Author: Liza

This team building activity helps to build trust and communication. Pairs are tasked with leaning forward and finding balance with their palms against each other. They then have to ‘spring’ off and ‘land’ together again. Resources: None. Space Required: Medium. Indoors or outdoors Group Size: 8 – 16 participants, divided into pairs Total Time: 15 minutes    5 minutes to brief and setup    5 minutes for the activity    5 minutes to review and debrief Running the Activity    Explain the activity: The aim of this trust-building activity is to create a human springboard between two people. The group is divided into pairs,…

In this activity, the team has to form a perfect square using rope while blindfolded. Resources: Rope (at least 5m, longer if there are more participants) — the ends should be tied together Blindfolds Space Required: Medium. Outdoors or indoors. Ensure that there are no obstacles in the designated area. 
Group Size: 4 – 8 participants Total Time: 20 – 25 minutes    5 minutes to brief and setup    5 – 10 minutes for the activity    10 minutes to review and debrief Running the Activity Explain the activity: In this activity, team members have to form a perfect square while blindfolded.…

In this activity, the team has to span the distance between the cans using only the materials provided. Resources: 10 cans, unopened 10 toothpicks 10 drinking straws 5 paper clips 2 rubber bands Length of string (20cm) Length of masking tape (20cm) Scissors Space Required: Medium. Ideally indoors. 
Group Size: 4 – 8 participants Total Time: 30 minutes    10 minutes to brief and setup    10 minutes for the activity    10 minutes to review and debrief Set-Up    Place the cans on the floor in a row. They should be 20cm apart from each other. Running the Activity Explain the activity: The…

In this activity, the team has to touch all the numbers on the ‘calculator’ from 1 to 20 in sequence. They will get two attempts and the objective is to improve their time. Resources: 20 pieces of paper, numbered 1 – 20 Rope or masking tape to mark out the calculator (approx. 7m in length) Timer Space Required: Medium. Outdoors or indoors. 
Group Size: 6 – 10 participants. Total Time: 30 minutes    10 minutes to brief and setup    10 minutes for the activity    10 minutes to review and debrief Set-Up    Create the ‘calculator’ by marking out a large rectangle (approximately…

Standing in a circle, participants hold onto a looped rope with both hands at waist-level. The trainer will then call out different shapes, and the team has to form those shapes without letting go of the rope. Resources: A length of rope. When tied into a circle, it should be long enough for all members of the team to hold on to with both hands while standing in a circle. Space Required: Small, indoors or outdoors. Group Size: 6 – 12 is ideal. Total Time: 20 minutes 5 minutes to brief and setup 10 minutes for the activity 5 minutes…

In this team building activity, the group has to devise a way to move as many “flying” cotton balls as possible into the “landing zone” indicated in front of them, using only the materials provided. Resources: Set Up: Masking tape (to mark out the start line and a “landing zone” that is 50cm by 50cm) Challenge: 1 bag of cotton balls 1 index card 1 sheet of newspaper 1 recycled plastic lid (e.g. from yoghurt container) 2 sheets of paper 2 paper cups 2 binder clips 4 rubber bands 4 sheets of newspaper 4 straws 5 rubber bands 5 paper…

In this team building activity, the team has to devise a way to cushion a falling water balloon, using only the materials provided. Resources: Set Up: Balloons (one for each team, and extras in case the balloons break) Piece of string (50cm) A tree branch or tall structure from which to hang the water balloon(s) Construction: Scissors 15 cotton balls 4 sheets of newspaper Piece of masking tape (20cm) 1 hand towel Space Required: Medium, ideally outdoors or an area which is suitable for water games. Group Size: 8 – 12 is ideal. If you have a bigger group, you…

In this team building activity, the team has to build a 1 meter tall structure that will hold up a beach ball for at least 10 seconds, using only the materials provided. Resources: 20 sheets of newspaper, 1 roll of masking tape, 1 beach ball Space Required: Small to medium. Ideally indoors. Group Size: 6 – 10 is ideal. If you have a bigger group, you may want to split them into smaller teams of 4 – 6 people to make it more competitive. Total Time: 30 minutes 5 minutes to brief and setup 15 minutes for the activity (planning…

In this activity, the team has to build a road for a toy car using only the provided materials. Resources: 1 paper towel tube 1 paper cup 1 small toy car 1 sheet of paper 5 index cards 5 rubber bands 15 paper clips 20cm of masking tape 10 plastic straws Space Required: Large. Indoors or outdoors. Group Size: 4 to 8 ideally. With bigger groups, you can split them into smaller teams and prepare one set of resources for each team. Total Time: 40 minutes 5 minutes to brief and setup 15 minutes for construction and testing 10 minutes…

In this activity, the team has to instruct their “artist” to draw an item. They have to describe their chosen item without revealing what it is and they are not able to see what the “artist” is drawing. At the end of the activity, the team whose drawing is closest to the actual item wins. Resources: Flipcharts, markers. A small selection of everyday items (for example: a coin, a well-known company logo, a pencil, a bottle, a key, etc). You could also print pictures instead of actual items. Space Required: Small. Ideally indoors. Group Size: 6 – 20 is ideal.…

In this activity, the team is tasked with the challenge of immersing an inflated balloon underwater for at least 5 seconds, using only the materials provided. Resources: Set-Up: 1 large bucket (ideally 15-30 liters) 1 brick Materials for the challenge: 5 plastic straws, 5 paper clips 1 plastic shopping bag 1 piece of string (20cm) 20cm of tape Scissors 3 binder clips Regular-sized balloons (prepare some extras in case some balloons pop) Space Required: Small. Ideally outdoors, or an area suitable for getting wet. Group Size: 8 to 12 ideally. With bigger groups, you can split them into smaller teams…

In this activity, the team is tasked with moving 15 ping pong balls from Table #1 to Table #4 without directly touching or lifting the balls, and using only the materials provided. Resources: Set-Up: 4 tables 4 index cards to label the tables 2 small boxes Materials for the challenge: 1 piece of masking tape (40cm) 1 long cardboard tube (40cm) 1 piece of string (40cm) 1 paper/plastic cup 2 wood rulers 5 sheets of paper 5 paper clips 10 rubber bands 20 toothpicks 15 ping pong balls ½ package of stick-tack Space Required: Large. Indoors or outdoors. Group Size:…