread, an eraser, a juice box, etc. Alternatively, create a document with 20 images of items to put up on the screen. Divide your class into even groups. Set a timer and have each group divide the 20 items into four categories that make sense to them. For example, they may put an earring, a glove, a headset, a sock, and a smile into the category “things you wear.” Have groups work quietly so that their ideas are kept secret. When each group is finished, give each one time to present their categories and their rationale behind each category.

8. Yes, No, Stand Up

The version of the game above is designed specifically to help English-language learners, but it can also be used as a good “get to know you” game for younger kids. Prepare a list of yes or no questions to ask your students. For example, do you like chocolate? Is your favorite color blue? If their answer is yes, the student stands up. If their answer is no, they sit down. Pause between questions to give students time to look around and find students they have answers in common with.

9. Balloon Battle

Happy Mom Hacks/Balloon Games via happymomhacks.com

This fun game teams students up as they try to bat a balloon over each other’s goal line. Divide students into two teams. Each team will have five players on the field at one time. Periodically blow a whistle to have students substitute in so that everyone gets a chance to play. The first team to score 10 points wins. For more fun balloon games check out Happy Mom Hacks .

10. Move On, Look Back

This hopping game will crack your students up. Start with students in a circle with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. When you say “Move on,” students will take one hop forward together. When you say “Look back,” students will take one hop backward together. And when you say “Forever alone” (or any other phrase you’d like, such as “180” or “Turn around”), students will turn 180 degrees and place their hands on the shoulder of the person who was behind them.

11. Birthday Line-Up

Did you know there are team-building activities for kids that can help teach students how to line up? It may take 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the age of your students, so plan accordingly. The objective is to have students line up in order of their birthdays—January 1 through December 31. To do this, they will need to know the order in which the months fall as well as their own birthday. They will also need to talk with one another in order to figure out who goes in front of whom. To make it super challenging, tell them they must do it without speaking at all, only using hand signals. Other ways to line up include by height, alphabetically, or by foot size.

12. The Perfect Square

This activity requires strong verbal communication and cooperation. All you need is a long rope with the ends tied together and something to serve as blindfolds for students, such as bandannas or fabric strips. Have students stand in a circle holding the rope in front of them. Signal them to put their blindfolds on and set the rope on the ground in front of them. Ask students to turn and walk a short distance away from the circle. Assign a partner to any students who may need help. Finally, have everyone come back to the rope and try to form a perfect square with their blindfolds on. Set a time limit to make it more challenging.

13. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag

If you have a large space for kids to do team-building activities, try this one. Divide students into two teams. Before you begin, stake out the boundaries and position a home base at either end for each team. For each round, each team must confer and decide whether they will be rock, paper, or scissors. Have the two teams line up facing each other, and on your signal, have all players flash Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot! The kids on the losing team must run back to their base before they are tagged by one of the kids on the winning team.

14. Flip-the-Tarp Challenge

Looking for creative-thinking team-building games and activities for kids? Divide students into two teams. One team will do the challenge first while the other team watches, then they will switch places. Have all members of the team stand on a flat bedsheet, tarp, or blanket (kids should fill up all but about a quarter of the space). Challenge the team to flip over the sheet/tarp so that they are standing on the other side of the sheet/tarp without stepping off or touching the ground.

15. “Get To Know You” Balloons

Beth Smith/ABC Scavenger Hunt via darlingtonschool.org

Give each student an empty balloon and a slip of paper. Ask them to write a get-to-know-you question on their paper, such as How many brothers and sisters do you have? Do you have any pets? What’s one fun thing you did this summer? Next, have them put their question inside the balloon, blow it up, and tie the end.

When everyone is ready, have them gather on the rug and, on your signal, toss their balloon up in the air. Give them a couple of minutes to bat the balloons around, then call stop . Have each student grab one balloon and come sit in a circle. Go around the circle and, one at a time, have students pop their balloon, read the question inside, and answer the question. This is one of those team-building activities for kids that they will always remember.

And to help your students remember each others’ names, try these 30 Fun Name Games To Try With Your New Class .

16. Hot and Cold

Form groups of three to five students. One person from each group (the finder) steps out of the classroom. The rest of the group picks an object (for instance, the pencil sharpener) in the classroom for the finder to find. When the finder comes back in, they begin walking around the classroom in search of the object. The others guide the finder by saying “hot” or “cold” to lead them in the right direction. If the finder is far away from the object, the group will say “cold.” When the finder gets close, the group will say “hot” until the finder picks the correct object. Variation: Instead of saying “hot” and “cold,” have students applaud softly for cold and applaud vigorously for hot.

17. Marshmallow-and-Toothpick Challenge

Divide students into groups of equal numbers. Pass out an equal number of marshmallows and wooden toothpicks to each group. Challenge the groups to create the tallest, largest, or most creative structure in a set amount of time, each member taking turns doing the actual building. Afterward, have each group describe what they made.

18. Art Reproduction Puzzle

The Teaching Distillery/Puzzles via theteachingdistillery.com

Divide students into groups of six or eight (or larger if you want to make the task more difficult). Provide each team with an image and blank pieces of white card stock, one per team member. First, each team must cut up the image into the same number of pieces as there are group members. Then, each player will take one of the pieces of the image and reproduce it onto their blank piece of card stock with pencils, colored pencils, or markers. (If the team cuts the image into irregularly shaped pieces, each team member must then cut their blank paper into the same shape.) When every team has created the pieces of their puzzle, they will switch pieces with another team. The team will work together to solve the puzzle.

19. Hula-Hoop Pass

This activity helps kids work on listening, coordinating, and strategizing skills. It works best with smaller students. Have your students stand in a big circle. Place a Hula-Hoop on one student’s arm and have them join hands with the student next to them. Ask all the other students to join hands to close up the circle. The objective of the game is to pass the Hula-Hoop all the way around the circle without unclasping hands. Students will have to figure out how to maneuver their bodies all the way through the hoop to pass it on.

20. Bumpity-ump-bump-bump

Playworks/Bumpity Bump Bump via playworks.org

This is a fun name game that requires quick thinking! Students stand in a large circle. One student comes to the middle. That student walks around the inside of the circle, stops in front of one person, and gives them a direction. There are four choices: Left = say the name of the person to the left; right = say the name of the person on the right; it = say the name of the person who is it; or self = say one’s own name. After you give the student the direction, the designated person says “bumpity-ump-bump-bump!” out loud. The student who was given the direction races to say the name of the correct person before the student finishes the phrase. If they can’t, they’re the next person on the inside of the circle.

In this challenging trust-building activity, blindfolded students line up with their hands on each others’ shoulders. A person without a blindfold takes the end position. The object of the activity is for the sighted person to guide the non-sighted students without verbal communication to collect various soft objects scattered on the floor. Once the lead person finds an object, they must deposit it in a bucket. Extra challenge: Students must keep their hands on each others’ shoulders at all times.

22. No-Hands Cup-Stacking Challenge

Nick Cornwell/Stacking Cup Challenge via nickcornwell.weebly.com

If you’re looking for hands-on team-building games and activities that work for groups of kids, try this challenge. It’s an exercise in patience and perseverance, not to mention a total blast! Decide how many students you want in each group and tie that number of strings to a single rubber band, making one for each group. Each person in the group holds on to one of the strings attached to the rubber band, and, as a group, they use this device to pick up the cups (by expanding and contracting the rubber band) and place them on top of each other in order to build a pyramid. See detailed instructions here .

23. Mini Cup-Stacking Challenge

And for younger students, this simplified version of the game allows kids to partner up one-on-one. Using just a few pipe cleaners and a rubber band, each student can take a hold and work together to create a stack.

24. Body Parts

Karl Bastian/Head, Shoulders, Knees, Cup via kidologist.com

Students face off head-to-head in a squat position with a plastic cup on the ground between them. The leader calls out body parts and the players have to move their hands to that spot—head, knees, toes, eyes, nose, etc. But when they say “Cup!” the pair each tries to grab the cup. If they grab it, they remain in the game. The other player is “out” for the rest of the round.

Also, if a student touches the cup when “Cup!” was not called, they are immediately out! So they need to listen carefully as the leader attempts to trick them into lunging toward to the cup.

25. Human Alphabet

Nadine Silverthornes/Alphabet Game via todaysparent.com

If you have a large open space for your team-building games and activities, try this idea. Have students spread out and guide them through a few rounds of forming letters with their bodies. For instance, “Use your body to make a T. … Now make an O!”

Next, call out a simple short word, such as “so” or “dog.” Students will have to team up to form the word, with each student using their body to form one of the letters. Start with two-letter words, then three, then four. If students want more of a challenge, come up with a phrase that will take the whole class to complete.

26. Caterpillar

Divide students into groups of four. Lay out four Hula-Hoops per group and have one student stand in the center of each one to form teams of “caterpillars.” Line all of the teams up at the end of a field or large open space. Set out four or five objects in front of the lines, such as cones, foam blocks, or balls.

The goal of the game is to collect as many objects as possible by moving the caterpillar forward. To move forward, the last player in line steps into the hoop with the player in front of them, picks up their empty hoop, and passes it overhead to the front of the line. The front player then places the hoop on the ground in front of them and steps into it. Every player then shifts forward, moving the caterpillar. Only the front player may pick up objects, but it is the team’s job to carry the collected objects throughout the game. The game ends when there are no more objects on the ground.

27. Shrinking Vessel

For this activity, you will need a few jump ropes. Divide students into groups of six or eight. Have each group make a circle with their jump rope (their “lifeboat”) on the ground so that the ends are touching. Now have all the members of each group get into their lifeboat. This should be easy the first time. Then have all players get out and reduce the size of their circle by one foot. Again, all players need to get into the boat. Repeat this process, making the lifeboat smaller and smaller while you watch your students come up with creative solutions for making sure that everyone fits safely inside their boat.

28. Pretzel, Unpretzel

Susan Box Mann/The Human Knot Game via icebreakerideas.com

This is one of the all-time favorite team-building activities for kids. Divide your class in half and have each group choose one pretzel maker and two unpretzelers. Direct the unpretzelers to turn their backs. Have the rest of the students in each group form a circle and hold hands. Now, have the pretzel maker direct the students (with words only) to twist around, step over, and duck under each others’ arms to form a human pretzel. Once they are sufficiently twisted, call the unpretzelers over and have them try to direct the students (with words only) in order to untangle them. Students cannot drop their hands at any time. The first team that successfully unpretzels their group wins.

29. Zip, Zap, Boing!

This super-lively circle game involves three actions—zip, zap, and boing. Zip directs play in one direction around the circle. Boing reverses the direction of play. And zap passes play to the opposite side of the circle. See the video above for a full demonstration. A couple of rules: Boing cannot be performed when someone passes the signal using zap. And zap cannot be passed to the person standing right next to you.

30. Spiderweb

Heather Lynne/Would You Rather Web at raisingmemories.com

This team-building game will teach your students that even though they may be different in many ways, they are still connected to one another. Gather in a circle, standing or sitting. The game begins when the first person, holding a large ball of twine, tells the group a funny or embarrassing story about themselves.

Once they finish, they hold on to the end of the twine and throw the ball to someone else in the circle. Play continues until the twine has been passed to each person. The end result will produce a “spiderweb” out of the twine, connecting each student to all of the others.

31. Team Tic-Tac-Toe

This fun and active version of the old-fashioned game gets kids revved up about working as a team. Hula-Hoops are placed in the shape of a tic-tac-toe frame. Then students divide into teams and the race begins! One student from each team runs to the frame and drops a bean bag in a spot. They return and tag the next runner, who does the same thing. Play continues until one team achieves a tic-tac-toe!

32. Newspaper Fashion Show

Andrea and Rachel/Newspaper Fashion via mommylessons101.com

This is a great way to incorporate upcycling into your team-building games and activities. Divide students into groups of five or six, then give them a stack of newspapers, tape, and scissors. Set a timer and ask them to create the most fashionable outfit using only the supplies given. When time is up, have each group designate a model for the outfit, and have the group share information about the outfit. Once everyone shares, put on some rocking music and have a mini fashion show.

33. Back-to-Back Drawing

https://youtu.be/EqsL64uk1Q4

Need team-building games and activities that build communication skills? Ask students to pair up and sit back-to-back with their partner. Give one student a blank piece of paper and a pen or a marker. Give the other student a piece of paper with a simple drawing on it. The kid who receives the illustration will verbally describe the drawing to their partner. The other kid must draw the illustration by listening to the verbal instructions alone.

34. Changing Tableau

Ask for five or six volunteers to come up to the front of the class. Divide the rest of the students into two teams and have them sit together. Have the students up front arrange themselves into a tableau. Give the two teams a short time to observe the tableau, trying to memorize their physical arrangement.

After a couple of minutes, ask every person on both teams to face away from the team up front. The tableau team will decide on one thing to change about the tableau. When they are rearranged, the teams can turn around and try to figure out what changed. The first team to spot the difference gets a point. Continue play until one team receives 10 points.

35. Straw Challenge

Georgia Teen Institute/Straw Challenge via https://guidegti.wordpress.com

If you’re looking for team-building games and activities for kids that require coordination and cooperation, try this one. Have your students form a large circle and give each one a plastic straw. The objective of the challenge is to balance each straw between one person’s right pointer finger with the left pointer finger of the person next to them. Try making some movements such as rotating the circle to the left or right, raising one foot, etc. The challenge is to keep the connection of straws intact.

36. Group Juggle

Have students circle up and make sure you have a supply of small plastic balls at the ready. Start by tossing one ball from person to person in the circle. After a minute, add in another ball. Instruct students to mindfully toss the ball, avoiding a collision. After another minute, add in another ball. Continue adding balls each minute to see how many balls your students can successfully juggle.

37. Hula-Hoop Ring Toss

Team members take turns tossing a Hula-Hoop over colored cones. Each color has a different point value. This game also incorporates math practice when adding your team’s score.

38. Great Chain Race

Jennifer/Paper Chain STEM Challenge via themathchick.net

For this team-building activity, students split up into groups of three or four. Each group gets one sheet of paper (a different color for each group), one pair of scissors, and one glue stick. The teams then cut their paper to make a paper chain that’s as long as possible—they might choose to make many skinny rings or cut up small rings to get as many rings from their paper as possible. In the end, lay out the paper chains the kids created and see whose is the longest.

39. Team Pen

Working together, students try to create a drawing. Attach strings to a marker, however many you’d like. Have students each take one end and gather around a table. Together, they will need to communicate in order to manipulate the pen and draw the required image.

40. Knee Relay

This raucous activity will have your students rolling on the floor with laughter. Using only their knees, players must take turns picking up oranges one at a time from the ground and transfer them to a hoop across the room. The team to transfer the most oranges in 60 seconds wins. Plus, you’ll have a juicy snack for everyone when you’re done.

41. Human Caterpillar Activity

Students will work together to move a circle made of newspapers across the room. Before you begin, use strong tape to connect the sections of newspaper into a loop. To begin, students will step inside and move their feet and hands to help move the loop in the direction of the finish line, as shown in the video. The challenge is keeping pace with the students in front of them. The first team that is able to navigate their caterpillar to the finish line first is the winner.

42. Blind Minefield

Looking for obstacle course team-building activities for kids? This fun and challenging activity requires communication, listening skills, and trust. Students will navigate through an obstacle course while blindfolded with the help of a partner who will call out directions. If the blindfolded student touches any of the objects in the minefield, their turn is over and another pair gives it a try. The team with the most players to make it through without touching any hazards wins.

43. Paper Tower

Using creative problem-solving skills, each team of students must build the tallest tower possible with 20 sheets of plain computer paper. The tower must be stable enough to be measured. This activity is not only a great team-building activity, it’s a lot of fun!

Do you have favorite go-to team-building activities for kids? Come share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

For more great ideas, check out  45 of the best cooperative games to promote camaraderie and healthy competition ..

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48 Creative Team-Building Activities For Kids

August 18, 2023 //  by  Laquita Bolden

Just as challenging as it can be for adults to get comfortable with new people, it’s no different for kids! To help you break the ice in the classroom, ignite a spirit of collaboration and fun, and get your learners better acquainted with one another, try a few of our creative team-building activities! With 48 captivating ideas to choose from, you now have a wealth of methods to engage and support learners who struggle with communication and social skills. Dive right in to discover your new favorite team-building activity! 

1. Silent Line Up

What parent or teacher doesn’t love a silent game? Students have to line up based on personal facts about themselves, but the objective is to do it silently! Students can line up based on age, birthday, or letters in their names.

Learn More: Line of Silence

2. Team Scavenger Hunt 

This is a fun activity to get students to work collaboratively. Scavenger hunts require communication, strategizing skills, and teamwork! Divide students up into teams (3-4 teams based on group size) and provide them with clues to see who can solve them the fastest.

Learn More: Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids Free Printable – Thrifty NW Mom

3. Hula Hoop Pass 

In this activity, students have to use their bodies to pass a hula hoop. Students will stand side-by-side in a line holding hands. Put a hula hoop on the arm of the first person. The objective of this game is for students to get the hula hoop down the line while still holding hands. What a great way to build teamwork and practice communication!

Learn More: Hula Hoop Pass

4. Blind Mice

Test your listening, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Set up a simple obstacle course and break students up into teams. One team member will complete the obstacle course while their teammates give them verbal instructions. Students can play for fun or you can set a time limit for a challenge.

Learn More: City Magazine

5. Trust Ball

This is another silent game for kids that promotes communication and teamwork skills. Students stand in a circle and try to pass the ball around to every student without using any words or sounds. The objective of the game is to get the ball to everyone without dropping the ball. If the ball drops, you have to start over! Each student should hold up a finger to represent how many times they’ve had the ball. Healthy competition can be held between teams to determine how many times they can pass the ball to everyone in the circle without dropping it. The team that passes the ball the most wins.

6. Build it Challenge

One of the best ways to improve team-building skills is by working together to solve a problem. Fill baskets for each team with random supplies (cups, popsicles, sticks, tape, etc.) Students build the tallest tower using all of the materials in the basket. The tallest tower wins!

Learn More: Tower Challenge

7. Lego Challenge

The things you can do with Legos! Break your students into teams and challenge them to create a structure (robot, building, house, etc.) in a set amount of time.

Learn More: 60 Second Lego Challenge

8. Relay Races 

There are so many different ways you can get students to work collaboratively with relay races! This outdoor activity is fun, challenging, and requires students to be able to solve problems while working together as a team. For the different relay, race ideas check out 45 Fun Relay Races.

Learn More: Kid Activities

9. Community projects

Students working together for a greater cause is a great way to build a community while serving others. Students can build social and life skills while painting a gate in the community or planting a community garden. Allow students to come up with some ideas based on the needs of their community.

Learn More: Amber Melanie Smith

10. Marshmallow Challenge

Although the supplies needed for this activity are simple, the task is challenging! Teams have to build a standing tower using marshmallows, toothpicks or spaghetti, tape, and string. The tallest-standing tower wins!

Learn More: Mad About Science

11. Compass Walk

This activity requires trust! Students have to rely on the direction and guidance of their partners. Break students into pairs. Identify a certain object for students to walk to, this could be a construction cone, chair, or a tree. One student closes their eyes while their partner walks alongside guiding them with verbal directions.

Learn More: Play Meo

12. Lean Walk Challenge

Lean Walk Challenge is another challenge that builds trust between partners. Designate a finish line and pair students. Students lean into each other (shoulder-shoulder)  and try to walk to the finish line.

13. Rock, Paper, Scissor Challenge

This is one of my favorite challenges to do with all grades and ages. Everyone starts out in pairs. Each pair plays a game of rock, paper scissors. The winner of the game goes to find another winner, while the person who loses follows the winner and becomes their cheerleader. The game ends with two people competing while their cheerleaders cheer on all the people they beat. Whoever wins the match against the last two people wins the challenge.

14. Guess Who

Listening skills, communication, and memorization are all the skills needed to win this game. To prepare for this activity, have students write down one special fact about themselves and collect each fact. Give students a set amount of time to find a partner and a set time to talk to that partner. After every student has paired, bring everyone back together. Students will guess who the special fact is about based on the conversations they had with each student. Whoever matches the most facts with the correct students win.

15. Making Connections 

Students complete a task while looking for common interests. Pick one student to start the connection. The student stands with one hand on the hip and then speaks a statement about himself. Any student who shares the same statement will appear and establish contact with the student. Next, the second student shares a statement, and so on, until everyone is standing in a straight line connected by the arm.

16. Over the Electric Fence

Problem-solving is more fun when you’re doing it together. Students have to strategize a way to get over the electric fence while staying connected. Tie the two chairs together with rope. The string should be about 3 feet off the ground. Break students into groups of 3 or 4. Give students a set amount of time to figure out how to get over the fence.

Learn More: Book Widgets

17. Escape the Classroom

Groups will have to solve clues to figure out how to escape the room. Create a set of different clues around the classroom. Groups will go around the room searching and solving the clues that will lead them to victory!

18. Shrinking Classroom

Divide your classroom into two groups and assign students to each group. Use ropes to set boundaries for each group. Start by moving the rope to reduce the student’s standing space. The objective of this competitive activity is for students to find a way to stay inside the boundaries as it shrinks. The group that finds a way to stay in the smallest space wins!

19. Blind Artist

In this activity, students have to rely on their partner’s communication skills to draw a picture. Pair students and instruct them to sit back-to-back.  One student will instruct their partner to draw a picture. When the timer goes off, students will compare their pictures to see how well their partner was listening.

20. Falling Trees

Falling trees is a game of trust. One student stands in the middle of a close circle surrounded by classmates. The student stiffly falls forward or backward, as the student falls one of his classmates catches them and pushes them to the other side of the circle. The goal is not to drop the tree.

21. Build a Story

Build a story is a creative way to get students to work collaboratively. This activity is great for kids over the age of 7 to develop their interpersonal skills. Teams will work together to write a story.  Each student will be responsible for building a different part of the story. Stories can be shared once they are finished.

Learn More: Everything Mom

22. Crossing the Line

This is activity is harder than it seems. Students have to figure out how to cross a line, but the catch is they have to cross the line all at the same time. Communication, patience, and strategy are needed to complete this task.

23. Karaoke Routine 

Yes! Karaoke is a team-building activity! It’s a silly way to collaborate while showing off your singing skills. Students are split into groups and they have to pick a song to perform. Creating dance routines, assigning roles, and adding props are fun ways to bring this activity to life.

24. Murder Mystery 

Who doesn’t enjoy solving a mystery? Create clues and pick a theme for your murder mystery. Assign characters to students and encourage them to dress the part!

25. Thankful Challenge 

This is an indoor team-building activity that can be done throughout the year to reinforce community dynamics. Pair students and tell them they have 3 minutes to find something in the room to gift to their partner. Students have to find a gift and find a way to wrap it in 3 minutes. The person that finishes the fastest wins.

26. Building a Card Tower 

Students have to build a standing tower using a deck of cards. Students can get creative with the structure of their towers, but the only rule is that they can only use cards!

Learn More: Feel Good Teaching

27. Teamwork: Stack Cup

All you need for this activity are cups, rubber bands, and string. Stack the six cups only using the strings! Each student will be given a cup with a rubber band and string attached to it. Each student is responsible for stacking their cup using only the string. The first team to finish wins.

Learn More: Ms. Sepp’s Counselor Corner

28. Straw Bridge Challenge 

Students work together to build a bridge using straws, popsicle sticks, and tape. Arrange a time for students to plan and build. Once the bridges are done, the real challenge begins! Bridges that can bear the weight of objects will win!

Learn More: Take The Straw Bridge Challenge!

29. A Top of the Tower

This is another activity that requires students to work as a team to plan and build. Using pencils and tape, students will build a tower that is strong enough to hold an object of their choice. The object can be a stuffed animal or a small action figure.

Learn More: Elementary Island Blog

30. Paper Chain Race

This activity ends with a highly anticipated race! Students race to create the longest paper chain they can create in a set amount of time (Younger students will need more time). Arrange each set of paper chains to compare the length. Whatever team has the longest paper chain wins.

Learn More: The Math Chick

31. Wheelbarrow Race

Get ready to spark some joyous laughter and teamwork with the good old wheelbarrow race! Pair your students off and have one of each duo grasp the ankles of their partner, who then takes off on their hands. You’ll need a clear space and a marked finish line. The duo who reaches the end first, while maintaining their hilarious yet challenging position, is crowned victorious!

Learn More: Party Games 4 Kids

32. Flag Making

Dive into a world of colors, symbols, and creativity with the Flag Making activity! Split the class into teams and equip them with fabric, paint, brushes, and other embellishments to craft their unique flags. They’ll need to brainstorm a fitting emblem and name for their team. What an excellent activity to ignite creativity and foster collaboration!

Learn More: Pinterest

33. Indoor Camping

Ever fancied a camp inside the classroom? With this activity, that’s exactly what you get. Using chairs, blankets, flashlights, and any other handy classroom materials, the teams should aim to construct a snug indoor campsite. This exciting mission promotes problem-solving, teamwork, and the ability to think out of the box!

Learn More: Plenty

34. Human Knot

This activity adds a twist to team-building. Have all students stand in a circle and reach across to hold hands with two people not directly next to them. The aim? Untangle this knot without letting go of each other’s hands. Keep an eye out for the laughter, communication, and bond growing among students!

Learn More: Icebreaker Ideas

35. Choreograph a Dance

Let your students move to the rhythm and sync in harmony with the Choreograph a Dance activity! Encourage them to work in groups, pick their favorite tune, and create a captivating dance routine to perform for the class. Nothing like a dose of music and movement to foster creativity and cooperation!

Learn More: YouTube

36. Chain Reaction

Remember those whimsical Rube Goldberg machines? Now it’s your students’ turn to create one! With this activity, they’ll need to construct a complex device performing a simple task using dominoes, marbles, and other readily available materials. An ideal choice for spurring problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork!

37. Balloon Stomp

Let the stomp-off begin! In this thrilling activity, tie a balloon to each student’s ankle. The objective? Pop other participants’ balloons while guarding your own. Set up clear boundaries for the game area. It’s an engaging way to encourage strategic thinking and cooperation.

Learn More: Mumfidential

38. Tug of War

Rekindle the classic spirit of teamwork and strength with Tug of War. Divide your students into two equally matched teams, grab a sturdy rope, and mark the center point and the ‘pit’ on either side. The team that pulls the opposing team over their pit line wins!

Learn More: Ravenox

39. Create a Play

Unleash the dramatist within your students! Encourage groups to write their own script, develop characters, and design props for a short play. Provide them with a theme or leave it to their imaginations. The stage is theirs, and it’s a brilliant way to foster creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Learn More: Twinkl

40. Team Sports

How about a mini sports day? Set up games of basketball, soccer, or volleyball where students can compete in teams. This activity not only enhances physical fitness but also promotes the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Learn More: Australian Sports Camps

41. Group Jigsaw Puzzle

Engage your students in a test of patience, communication, and cooperation with a jumbo jigsaw puzzle. Each team is presented with a large puzzle (1000 pieces or more) to complete. Keep a clock ticking for the added thrill!

Learn More: Southern Living

42. Newspaper Fashion Show

Here’s a challenge that blends creativity, teamwork, and a whole lot of fun – a Newspaper Fashion Show! Using just newspaper and tape, each group crafts an outfit for one member to strut down the classroom runway in. May the most creative outfit win!

43. Story Chain

Time for a storytelling rollercoaster! Begin with a sentence to start the story, and have each student add their own twist and turn. The key is to maintain the plot while making it as imaginative as possible. An excellent way to stimulate creativity, active listening, and cooperation.

Learn More: The Homeschool Mom

44. Community Mural

Art, teamwork, and a sense of community come together in this activity. Teams collaborate to paint a large-scale mural that showcases the essence of their community, using paints, brushes, and a whole lot of creativity.

Learn More: The Community Word

45. Mimic the Leader

A game of attention to detail and teamwork! Choose a leader who performs actions that the rest of the class must replicate. For added fun, change the leader after each round.

Learn More: Empowered Parents

46. Team Cooking Challenge

Nothing brings people together like cooking. Divide the class into teams, assign a simple recipe, and let them work their culinary magic! You can do this with no heat recipes or use a portable stove under your supervision. It’s a delicious way to encourage cooperation, creativity, and life skills.

Learn More: The Boston Calendar

47. Garden Planting

Time for some green fingers! Teams come together to plant and nurture a mini garden. From choosing the plants to regularly watering them, it’s a beautiful lesson in teamwork, patience, and love for nature.

Learn More: Baba Mail

48. Classroom Decoration Competition

Let your classroom reflect the creativity of your students! Divide the class into teams, decide on themes, and let each team transform a section of the classroom. What a wonderful activity to foster creativity, teamwork, and a sense of belonging in the classroom.

Learn More: SIS Myanmar

Team-building activities and games for kids help build trust while also promoting communication, problem-solving, and team skills. All these activity ideas for kids are easy to do in a classroom, hallway, or outdoors and are easy to set up. See the excitement and determination in your students as they take on different challenges. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a team-building activity.

A team-building activity is a task that motivates people to work together. Strengths are revealed through completing a task together.

What are some fun team-building activities for kids?

Fun team-building activities engage and motivate students to complete a task.  The keyword is fun! When participating in activities, students will be more comfortable exploring their own challenges and advantages.

How do you teach kids teamwork?

Kids learn teamwork the same way they learn any other skill, which is practice. Providing students with activities that require them to work together maximizes communication, problem-solving skills, and teamwork skills.

What makes a good team?

A good team should run like a well-oiled machine. Qualities of a good team are communicating well with each other, focusing on a common goal and results, and everyone doing their equal share.

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The PE Specialist

Awesome Resources for Physical Education Teachers

PE Games: Cross The River

This week I’m coming to you with a CLASSIC game that I play every year with my kids.   Like most activities – I only play it once a year so kids love it when they walk in and see the game setup.   I usually save it for a time when students are coming back from a break and kids would benefit from some team building and cooperative activities.

Aside from the fact that it’s an awesome activity, I think my students love it so much because  I present the game in a gamified format  by creating different levels for each increasingly difficult or complex extension of the game (I do this with most activities, for more examples check out  Hula Hut Relays , Pass the Frog , or Fire and Ice .

Check out the video below for an example of me teaching the game to a 3rd grade class at my school:

If you don’t have time for the video check out the summary of the game below, or download the free lesson plan at the bottom of this post.

Cross The River

• I shoot for about 5-7 kids on each team, but you can modify and adjust for different situations.  The setup below is for one class, for double classes I would simply double the equipment.  To start the game, I give my K-2 students 1 more dot than the members of their team, with 3-5th they get the same number of dots as team members.

• No sliding or throwing the PE equipment
• If any part of your body touches the “water” your entire team must start over

Level 1: Get to the “Island”

• In this level students will learn how to get across the river with their team and attempt to make it to the island (gymnastics mats folded up)

Level 2: Cross the River

• In this level students will attempt to cross the ENTIRE river.  If they make it to the island, it acts as a “Checkpoint” where they can “Save their game”.  If they fall in after saving their game, they can start over at the island.

Level 3: You Lost a Rock

• In this level students once again, attempt to get their entire team to the island – However, you have some bad news for all the teams… The water has picked up and they’ve lost one of their rocks!  They must use creativity and brainstorm a way to get to the island with one less rock.  One hint I give kids on this level is “You need to think outside the Box!” 😉 , you can see an example in the instagram post below :

  View this post on Instagram   Kids: This is totally impossible…???? . Me (for the 3,00th time): Think outside the BOX and use all of your resources… . Kids: ???????????? USE the BOX!!!! . Me: ???????????????? . Details and lesson plan for this team building game “cross the river” are linked up on our resources page ???????? . #physicaleducation #physed #pegeeks #iteachpe #pe #peteacher #elempe #primarype #teamwork #teachersofinstagram A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist) on Jan 9, 2020 at 6:07am PST

Level 4: Cross the River Again

• Same as level 2, but with one less rock this time.  Checkpoint stays the same.

Level 5: Double Up

• In this level I combine my 4 teams into 2 teams and have them attempt to make it to the island and then combine all of their equipment to go all the way across the river together.

That’s the basic outline, but there are tons of variations and different ways to present the game (different equipment, blindfolds, add obstacles to the river, create mines with bowling pins, change the scenario or add more restrictions).

I really love watching the kids play and there are TONS of teachable moments that will happen throughout the game that you can explore with the kids after each level.

I also use this game as one of my Field Day stations each year.  The classroom teachers enjoy watching the kids use teamwork and attempt to be the first group to “cross the river”

If you want specifics and a more detailed list of ideas, strategies and variations – you can download my lesson plan for free below:

It’s so fun watching kids complete a challenge for the first time – check out the post below to see what I mean 🙂

  View this post on Instagram   Going into Friday like… . ???????? . #physicaleducation #physed #pegeeks #iteachpe #pe #peteacher #elempe #primarype A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist) on Jan 10, 2020 at 7:04am PST

Got some cool variations of the game not included in the lesson plan?  Leave them in the comments below.

Have fun and teach on.

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Reader Interactions

February 4, 2023 at 2:19 am

The object of the activity is to get all members of the group safely across the river. this a great game.

February 6, 2023 at 3:24 pm

Glad you’re enjoying the activity Rebecca!

May 18, 2021 at 1:50 pm

I just had my students play Cross the River. I needed a break from our Field Day fun prep and some inclement weather so I went on the website looking for something new. I have played a similar game that I call “Rescue Island” with my 3-5th graders that uses a scooter board (boat) substituted for the step (log) to the spots and the island played across the width of the gym. Anyway, Ben I sure appreciate your ideas and resources! I will definitely be adding this to my cooperative games unit. Teach on!

May 18, 2021 at 4:18 pm

Sounds like such a cool game Nathan! Thanks for sharing!

April 8, 2021 at 10:57 am

Hi! this is great fun with the kids, tried yesterday 🙂 but i am having trouble downloading the lesson plan. Not sure if it’s on my end or yours! 🙂 Loryn

April 8, 2021 at 3:25 pm

Sorry about the issue!

Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.

As a another option you can also find some of our products on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist

Just search “Cross the River”

Hope this helps!

March 14, 2021 at 8:03 pm

Exactly what I’ve been looking for! Can’t download the lesson plans though:/

March 15, 2021 at 3:45 pm

April 1, 2020 at 1:28 pm

It was a good game for the children to learn how to work together

April 2, 2020 at 12:16 pm

CTR is one of our favorites!

October 14, 2019 at 2:25 pm

Do you play until one team finishes the level or until 5 minutes are up or do you give all the students 5 minutes to finish and teams that finish first sit and watch?

October 16, 2019 at 4:52 pm

I stop the music about 20 seconds after the first team finishes and have all the teams reset – we talk about strategies and refinements and then play the next level. DO what works for you though!

October 3, 2019 at 9:39 am

I’m not able to download the lesson plan above. Is there another way to retrieve it?

October 7, 2019 at 6:14 pm

March 11, 2019 at 3:09 pm

I love the idea of this game but I am unable to download the lesson plan…

March 12, 2019 at 3:06 pm

Hey Rochelle, sorry about the issue, but it’s working on our end.

As a another option you can also find this product on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist

January 9, 2019 at 8:23 am

Thank you! Fun reminder of some renditions of this classic!

January 6, 2019 at 10:13 pm

This sounds like a super fun game to kick off second semester! We do not have any Aerobic Steps. Trying to think of an alternative? I am going to rummage through our equipment room tomorrow.

January 9, 2019 at 5:21 pm

Anything works – yoga mats, scrap pieces of wood, pieces of cardboard…

January 6, 2019 at 2:15 pm

How can I get access to your Cross the River Download? When I click on “checkout” there is nothing in my cart.

January 9, 2019 at 5:20 pm

Sorry about the issue – Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.

As a last resort you can also find this download on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist

January 5, 2019 at 12:20 pm

Thanks looks fun.

May 15, 2018 at 8:07 am

Hi Ben, I saw the modifications you make for Grades K-2. Even with grades K-2 you still use the “LOG”? How does that work with K passing and moving the “LOG”? Is it something they struggle with physically? Just was curious before I teach it to my younger students.

May 16, 2018 at 3:18 pm

K usually doesn’t pass the log (even though it’s there if they thought of it). They usually don’t need to use the log because I always give them one extra spot.

1st and up can pass the log without any issues – although, yes it’s harder for them than it would be for a 4th grade student.

August 9, 2017 at 8:49 pm

Thanks so much! I used it for VBS and the kids loved it! It was so fun to see them work together and think. The 1st graders did better than the 4th graders, too many chiefs in the older group. LOL!

Thanks for sharing!

August 14, 2017 at 4:02 pm

Haha – perfect. I’ve used it for a church camp as well – it’s always a hit 🙂

May 22, 2017 at 9:36 am

What could I use instead of the aerobic steps as the logs?

May 22, 2017 at 4:27 pm

Go to home depot or Lowes and by a few 2x4s and have them cut it into smaller pieces and use those. Or you could get 1 x 6s if you want to have a wider “log” for the kids to make it easier.

Or you could use any other flat object in your equipment room that can be stepped on – or just don’t use logs, use scooters instead as “boats”

May 3, 2017 at 11:18 am

Ben have you ever used Cross the River as a Field Day station? I was thinking Of playing it with my 2nd-3rd grades. My field day stations are 15 min. each. Do you think we could play 2 levels in that time? Just wanted your opinion.

Thanks, Doug

May 8, 2017 at 8:56 am

Yep – we use cross the river for Field Day every year with K-5th, our stations are 7 minutes each, but I think 15 would work as well if you had the different levels.

February 21, 2017 at 2:43 pm

I play this game using floatation devices (pinnies, poly spots) instead of rocks. Students must ALWAYS be touching (with some body part) the floatation device or it will float away and the team will have one less device to get across with. I like how you added levels.

February 22, 2017 at 7:11 pm

Nice! I’ve heard of that variation with the floating objects, but never tried it – sounds fun though. Thanks for sharing!

February 15, 2017 at 4:06 pm

I did this today with third and fourth graders. They really enjoyed it. Presenting it in a “gamified” format really resonated with a lot of them. I had a number of students ask me after class when we could do this again. Ben Landers for the win!

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22 fun team building games & activities for kids.

• February 22, 2018

Table of Contents

Why are team building activities beneficial for kids.

• 6 Classic Fun Team-Building Activities & Games For Kids

Indoor Team Building Games for Kids

Outdoor team building games for kids.

• Team Building Activities for KS2 Pre-Schoolers
• Team Building Activities for Middle Schoolers

Team Building Exercises for Siblings

Teamwork is a very important aspect for kids to learn, especially as it pertains to sports and other kids activities. Below we break down 5 super fun team building activities for kids that can be done in any place: summer cap, school, the park, or your backyard. But before we review our favorite kids team building activities and games, we’d like to quickly discuss their importance:

Kids between the age of 7 and 13 are starting to discover that they have a real curiosity about the world, with an understand that they have some independence as well. In order to fuse together these two notions of curiosity and independence, kids need to learn skills. And because kids are often with other kids, they need to learn how to do activities with other kids. Call it a team.

7 Classic Fun Team-Building Activities & Games For Kids of All Ages

Here are a few awesome team-based activities and games that your kids will both enjoy and learn a lot from:

1) Group Jump Rope

Image from Flickr, used with Creative Commons License

One might think that a jump rope is a solo sport or active activity for kids. In reality, however, it can be used as an awesome team kids’ building activity. First, you’ll need a really large jump rope, and ideally two adults or teens. Each adult and/or teen then holds the end of each side of the jump rope. The kids (depending on the length of the jump rope) then stand in the middle and jump together as the adults/teens swing the jump rope! It’s a great game because it is super simple, but also requires coordination and symmetry between two kids. It probably makes sense to start small with just two kids. And if there are many kids, then you can try competition, and score each pair of kids on how many successful jumps they land, or how long they can last without getting tangled up.

2) Human Knot Kids Version

The famous human knot game is often tried with adults in co-working environments, but it is actually quite a fun and useful kids team building game and activity. Basically, have a group of kids sit together in a circle, ideally a minimum of 5-6 kids. Have each kid randomly grab (lightly!) someone else’s wrist and hold onto it. Once everyone’s wrists are accounted for, instruct the kids to try and untangle themselves, but without letting go of anyone’s wrists! This is a really fun game which borders on strategy and chaos. Obviously it is important to warn the kids to play this game slowly and gingerly, so that no one gets hurt. In some cases, it might be preferred to allow kids to release a wrist in order to properly untangle themselves. This is a great team building game for kids because it forces kids to work together toward a solution that everyone is aiming toward.

To make this kids game even more of a team building activity, you can instruct the kids that they cannot speak – thereby forcing them to strategize with body language, which likely increase the team chemistry that the game sets out to teach.

4) Forehead Dots

This is a really easy activity game to set up, but really hard for kids to solve! That’s precisely why this is a great team building activitiy for kids. Each kid gets a colored dot, which is then lightly taped onto their forehead. Each kid must then figure out what color dot is on their forehead, but obviously without asking any other kids for help. Depending on the number of kids, there will be only a few colored dots (so a few kids will have the same color). This is a great team building game, because it forces kids to communicate non verbally. The first team that arrives together (with the correct colored dots on their heads) is the winner!

5) Birthday Line-Up

You may have noticed a theme with our team building for kids activities: the fewer words spoken, the more effective the game. And that is no different for Birthday line-up, in which kids are assembled into a group and must line up according to the order of their birthdays. Obviously it would be very difficult for kids to get this 100% correct on their first try, but it would not be outrageous for kids to get a sense of a general idea of each other’s birthdays by moving toward certain areas on the line. To make the game more compelling, give kids 1 minute to line up the first time, then observe the final line-up and tell them which kids are out of place, then give them an additional minute to fix the positioning.

6) Trust Walk

This is a classic kids’ team building activity which can be done in either pairs or groups. The ideal playing area is a safe, enclosed outdoors area (like a backyard or small park), in which there is a start area and finish area. One kid is blindfolded and spun around (not too fast – we don’t any kids getting dizzy!). Move the kid around a few steps so that he isn’t in the same exact position as he was before. Then have another kid come over and act as a guide. The guide must get the blindfolded kid to get to the finish area – but he can’t touch him, and can only give verbal cues. To make the game more difficult, (and meaningful in terms of building team chemistry and such), the guide can’t use any directional language. So instead of simply saying “go forward 5 steps, then go left five steps”, the guide can only say directives such as “walk until you step on a branch”, followed by “now head toward the tree”, and the kid will be guided by the location of the voice of the guide. This game can be mixed up a bit to include multiple players, making it trickier and more competitive.

7) Finger Tip Hula Hoop

There are a number of awesome hula hoop games which really pushes kids to work together and build chemistry. Our favorite is the helium hoop game, in which kids must work together as a group in order to lower the hula hoop to the ground. Every kid must only use their index fingers to lower the hoop (in unison) to the ground. Check out this great video below which shows how the finger tip helium hula hoop game is a great way to build team chemistry for kids:

Raining outside? Stuck inside for whatever reason? No problem – there are plenty of awesome and fun indoor team building games for kids. The games listed above may apply here, but if you’re looking for games and activities that are exclusive for the indoors or a gym, then here are 3 great choices:

• Cops and Robbers: This classic gym game is also an underrated team building game that kids will almost always love! The kids who are labeled as cops must work together to corral all the robbers behind the cones. Teamwork at its finest!
• Protect the Castle: Though not as well known as Cops and Robbers, this fun kids team building game makes kids coordinate amongst each-other in order to successfully knock over all the targets. Read the instructions here .
• Sink the Ship: The indoor team building game for kids requires a gymnasium, but is a highly entertaining game which requires teamwork and working together. See the tutorial video here .

Things are always more fun outside, whether its the sunshine or the cool breeze flowing through a park or a field. Outdoor activities are always more fun and adventurous. Often times, sports provide the best team building exercises. Get your kids together for these awesome outdoor games which should help with teamwork and team building chemistry and rapport:

• Basketball passing lanes: If you can secure an outdoor court, have your kids line up on opposite ends of the court, and then instruct the kids to start running in the same direction. The premise is for each kid to pass the ball and to never hold it for more than 1 second. This forces the kids to constantly be looking for teammates, and to securely pass them the ball.
• Soccer passing lanes: This game is the same premise as above, but replace the basketball with a soccer ball. This is obviously trickier, since catching a soccer ball with legs is harder than catching a basketball with hands. To improve the quality of play, have the kids stand closer to each other so that the passing goes off in a simpler format.
• Tag with a twist: Set up a normal game of tag, but instead of one kid being “it”, there will be a two kids who will be “it”. This forces the pair to chase other kids together, and in order to tag someone, both of the pair must successfully tag the target. This forces the pair to work together and build chemistry and rapport.

Team Building Activities for Pre-Schoolers

Pre-school kids have all the fun in the world – no class, no homework, and tons of fun activities! Pre-school officially starts at age 2 1/2, which is around the time your toddler starts to grow into a kid. This formative age can definitely benefit from team building activities for pre-school level toddlers and kids – check out 3 great choices below :

• Duck Duck Goose: No pre-school activity list would be complete without Duck Duck Goose – a classic game that every toddler needs to play. Though this game can get chaotic pretty quickly, it plants the seeds for early team building development among toddlers and kids.
• Group Juggling: Though it is likely that your pre-schooler isn’t truly able to juggle, that is okay. This game will enrapture kids – learning to juggle for the first time, and having to work together, creates a very valuable and fun educational scenario where kids are learning new skills but must work together to succeed.
• Three Legged Race: Another classic pre-school game that helps create teamwork among kids. By attaching kids at the ankles, they must work together to succeed in what ends up being a fun and funny scenario.

Team Building Activities for KS2 Middle Schoolers

Middle school, also known as KS2, is a ripe age for team building activities and games, in that kids can benefit at a rapid pace , because they are experiencing critical thinking for the first time. If you’re a teacher, educator, or parent looking for interesting games or activities which will help develop chemistry, collaboration, rapport, and team building among middle school or KS2 students and kids, then take a look at these below:

• Treasure Hunt: As with Minefield, there is no shortage to the creative direction that a teacher can mold this game. The great thing about Treasure Hunt is that any item at home or in the classroom can be used, and hidden, and allow for middle schoolers to team up and work together in an effort to find all the treasures.
• Hot Seat: This kids game is more for the classroom, and is better for smaller class sizes. Hot Seat is a great team building middle school game because it teaches vocabulary, but also allows for plenty of excitement in a musical chairs-style format for kids to get their energy going in the classroom. Check out the rules here .

Siblings spend a lot of time together as it is. And yet, as a parent, you might still feel the need to strengthen your kids relationships with each-other, which is why team building activities for siblings can be both fun and effective. These activities will provide for some healthy competition, but also strengthen the bonding between kids.

• Freeze Dance: This is a uniquely fun game for siblings to play at home. Simply turn on the music and let the siblings dance. Then turn it off suddenly, and the kids must freeze – whoever doesn’t freeze gets a point! The reason this is a great sibling game is because kids are more comfortable to let loose while at home among just family. This dance game will increase bonding and comfortability among siblings and family.
• Scavenger Hunt: A home is the perfect place for a scavenger hunt! This is because there are many nooks and crannies that only a resident would be able to figure out. Have the parent hide a few treasures around the home, and have the siblings work together to figure out clues to locate where the treasures are buried!
• Puzzles: This more of a niche than a specific game, but puzzles are very beneficial toward kids learning to work together as a team. And if it’s a rainy day at home, then a large puzzle is a great activity for your kids to sit around and play. The slow pace of the puzzle forces your kids and siblings to work together for long stretches, with patience, until they finish.

Check out a few other related links below:

• Sports Games for Kids : Fun sports games & activities for kids
• Exercise Games for Kids : Comprehensive list of exercise activities and games for kids
• Cheerleading for Kids : Guide to cheerleading for kids, cheerleading tryouts, exercises, activities, and background
• Fitbit for Kids Fitness Trackers : The best Fitbit for kids tracker bracelets available
• Kids’ Party Game Guide : Awesome party game ideas for your kids
• Arts & Crafts Games Guide for Kids : Tons of arts and crafts games and activity ideas for kids
• Team Building Games for Teenagers:  Team building for teenagers can be fun too!

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Team Building & Problem Solving

Subject: Physical education

Age range: 11-14

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Last updated

8 July 2013

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22 Unbeatable Team Building Problem Solving Activities

Problem-solving is a critical skill for professionals and with team building problem-solving activities, you can sharpen your skills while having fun at the same time.  

Updated: March 1, 2024

In the professional world, one thing is for sure: problem-solving is a vital skill if you want to survive and thrive. It’s a universal job skill that organizations seek in new potential employees and that managers look for when considering candidates for promotions.  

But there’s a problem. 

According to Payscale, 60% of managers feel that new grads entering the workforce lack problem-solving abilities – making it the most commonly lacking soft skill.  

Problem-solving skill needs to be practiced and perfected on an ongoing basis in order to be applied effectively when the time comes. And while there are tons of traditional approaches to becoming a better problem-solver, there’s another (much more interesting) option: team building problem-solving activities. 

The good news? This means learning and having fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And you can create a stronger team at the same time. 

16 In-Person Team Building Problem Solving Activities for Your Work Group  

1. cardboard boat building challenge, 2. egg drop , 3. clue murder mystery, 4. marshmallow spaghetti tower  , 5. corporate escape room, 6. wild goose chase, 7. lost at sea  , 8. domino effect challenge, 9. reverse pyramid  , 10. ci: the crime investigators, 11. team pursuit, 12. bridge builders, 13. domino effect challenge, 14. hollywood murder mystery, 15. code break, 16. cardboard boat building challenge, 6 virtual team building problem solving activities for your work group  , 1. virtual escape room: mummy’s curse, 2. virtual clue murder mystery, 3. virtual escape room: jewel heist, 4. virtual code break  , 5. virtual trivia time machine.

• 6. Virtual Jeoparty Social

There are a ton of incredible team building problem solving activities available. We’ve hand-picked 16 of our favorites that we think your corporate group will love too. 

Split into teams and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided: cardboard and tape. Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats to test their durability! Nothing says problem-solving like having to make sure you don’t sink into the water!

Every day at work, you’re forced to make countless decisions – whether they’re massively important or so small you barely think about them.  

But your ability to effectively make decisions is critical in solving problems quickly and effectively.  

With a classic team building problem solving activity like the Egg Drop, that’s exactly what your team will learn to do. 

For this activity, you’ll need some eggs, construction materials, and a place you wouldn’t mind smashing getting dirty with eggshells and yolks.  

The goal of this activity is to create a contraption that will encase an egg and protect it from a fall – whether it’s from standing height or the top of a building. But the challenge is that you and your team will only have a short amount of time to build it before it’s time to test it out, so you’ll have to think quickly! 

To make it even more challenging, you’ll have to build the casing using only simple materials like: 

• Newspapers 
• Plastic wrap
• Rubber bands
• Popsicle sticks
• Cotton balls

Feel free to have some fun in picking the materials. Use whatever you think would be helpful without making things too easy! 

Give your group 15 minutes to construct their egg casing before each team drops their eggs. If multiple eggs survive, increase the height gradually to see whose created the sturdiest contraption.  

If you’re not comfortable with the idea of using eggs for this activity, consider using another breakable alternative, such as lightbulbs for a vegan Egg Drop experience. 

With Clue Murder Mystery, your team will need to solve the murder of a man named Neil Davidson by figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit the crime.

But it won’t be easy! You’ll need to exercise your best problem-solving skills and channel your inner detectives if you want to keep this case from going cold and to get justice for the victim.

Collaboration is critical to problem solving. 

Why? Because, as the old saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This expression reflects the fact that people are capable of achieving greater things when they work together to do so. 

If you’re looking for a team building problem solving activity that helps boost collaboration, you’ll love Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower.  

This game involves working in teams to build the tallest possible freestanding tower using only marshmallows, uncooked spaghetti, tape, and string.  

The kicker? This all has to be done within an allotted timeframe. We recommend about thirty minutes.  

For an added dimension of challenge, try adding a marshmallow to the top of the tower to make it a little more top heavy.  

Whichever team has the highest tower when time runs out is the winner! 

If you’ve never participated in an escape room, your team is missing out! It’s one of the most effective team building problem solving activities out there because it puts you and your colleagues in a scenario where the only way out is collaboratively solving puzzles and deciphering clues.  

The principle is simple: lock your group in a room, hide the key somewhere in that room, and have them work through challenges within a set time frame. Each challenge will lead them one step closer to finding the key and, ultimately, their escape.    

At Outback, we offer “done-for-you” escape rooms where we’ll transform your office or meeting room so you don’t have to worry about:

• Seeking transportation for your team 
• Capacity of the escape rooms  
• High costs 
• Excessive planning  

That way, you and your team can simply step inside and get to work collaborating, using creative problem solving, and thinking outside the box.   

In this smartphone-based scavenger hunt team building activity , your group will split into teams and complete fun challenges by taking photos and videos around the city. Some examples of challenges you can do in this activity are:

• Parkour:  Take a picture of three team members jumping over an object that’s at least waist-high.
• Beautiful Mind:  Snap a photo of a team member proving a well-known mathematical theorem on a chalkboard.
• Puppy Love:  Take a photo of all of your team members petting a stranger’s dog at the same time.

It takes a ton of critical thinking and problem-solving to be crowned the Wild Goose Chase Champions!

Can you imagine a higher-pressure situation than being stranded at sea in a lifeboat with your colleagues? 

With this team building problem solving activity, that’s exactly the situation you and your group will put yourselves. But by the time the activity is over, you’ll have gained more experience with the idea of having to solve problems under pressure – a common but difficult thing to do. 

Here’s how it works. 

Each team member will get a six-columned chart where: 

• The first column lists the survival items each team has on hand (see the list below) 
• The second column is empty so that each team member can rank the items in order of importance for survival  
• The third column is for group rankings  
• The fourth column is for the “correct” rankings, which are revealed at the end of the activity 
• The fifth and sixth columns are for the team to enter thee difference between their individual and correct scores and the team and correct rankings 

Within this activity, each team will be equipped with the following “survival items,” listed below in order of importance, as well as a pack of matches:  

• A shaving mirror (this can be used to signal passing ships using the sun) 
• A can of gas (could be used for signaling as it could be put in the water and lit with the pack of matches) 
• A water container (for collecting water to re-hydrate ) 
• Emergency food rations (critical survival food) 
• One plastic sheet (can be helpful for shelter or to collect rainwater) 
• Chocolate bars (another food supply) 
• Fishing rods (helpful, but no guarantee of catching food) 
• Rope (can be handy, but not necessarily essential for survival) 
• A floating seat cushion (usable as a life preserver)  
• Shark repellant (could be important when in the water) 
• A bottle of rum (could be useful for cleaning wounds) 
• A radio (could be very helpful but there’s a good chance you’re out of range) 
• A sea chart (this is worthless without navigation equipment) 
• A mosquito net (unless you’ve been shipwrecked somewhere with a ton of mosquitos, this isn’t very useful) 

To get the activity underway, divide your group into teams of five and ask each team member to take ten minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance in the respective column. Then, give the full team ten minutes as a group to discuss their individual rankings together and take group rankings, listed in that respective column. Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with those of the group as a whole. 

Finally, read out the correct order according to the US Coast Guard, listed above.  

The goal of this activity is for everyone to be heard and to come to a decision together about what they need most to survive.  

If your team works remotely, you can also do this activity online. Using a video conferencing tool like  Zoom , you can bring your group together and separate teams into “break-out rooms” where they’ll take their time individually and then regroup together. At the end, you can bring them back to the full video conference to go through the answers together. 

Many problems are intricately complex and involve a ton of moving parts. And in order to solve this type of problem, you need to be able to examine it systematically, one piece at a time.  

Especially in the business world, many problems or challenges involve multiple different teams or departments working through their respective portions of a problem before coming together in the end to create a holistic solution. 

As you can imagine, this is often easier said than done. And that’s why it’s so important to practice this ability.  

With a collaborative team building problem solving activity like Domino Effect Challenge, that’s exactly what you’ll need to do as you and your group work to create a massive, fully functional chain reaction machine. 

Here’s how it goes. 

Your group will break up into teams, with each team working to complete their own section of a massive “Rube Goldberg” machine. Then, all teams will regroup and assemble the entire machine together. You’ll need to exercise communication, collaboration, and on-the-fly problem solving in order to make your chain reaction machine go off without a hitch from start to finish. 

Being a great problem-solver means being adaptable and creative. And if you’re looking for a quick and easy team building problem solving activity, you’ll love the reverse pyramid. 

The idea here is simple: break your group out into small teams and then stand in the form of a pyramid.  

Your challenge is to flip the base and the peak of the pyramid – but you can only move three people in order to do so.  

Alternatively, rather than doing this activity with people as the pyramid, you can do another version –  the Pyramid Build  – using plastic cups instead.   

This version is a little bit different. Rather than flipping the base of a pyramid to the top, you’ll need to build the pyramid instead–but in reverse, starting from the top cup and working down. 

With this version, you’ll need 36 cups and one table per group. We recommend groups of five to seven people. Give your group 20 to 30 minutes to complete the activity. 

To get started, place one cup face down. Then, lift that cup and place the subsequent two cups underneath it. 

The real challenge here? You can only lift your pyramid by the bottom row in order to put a new row underneath – and only one person at a time can do the lifting. The remaining group members will need to act quickly and work together in order to add the next row so that it will balance the rest of the pyramid. 

If any part of your pyramid falls, you’ll need to start over. Whichever team has the most complete pyramid when time runs out will be the winner!  

The value of being able to approach problems analytically can’t be overstated. Because when problems arise, the best way to solve them is by examining the facts and making a decision based on what you know. 

With CI: The Crime Investigators, this is exactly what your team will be called upon to do as you put your detective’s hats on and work to solve a deadly crime. 

You’ll be presented with evidence and need to uncover and decipher clues. And using only the information at your disposal, you’ll need to examine the facts in order to crack the case. 

Like many of our team building problem solving activities, CI: The Crime Investigators is available in a hosted format, which can take place at your office or an outside venue, as well as a virtually-hosted format that uses video conferencing tools, or a self-hosted version that you can run entirely on your own.  

Each member of your team has their own unique strengths and skills. And by learning to combine those skills, you can overcome any challenge and solve any problem. With Team Pursuit, you and your team together to tackle challenges as you learn new things about one another, discover your hidden talents, and learn to rely on each other.

This team building problem solving activity is perfect for high-energy groups that love to put their heads together and work strategically to solve problems as a group.

Collaborate with your colleague to design and build different segments of a bridge. At the end, see if the sections come together to create a free-standing structure!   

Together as a group, see if you and your colleagues can build a gigantic “chain-reaction” machine that really works!

In smaller groups, participants work together to solve the challenge of creating sections of the machine using miscellaneous parts, and at the end, you’ll have to collaborate to connect it all together and put it in motion.

The case is fresh, but here’s what we know so far: we’ve got an up-and-coming actress who’s been found dead in her hotel room following last night’s awards show.

We have several suspects, but we haven’t been able to put the crime on any of them for sure yet. Now, it’s up to you and your team of detectives to crack the case. Together, you’ll review case files and evidence including police reports, coroners’ reports, photo evidence, tabloids, interrogations, and phone calls as you determine the motive, method, and murderer and bring justice for the victim.

You’ll need to put your problem-solving skills to the test as you share theories, collaborate, and think outside the box with your fellow investigators.

Using Outback’s app, split up into small groups and put your heads together to solve a variety of puzzles, riddles, and trivia. The team who has completed the most challenges when time is up, wins!

Can you stay afloat in a body of water in a boat made entirely of cardboard? Now that is a problem that urgently needs solving.

With this team building problem solving activity, you and your colleagues will split into groups and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided – cardboard and tape.

Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats across the water!

If you and your team are working remotely, don’t worry. You still have a ton of great virtual team building problem solving options at your disposal.

In this virtual escape room experience, your team will be transported into a pyramid cursed by a restless mummy. You’ll have to work together to uncover clues and solve complex challenges to lift the ancient curse.

You’ve probably never heard of a man named Neil Davidson. But your group will need to come together to solve the mystery of his murder by analyzing clues, resolving challenges, and figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit a deadly crime. 

This activity will challenge you and your group to approach problems analytically, read between the lines, and use critical thinking in order to identify a suspect and deliver justice.  

If you and your team like brainteasers, then Virtual Escape Room: Jewel Heist will be a big hit.  

Here’s the backstory.

There’s been a robbery. Someone has masterminded a heist to steal a priceless collection of precious jewels, and it’s up to you and your team to recover them before time runs out.

Together, you’ll need to uncover hidden clues and solve a series of brain-boggling challenges that require collaboration, creative problem-solving, and outside-the-box thinking. But be quick! The clock is ticking before the stolen score is gone forever.

With Virtual Code Break, you and your team can learn to be adaptive and dynamic in your thinking in order to tackle any new challenges that come your way. In this activity, your group will connect on a video conferencing platform where your event host will split you out into teams. Together, you’ll have to adapt your problem-solving skills as you race against the clock to tackle a variety of mixed brainteaser challenges ranging from Sudoku to puzzles, a game of Cranium, riddles, and even trivia. 

Curious to see how a virtual team building activity works? Check out this video on a Virtual Clue Murder Mystery in action. 

Step into the Outback Time Machine and take a trip through time, from pre-pandemic 21st century through the decades all the way to the 60’s. 

This exciting, fast-paced virtual trivia game, packed with nostalgia and good vibes, is guaranteed to produce big laughs, friendly competition, and maybe even some chair-dancing. 

Your virtual game show host will warm up guests with a couple of “table hopper rounds” (breakout room mixers) and split you out into teams. Within minutes, your home office will be transformed into a game show stage with your very own game show buzzers! 

And if your team loves trivia, check out our list of the most incredible virtual trivia games for work teams for even more ideas.

6.  Virtual Jeoparty Social

If your remote team is eager to socialize, have some fun as a group, and channel their competitive spirit, we’ve got just the thing for you! With Virtual Jeoparty Social, you and your colleagues will step into your very own virtual Jeopardy-style game show—equipped with a buzzer button, a professional actor as your host, and an immersive game show platform! Best of all, this game has been infused with an ultra-social twist: players will take part in a unique social mixer challenge between each round. 

With the right team building problem solving activities, you can help your team sharpen their core skills to ensure they’re prepared when they inevitably face a challenge at work. And best of all, you can have fun in the process. 

Do you have any favorite team building activities for building problem-solving skills? If so, tell us about them in the comments section below! 

Learn More About Team Building Problem Solving Activities  

For more information about how your group can take part in a virtual team building, training, or coaching solution, reach out to our Employee Engagement Consultants.     

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15 Team Building Problem Solving Activities

In this article you will find:

• 15 problem-solving activities for your team to master
• Frequently asked questions about team building

Here are 15 problem-solving activities for your team to master:

15 Problem-Solving Activities

1. a shrinking vessel.

Why adaptability is important for problem-solving:

Adaptability is highly associated with cognitive diversity, which helps teams solve problems faster, according to the Harvard Business Review. Innovation and disruption are happening faster than ever before. People, teams, and organizations that can adapt will come out on top.

What You'll Need:

A rope or string

Instructions:

1. Using the rope, make a shape on the floor everyone can fit into.

2. Slowly shrink the space over a time period of 10-15 minutes.

3. Work together to figure out how to keep everyone within the shrinking boundaries.

2. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower

Helps with: Collaboration Why collaboration is important for problem-solving: “Collectively, we can be more insightful, more intelligent than we can possibly be individual,” writes Peter Senge in The Fifth Discipline. We can solve problems better as a team than we can alone, which means developing your team's collaboration skills will lead to better problem-solving outcomes.

What You'll Need (per team):

20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti

1 roll of masking tape

1 yard of string

1 marshmallow

1. The goal of this exercise is to see which team can use the materials provided to build the tallest tower within an allotted time period. The tower must be able to stand on its own.

2. To make this exercise more challenging, try adding a marshmallow to the top of the tower. This team problem-solving exercise helps teams think on their toes while building camaraderie and leadership.

3. Egg Drop

Why decision-making is important for problem-solving:

Making decisions isn't easy, but indecision leads to team paralysis, stagnant thinking, and unsolved problems. Decision-making activities help your team practice making quick, effective choices. Train your team's decision-making muscle and they will become more adept at problem-solving.

A carton of eggs

Basic construction materials such as newspapers, straws, tape, plastic wrap, balloons, rubber bands, popsicle sticks, etc., tarp, or drop cloth

A parking lot, or some other place you don't mind getting messy!

1. Each team gets an egg and must select from the construction materials.

2. Give everyone 20-30 minutes to construct a carrier for the egg and protect it from breaking.

3. Drop each egg carrier off a ledge (i.e. over a balcony) and see whose carrier protects the egg from breaking.

4. If multiple eggs survive, keep increasing the height until only one egg is left.

4. Stranded

Helps with: Communication and Decision-Making Why communication is important for problem-solving:

More employees work remotely than ever before. Good communication skills are vital to solving problems across increasingly virtual teams. Working on communication skills while your team is together will help them better solve problems when they're apart.

Your team has been stranded in the office. The doors are locked, and knocking down the doors or breaking the windows is not an option. Give your team 30 minutes to decide on 10 items in the office they need for survival and rank them in order of importance. The goal of the game is to have everyone agree on the 10 items and their ranking in 30 minutes.

1. Divide everyone into small teams of two or more.

2. Select an overseer who isn't on a team to build a random structure using Lego building blocks within 10 minutes.

3. The other teams must replicate the structure exactly (including size and color) within 15 minutes. However, only one member from each group may look at the original structure. They must figure out how to communicate the size, color, and shape of the original structure to their team.

4. If this is too easy, add a rule that the member who can see the original structure can't touch the new structure.

Collaboration

A lockable room

5-10 puzzles or clues (depending on how much time you want to spend on the game)

The goal of this exercise is to solve the clues, find the key, and escape a locked room within the time allotted.

Hide the key and a list of clues around the room.

Gather the team into the empty room and "lock" the door.

Give them either 30 minutes or 1 hour to find the key using the clues hidden around the room.

7. Frostbite

Decision Making, Adaptability What You'll Need:

A blindfold

1 packet of construction materials (such as card stock, toothpicks, rubber bands, and sticky notes) for each team

An electric fan

Picture this... Your employees are Arctic explorers adventuring across an icy tundra! Separate them into teams of 4-5 and have them select a leader to guide their exploration. Each team must build a shelter from the materials provided before the storm hits in 30 minutes. However, both the team leader's hands have frostbite, so they can't physically help construct the shelter, and the rest of the team has snow blindness and is unable to see. When the 30 minutes is up, turn on the fan and see which shelter can withstand the high winds of the storm.

8. Minefield

An empty room or hallway

A collection of common office items

1. Place the items (boxes, chairs, water bottles, bags, etc.) around the room so there's no clear path from one end of the room to the other.

2. Divide your team into pairs and blindfold one person on the team.

3. The other must verbally guide that person from one end of the room to the other, avoiding the "mines." 4. The partner who is not blindfolded can't touch the other.

5. If you want to make the activity more challenging, have all the pairs go simultaneously so teams must find ways to strategically communicate with each other.

9. Blind Formations

1. Have the group put on blindfolds and form a large circle.

2. Tie two ends of a rope together and lay it in a circle in the middle of the group, close enough so each person can reach down and touch it.

3. Instruct the group to communicate to create a shape with the rope a square, triangle, rectangle, etc.

4. If you have a very large group, divide them into teams and provide a rope for each team. Let them compete to see who forms a particular shape quickest.

10. Line up Blind

1. Blindfold everyone and whisper a number to each person, beginning with one.

2. Tell them to line up in numerical order without talking.

3. Instead of giving them a number, you could also have them line up numerically by height, age, birthday, etc.

11. Reverse Pyramid

1. Have everyone stand in a pyramid shape, horizontally.

2. Ask them to flip the base and the apex of the pyramid moving only three people.

3. This quick exercise works best when smaller groups compete to see who can reverse the pyramid the fastest.

12. Move It!

Chalk, rope, tape, or paper (something to mark a space)

1. Divide your group into two teams and line them up front to back, facing each other.

2. Using chalk, tape, rope, or paper (depending on the playing surface), mark a square space for each person to stand on. Leave one extra empty space between the two facing rows.

3. The goal is for the two-facing lines of players to switch places.

Place these restrictions on movement:

Only one person may move at a time.

A person may not move around anyone facing the same direction.

No one may not move backward.

A person may not move around more than one person on the other team at a time.

13. Human Knot

1. Have everyone stand in a circle, and ask each person to hold hands with two people who aren't directly next to them.

2. When everyone is tangled together, ask them to untangle the knot and form a perfect circle without letting anyone's hand.

Our last two problem-solving activities work best when dealing with an actual problem:

14. Dumbest Idea First

Instant Problem Solving What You'll Need:

1. "Dumb" ideas are sometimes the best ideas. Ask everyone to think of the absolute dumbest possible solution to the problem at hand.

2. After you have a long list, look through it and see which ones might not be as dumb as you think.

3. Brainstorm your solutions in Wrike. It's free and everyone can start collaborating instantly!

15. What Would X Do

1. Have everyone pretend they're someone famous.

2. Each person must approach the problem as if they were a famous person. What options would they consider? How would they handle it?

3. This allows everyone to consider solutions they might not have thought of originally.

Looking for more team building games? Check out these virtual icebreaker games Ultimate Guide to Team Building Activities that Don't Suck.

People also ask these questions about team building activities

Here are the answers to the most common questions about team building activities:

What is the team building process?

This process of learning to work together effectively is known as team development. Bruce Tuckman, an educational psychologist, identified a five-stage development process that most teams follow to become high performing. He called the stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.

What is team building?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines team building as: “The action or process of causing a group of people to work together effectively as a team, especially by means of activities and events designed to increase motivation and promote cooperation.”

How often should you schedule team-building activities?

One of the most important aspects of team building is that it is an ongoing process. One team-building session can be effective, but your team could benefit more from multiple sessions. In fact, it may be beneficial to make it a part of your regular program. For team building to be effective, you should repeat it as often as you feel it is useful. This largely depends on the activity you choose. You can do quick activities on a more regular basis since they don't interfere with the regular work schedule. You will probably conduct longer, more elaborate activities less frequently so the team can get work done.

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The Sky Is The Limit aka Newspaper Towers – Free Team Building Exercise

Group Size: Multiple  Groups of 4 – 6

Key Stage: KS1,   KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5

Team Building Skills: Creativity; Verbal Communication; Decision Making

Equipment:  Newspapers; Cellotape

The Sky is the Limit –  AKA: Newspapers Towers,  This activity is a great team building exercise where the equipment of old newspapers and a small roll of cellotape is easily acquired. 

To set up the activity the facilitator will need to make sets of equal number of sheets of newspaper and a small roll of cellotape. There will be one for each team. Ideally the mix of newspaper sheets will be the same size for both groups. This will keep the competition element fair. 

The task is for the groups to create the tallest tower that must be able to stand unsupported. The final towers can be measured and points awarded for each full CM.  The location will dictate how many sheets of newspaper each group has. For example inside may only require several pieces where outside may lend itself to a full newspaper.

Other free activities that may be of interest

Team Tic Tac Toe

Group Size: Any Size,  space allowing Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Concentration, Observation, Strategy Communication Equipment: Stools Download Activity PDF https://youtu.be/g4pltPtYGHA Use the link below to subscribe to our U Tube Channel: Subscribe Now There are many ways to play Team Tic Tac Toe. This method

Take Action (Numbers & Actions)

Group Size: Any Size,  space allowing Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills:  Concentration, Following instructions, Speed Equipment: No Equipment Download Activity PDF https://youtu.be/88QLo21O8Xg Use the link below to subscribe to our U Tube Channel: Subscribe Now Take action is the perfect activity to energise your group.

Balloon Towers

Group Size: Multiple groups of 4 – 5   Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5   Team Building Skills: Planning, Strategy, Communication   Equipment: Balloons, Tape, Scissors, Tape Measure Download Activity PDF https://youtu.be/fx9cjm0Me_g Use the link below to subscribe to our You Tube Channel: Subscribe Now Balloon Tower requires small

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14 Best Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities For 2024

The best teams see solutions where others see problems. A great company culture is built around a collaborative spirit and the type of unity it takes to find answers to the big business questions.

So how can you get team members working together?

How can you develop a mentality that will help them overcome obstacles they have yet to encounter?

One of the best ways to improve your teams’ problem solving skills is through team building problem solving activities .

“86% of employees and executives cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures.” — Bit.AI

These activities can simulate true-to-life scenarios they’ll find themselves in, or the scenarios can call on your employees or coworkers to dig deep and get creative in a more general sense.

The truth is, on a day-to-day basis, you have to prepare for the unexpected. It just happens that team building activities help with that, but are so fun that they don’t have to feel like work ( consider how you don’t even feel like you’re working out when you’re playing your favorite sport or doing an exercise you actually enjoy! )

What are the benefits of group problem-solving activities?

The benefits of group problem-solving activities for team building include:

• Better communication
• Improved collaboration and teamwork
• More flexible thinking
• Faster problem-solving
• Better proactivity and decision making

Without further ado, check out this list of the 14 best team-building problem-solving group activities for 2024!

Page Contents (Click To Jump)

Popular Problem Solving Activities

1. virtual team challenge.

Virtual Team Challenges are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue. The challenge generally involves members of the team brainstorming, discussing, and creating solutions for a given problem.

Participants work both individually and collaboratively to come up with ideas and strategies that will help them reach their goals.

Why this is a fun problem-solving activity: Participants can interact and communicate with each other in a virtual environment while simultaneously engaging with the problem-solving activities. This makes it an enjoyable experience that allows people to use their creative thinking skills, build team spirit, and gain valuable insights into the issue at hand.

Problem-solving activities such as Virtual Team Challenges offer a great way for teams to come together, collaborate, and develop creative solutions to complex problems.

2. Problem-Solving Templates

Problem-Solving Templates are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue. The challenge generally involves members of the team utilizing pre-made templates and creating solutions for a given problem with the help of visual aids.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey.

Why this is a fun problem-solving activity: Problem-Solving Templates offer teams an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing. The visual aids that come with the templates help team members better understand the issue at hand and easily come up with solutions together.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey, as it provides an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing.

Problem Solving Group Activities & Games For Team Building

3. coworker feud, “it’s all fun and games”.

Coworker Feud is a twist on the classic Family Feud game show! This multiple rapid round game keeps the action flowing and the questions going. You can choose from a variety of customizations, including picking the teams yourself, randomized teams, custom themes, and custom rounds.

Best for: Hybrid teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Coworker Feud comes with digital game materials, a digital buzzer, an expert host, and a zoom link to get the participants ready for action! Teams compete with each other to correctly answer the survey questions. At the end of the game, the team with the most competitive answers is declared the winner of the Feud.

How to get started:

• Sign up for Coworker Feud
• Break into teams of 4 to 10 people
• Get the competitive juices flowing and let the games begin!

Learn more here: Coworker Feud

4. Crack The Case

“who’s a bad mamma jamma”.

Crack The Case is a classic WhoDoneIt game that forces employees to depend on their collective wit to stop a deadly murderer dead in his tracks! Remote employees and office commuters can join forces to end this crime spree.

Best for: Remote teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: The Virtual Clue Murder Mystery is an online problem solving activity that uses a proprietary videoconferencing platform to offer the chance for employees and coworkers to study case files, analyze clues, and race to find the motive, the method, and the individual behind the murder of Neil Davidson.

• Get a custom quote here
• Download the app
• Let the mystery-solving collaboration begin!

Learn more here: Crack The Case

5. Catch Meme If You Can

“can’t touch this”.

Purposefully created to enhance leadership skills and team bonding , Catch Meme If You Can is a hybrid between a scavenger hunt and an escape room . Teammates join together to search for clues, solve riddles, and get out — just in time!

Best for: Small teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Catch Meme If You Can is an adventure with a backstory. Each team has to submit their answer to the puzzle in order to continue to the next part of the sequence. May the best team escape!

• The teams will be given instructions and the full storyline
• Teams will be split into a handful of people each
• The moderator will kick off the action!

Learn more here: Catch Meme If You Can

6. Puzzle Games

“just something to puzzle over”.

Puzzle Games is the fresh trivia game to test your employees and blow their minds with puzzles, jokes , and fun facts!

Best for: In-person teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Eight mini brain teaser and trivia style games include word puzzles, name that nonsense, name that tune, and much more. Plus, the points each team earns will go towards planting trees in the precious ecosystems and forests of Uganda

• Get a free consultation for your team
• Get a custom designed invitation for your members
• Use the game link
• Dedicated support will help your team enjoy Puzzle Games to the fullest!

Learn more here: Puzzle Games

7. Virtual Code Break

“for virtual teams”.

Virtual Code Break is a virtual team building activity designed for remote participants around the globe. Using a smart video conferencing solution, virtual teams compete against each other to complete challenges, answer trivia questions, and solve brain-busters!

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Virtual Code Break can be played by groups as small as 4 people all the way up to more than 1,000 people at once. However, every team will improve their communication and problem-solving skills as they race against the clock and depend on each other’s strengths to win!

• Reach out for a free consultation to align the needs of your team
• An event facilitator will be assigned to handle all of the set-up and logistics
• They will also provide you with logins and a play-by-play of what to expect
• Sign into the Outback video conferencing platform and join your pre-assigned team
• Lastly, let the games begin!

Learn more here: Virtual Code Break

8. Stranded

“survivor: office edition”.

Stranded is the perfect scenario-based problem solving group activity. The doors of the office are locked and obviously your team can’t just knock them down or break the windows.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Your team has less than half an hour to choose 10 items around the office that will help them survive. They then rank the items in order of importance. It’s a bit like the classic game of being lost at sea without a lifeboat.

• Get everyone together in the office
• Lock the doors
• Let them start working together to plan their survival

Learn more here: Stranded

9. Letting Go Game

“for conscious healing”.

The Letting Go Game is a game of meditation and mindfulness training for helping teammates thrive under pressure and reduce stress in the process. The tasks of the Letting Go Game boost resiliency, attentiveness, and collaboration.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Expert-guided activities and awareness exercises encourage team members to think altruistically and demonstrate acts of kindness. Between yoga, face painting, and fun photography, your employees or coworkers will have more than enough to keep them laughing and growing together with this mindfulness activity!

• Reach out for a free consultation
• A guide will then help lead the exercises
• Let the funny videos, pictures, and playing begin!

Learn more here: Letting Go Game

10. Wild Goose Chase

“city time”.

Wild Goose Chase is the creative problem solving activity that will take teams all around your city and bring them together as a group! This scavenger hunt works for teams as small as 10 up to groups of over 5000 people.

Best for: Large teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: As employees and group members are coming back to the office, there are going to be times that they’re itching to get outside. Wild Goose Chase is the perfect excuse to satisfy the desire to go out-of-office every now and then. Plus, having things to look at and see around the city will get employees talking in ways they never have before.

• Download the Outback app to access the Wild Goose Chase
• Take photos and videos from around the city
• The most successful team at completing challenges on time is the champ!

Learn more here: Wild Goose Chase

11. Human Knot

“for a knotty good time”.

The Human Knot is one of the best icebreaker team building activities! In fact, there’s a decent chance you played it in grade school. It’s fun, silly, and best of all — free!

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: Participants start in a circle and connect hands with two other people in the group to form a human knot. The team then has to work together and focus on clear communication to unravel the human knot by maneuvering their way out of this hands-on conundrum. But there’s a catch — they can’t let go of each other’s hands in this team building exercise.

• Form a circle
• Tell each person to grab a random hand until all hands are holding another
• They can’t hold anyone’s hand who is directly next to them
• Now they have to get to untangling
• If the chain breaks before everyone is untangled, they have to start over again

Learn more here: Human Knot

12. What Would You Do?

“because it’s fun to imagine”.

What Would You Do? Is the hypothetical question game that gets your team talking and brainstorming about what they’d do in a variety of fun, intriguing, and sometimes, whacky scenarios.

Best for: Distributed teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: After employees or coworkers start talking about their What Would You Do? responses, they won’t be able to stop. That’s what makes this such an incredible team building activity . For example, you could ask questions like “If you could live forever, what would you do with your time?” or “If you never had to sleep, what would you do?”

• In addition to hypothetical questions, you could also give teammates some optional answers to get them started
• After that, let them do the talking — then they’ll be laughing and thinking and dreaming, too!

13. Crossing The River

“quite the conundrum”.

Crossing The River is a river-crossing challenge with one correct answer. Your team gets five essential elements — a chicken, a fox, a rowboat, a woman, and a bag of corn. You see, the woman has a bit of a problem, you tell them. She has to get the fox, the bag of corn, and the chicken to the other side of the river as efficiently as possible.

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: She has a rowboat, but it can only carry her and one other item at a time. She cannot leave the chicken and the fox alone — for obvious reasons. And she can’t leave the chicken with the corn because it will gobble it right up. So the question for your team is how does the woman get all five elements to the other side of the river safely in this fun activity?

• Form teams of 2 to 5 people
• Each team has to solve the imaginary riddle
• Just make sure that each group understands that the rowboat can only carry one animal and one item at a time; the fox and chicken can’t be alone; and the bag of corn and the chicken cannot be left alone
• Give the verbal instructions for getting everything over to the other side

14. End-Hunger Games

“philanthropic fun”.

Does anything bond people quite like acts of kindness and compassion? The End-Hunger Games will get your team to rally around solving the serious problem of hunger.

Best for: Medium-sized teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Teams join forces to complete challenges based around non-perishable food items in the End-Hunger Games. Groups can range in size from 25 to more than 2000 people, who will all work together to collect food for the local food bank.

• Split into teams and compete to earn boxes and cans of non-perishable food
• Each team attempts to build the most impressive food item construction
• Donate all of the non-perishable foods to a local food bank

Learn more here: End-Hunger Games

People Also Ask These Questions About Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities

Q: what are some problem solving group activities.

• A: Some problem solving group activities can include riddles, egg drop, reverse pyramid, tallest tower, trivia, and other moderator-led activities.

Q: What kind of skills do group problem solving activities & games improve?

• A: Group problem solving activities and games improve collaboration, leadership, and communication skills.

Q: What are problem solving based team building activities & games?

• A: Problem solving based team building activities and games are activities that challenge teams to work together in order to complete them.

Q: What are some fun free problem solving games for groups?

• A: Some fun free problem solving games for groups are kinesthetic puzzles like the human knot game, which you can read more about in this article. You can also use all sorts of random items like whiteboards, straws, building blocks, sticky notes, blindfolds, rubber bands, and legos to invent a game that will get the whole team involved.

Q: How do I choose the most effective problem solving exercise for my team?

• A: The most effective problem solving exercise for your team is one that will challenge them to be their best selves and expand their creative thinking.

Q: How do I know if my group problem solving activity was successful?

• A: In the short-term, you’ll know if your group problem solving activity was successful because your team will bond over it; however, that should also translate to more productivity in the mid to long-term.

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30 Engaging Team Building Games to Strengthen Collaboration and Communication

30 interactive team-building games for work enhance collaboration and foster a stronger sense of unity within your team. Elevate your team dynamics now.

Table of Contents

Effective teamwork is crucial for achieving organizational success. Team building games provide an excellent opportunity for colleagues to come together, develop strong bonds, and enhance their communication and problem-solving skills.

These team building games for work not only foster collaboration but also inject a dose of fun and excitement into the workplace.

In this blog, we will explore 30 corporate team building games at work that can help your team strengthen their relationships and boost overall productivity.

30 Engaging team building games to strengthen collaboration

Here are 30 engaging and fun team building games for work to strengthen collaboration.

1. Two truths and a lie

This classic icebreaker game is one of the most plates games for team building and encourages team members to share interesting facts about themselves while incorporating a twist. Each person states two true statements and one false statement, and the rest of the team must guess the lie. It's a great way to break the ice and get to know each other better.

2. Human knot

In this physical team building game, participants stand in a circle, reach out, and grab hands with two different people across the circle. Without letting go, the team must work together to untangle themselves, forming a human knot. It promotes problem-solving, communication, and coordination.

3. The minefield

Set up an obstacle course with various objects scattered across a designated area. Blindfold one team member and assign them as the "Navigator," while the rest of the team guides them verbally through the course. The team must rely on effective communication and trust to navigate the "Minefield" successfully.

4. Paper tower challenge

Divide the team into smaller groups and provide each group with a limited amount of tape and sheets of paper. In a given time frame, teams must construct the tallest tower using only the materials provided. This game encourages creativity, collaboration, and strategic planning.

5. Team trivia

Host a trivia game with questions related to your organization, industry, or general knowledge. Divide the team into groups and let them compete against each other. Team trivia promotes friendly competition, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing.

6. Marshmallow challenge

Teams are given a limited amount of spaghetti sticks, tape, and a marshmallow. The objective is to construct the tallest freestanding structure that can hold the marshmallow on top. This game encourages innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.

7. Escape room

Take your team to an escape room, where they must work together to solve puzzles and find clues to escape within a specified time. This immersive game promotes problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication under pressure.

8. Scavenger hunt

Organize a scavenger hunt within or outside the workplace, where teams must work together to find and collect a list of specific items or complete certain tasks. It encourages teamwork , creativity, and time management.

9. Barter puzzle

Divide a puzzle into different sections and distribute each section to different teams. Teams must then negotiate and trade puzzle pieces to complete their individual puzzles. This game enhances negotiation skills, collaboration, and teamwork.

10. The egg drop challenge

Provide teams with limited materials such as straws, tape, and newspaper. Their task is to build a protective structure that can prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. It encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.

11. Blind drawing

Divide the team into pairs and provide one person with a picture or image. The other person must listen to verbal instructions and attempt to recreate the image without seeing it. This game emphasizes effective communication, active listening, and attention to detail.

12. Tower of power

Teams are provided with cups, index cards, and tape. The objective is to build the tallest tower using the materials given. However, teams must also come up with a unique feature that sets their tower apart from the rest. It promotes creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

13. The great debate

Choose a thought-provoking topic and divide the team into two groups for and against. Each group must prepare arguments and present their case in a friendly debate format. This game enhances critical thinking, persuasive skills, and respectful communication.

14. Trust walk

One person is blindfolded and paired with a partner who guides them through a designated path without any verbal communication. The blindfolded person must trust their partner's guidance, relying on non-verbal cues and teamwork.

15. Poker tower

Provide teams with a deck of playing cards and ask them to build the tallest tower using the cards. The catch is that each team member can only touch the cards with one hand. It promotes coordination, communication, and strategic planning.

16. Zoom-in

Display zoomed-in images of everyday objects and challenge teams to guess what they are. This game improves observation skills, attention to detail, and teamwork.

17. Group juggling

Provide teams with a set of juggling balls or soft objects. The objective is to keep as many objects in the air as possible without dropping any. It requires coordination, communication, and teamwork.

18. Team cookbook

Ask team members to bring their favorite recipes to create a team cookbook. Each person can share the recipe, and the team can compile them into a digital or physical cookbook. It encourages sharing, collaboration, and creativity outside of work tasks.

19. Office olympics

Organize a series of mini-games or challenges inspired by the olympics within the office. It could include activities like chair races, paper plane throwing, or desk obstacle courses. This game fosters friendly competition, teamwork, and morale.

20. Team reflection circle

End a team building session by forming a circle and providing each team member a chance to reflect on their experience. Participants can share what they learned, their favorite moments, and any insights gained. This activity promotes open communication, reflection, and team bonding.

21. The perfect square

Provide each team with a large sheet of tarp or rope and challenge them to create a perfect square on the ground without talking or using any measuring tools. This game encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and non-verbal communication.

22. Storytelling circle

Sit in a circle and start a story with a few sentences. Each person adds a sentence to the story, building upon what has been said before. This game promotes creativity, active listening, and collaboration.

23. Pipeline

Divide the team into smaller groups and provide them with sections of a pvc pipe or cardboard tubes. The objective is to connect the sections and create a pipeline to transport a small object from one end to the other. It encourages planning, communication, and coordination.

24. Paper bag skits

Prepare a bag with various objects or props. Each team must choose a few items from the bag and create a skit incorporating those items. This game encourages creativity, collaboration, and improvisation.

25. The web

Stand in a circle and have each person hold a ball of yarn. The first person shares a work-related accomplishment or a positive experience and throws the yarn to someone else, holding onto the end. This continues until a web-like pattern is created. It symbolizes the interdependence of the team and the connections between each member.

26. Balloon tower

Provide teams with balloons and tape. The objective is to build the tallest tower using only the balloons and tape. This game encourages creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.

27. Flip it

Divide the team into pairs and give each pair a small object such as a coin or a pen. Partners must try to flip the object and catch it using the back of their hand. The team that completes the most successful flips in a given time wins. This game promotes coordination, communication, and friendly competition.

28. Corporate charades

Create a list of work-related terms, phrases, or actions, and have team members act them out without speaking while their teammates guess. It encourages teamwork, creativity, and communication.

29. Word association

Sit in a circle and choose a starting word. Each person takes turns saying a word that is associated with the previous word. The game continues, building a chain of related words. This activity enhances creativity, brainstorming, and collaboration.

30. Group art project

Provide each team with a large canvas or poster board and art supplies. Teams must work together to create a collaborative artwork that represents their shared vision or a specific theme. This game promotes creativity, teamwork, and unity.

Geam building games are most effective when tailored to suit your team's specific needs and goals. Choose games that align with your objectives and encourage active participation from all team members. Investing time and effort into team building activities , you can create a stronger, more cohesive, and productive team.

Team building games play a vital role in improving collaboration, communication, and morale within a team. Incorporating these 30 engaging games for team building into your workplace, you can create a positive and inclusive environment where team members can thrive.

Remember, the key to successful team building is to focus on fostering trust, encouraging open communication, and allowing everyone to contribute their unique strengths. So, gather your team and get ready to have fun while building stronger bonds and a more cohesive workforce.

FAQs abot corporate team building games.

Here are some short FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on team building games.

1. What are team building games?

Team building games are interactive activities designed to promote collaboration, enhance communication, and strengthen relationships within a group or team. These games aim to improve teamwork, trust, problem-solving skills, and overall team dynamics.

2. What are the benefits of team building games?

Team building games offer several benefits, including fostering better communication, building trust and rapport among team members, enhancing problem-solving and decision-making skills, improving collaboration and cooperation, and boosting morale and team spirit.

3. What types of team building games are available?

There are various types of team building games, including icebreakers, problem-solving challenges, trust-building activities, strategic games, outdoor activities , and creative team exercises. The choice of game depends on the specific goals and preferences of the team.

4. How can team building games improve teamwork?

Team building games encourage active participation, communication, and collaboration among team members. By working together to overcome challenges or achieve shared goals, team members learn to trust each other, understand different perspectives, and develop a stronger sense of unity.

5. Can team building games be tailored to specific team needs?

Yes, team building games can be customized to address specific team needs or objectives. Activities can be designed to focus on improving specific skills, addressing communication issues, resolving conflicts, or reinforcing specific values or principles within the team.

6. Are team building games suitable for all types of teams?

Team building games can be adapted to suit different types of teams, whether they are small or large, newly formed or long-established. The games can be tailored to accommodate diverse personalities, roles, and work environments.

7. How can team building games be integrated into the workplace?

Team building games can be integrated into the workplace by incorporating them into team meetings, retreats, workshops, or training sessions. They can also be utilized as energizers during conferences or as regular activities to promote ongoing team development.

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6 Agile Games to Enhance Team Building and Creativity

So, if you are wondering how to encourage your team to embrace Agile values and principles, Agile games are one of the best options to get started with.

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Joining the Agile framework provides access to resources and support that can help your organization maximize the benefits of Agile. It also provides a platform to connect with other Agile practitioners to share best practices and learn from each other. 

Practicing Agile working methods allows teams to pursue their goals at their own pace and with as much creativity as they want, and they're also a great way to bond as a team. 

Agile teams are also better able to respond to changes in the market quickly and efficiently, which is essential for success. Agile teams also tend to be more motivated, as they feel they are in control of their destiny.

What Are Agile Games?

A major benefit of Agile games is that they support team building through new learning activities and iteration. As a result, Agile games support the communication and self-organization capabilities of DevOps teams. As a result, your team members will be better able to learn Agile software more rapidly.

This will lead to better collaboration between teams, more efficient development, and faster time to market. Agile games also help teams to identify potential risks and issues early in the development process. This allows them to quickly adjust and course-correct as needed.

Agile games also help teams build trust, foster collaboration and encourage creativity. This in turn leads to better problem-solving, increased team morale, and a greater sense of ownership.

What Agile Games Are Best for Team Building?

Here you can find some of the best Agile games that help boost team effort and support.

Murder Mystery

Play  murder mystery games to boost team communication and thinking skills. Participants need to work together to solve the case and uncover the murderer. The game encourages collaboration and creativity as players need to think outside the box and come up with unique solutions. It also tests participants' problem-solving skills and their ability to think critically.

The Paper Airplane

Another great Agile game is the paper airplane game, and it can be played by any team. As a basic premise, each member of your team must construct a paper airplane. The catch is that each member is only permitted to fold the plane one time before handing it over to the next member. In addition to increasing team bonding, this is an effective way to teach team members how their contributions contribute to the project as a whole.

This ball-based game follows the same principles as most Agile games, in which team members communicate and formulate strategies. The game consists of teams passing a ball around, and each time a member touches the ball, a point is scored, but points are accumulative when the last member touches the ball and is also the first one to touch it.

Marshmallow Tower 

A marshmallow serves as the crown of a tower in this game. As simple as it may sound, the "building materials" given to teams are often fairly flimsy; spaghetti, for instance, or even string have been used as "building materials" in Agile games. This is another great Agile game for teaching teams agility since it rewards the team with the most structurally sound marshmallow tower, although speed and specifications are also important factors.

Chocolate Bar

A great way to get a better understanding of iterations and customer feedback for teams is through this game. It can be played in person, or with a Miro board. Your goal is simple (and delicious): you are building a chocolate bar based on customer input. One person will be designated to perform the role of the product manager or product owner, and everyone else will serve as a customer.

The Emoji Game

This emoji game is an excellent way to facilitate communication when it comes to Agile games. Team members must interpret what the messenger means by using emojis. The catch is that the messenger can only communicate using emojis. A favorite film or album, for example, or a message describing the messenger's characteristics might be appropriate.

These are the best Agile games for  team building as they provide moral support and better communication and delivery skills. Team mates can collaborate more in a better way to solve the game and that also helps them boost These games also help increase the morale of the team and build trust between the team members. They can also help in creating better problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Lastly, these Agile games can help in breaking the monotony of the workplace and having fun while working together.

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