Team members are spread out in a line, consisting of several sections. The first person is shown an picture by the facilitator and must then pass tell the next person what it is, this continues until the last person receives the description and they must then attempt to recreate the picture. The aim is to try and match the original picture shown by the facilitator. This is a much bigger version of Chinese whispers, similar to Memory Lane. Equipment Required: Paper, pens, cones and clipboards Space Required: Large. Delivered indoors or outdoors. Group Size: 8 to 16 ideally (if you have larger groups split them into smaller…
Author: David Priestley
The objective of this blindfold activity is for smaller sub-teams to work together and communicate effectively to retrieve a bomb before the other teams. This fun challenge focusses on communication and cooperation. Equipment Required: Rope to mark start line, blindfold for each team and a ‘bomb’ e.g. a mini football. Space Required: Medium to Large. Indoors or outdoors. Group Size: 6 to 12 but can be done with larger groups (rotating roles) Total Time: 30 minutes 5 minutes to brief and set up 20 minutes for team activity (rotate team roles) 5 minutes to review and debrief Robots Blindfold Challenge Instructions Split the…
This is a very simple exercise to help new trainers learn how to write lesson plans, structure a training session and to how to coach others. Each participant will have an opportunity to lead and teach a basic ‘how to’ activity, and receive feedback on what they did well and any improver’s. Although the exercise can be done with large groups, it is recommended that you work with smaller groups of 6-12 learners as this allows more time for feedback, reflection and discussion. Begin the exercise by speaking to learners about how to structure a training session. Discuss the key…
Working in pairs, one person must describe a shape without naming it, whilst their partner must try to draw the shape they are describing to try and get as close the original shape as possible. This activity focuses heavily on verbal communication and listening skills. Resources: Various shapes printed, paper and pencils Space Required: Small. Indoors or outdoors. Group Size: 6 to 16 ideally (If you have an odd number allow for a trio) Total Time: 20 minutes 5 minutes to brief and set up 2 x 5 minutes to achieve outcome 5 minutes to review and debrief Back to Back Drawing Challenge Brief Divide your…
If you are thinking about how to improve teamwork, communication, and leadership or maybe how to align vision in your organisation, then check out my seven reasons to organise a team building event below Builds Relationships– Participating in a few team building activities can help to break down communication barriers and build rapport. By working together employees are required to collaborate and work together towards a common goal, which helps to form relationships quicker. Getting to know people you work with is crucial to building a strong sense of understanding and trust. Teams that learn how to play together, stay together!…
Nine cones are laid out in a square grid. The objective is to lay the rope over so that the rope passes over the middle of every cone in the grid. The rope may only bend through an angle of no more than ninety degrees three times at most. Resources Required: Each team needs nine cones and one long length of rope. Space Required: Small. Indoors or outdoors. Group Size: 8 to 12 ideally, but can be done with anything from 5 to a maximum 15 participants. Total Time: 15-20 minutes 5 minutes to brief and set up 5-10 minutes to achieve outcome 5…
With the summer holidays coming to a close, the first day back to school will be here before you know it. Most teachers face the day with enthusiasm, however, they also dread the challenge of deciding what to do on the first day back. Our back to school activities will help you get a jump start. What better way to welcome your students back and take advantage of the summer weather than providing a Survival based team-building activity. Through interactive play, group exercises, and team building, your class will learn how to build a waterproof shelter, make important survival decisions, and…
Den building will draw in even the grumpiest of adults and is a great way to get group members working together in smaller teams and well, to have a bit of a play. All you need is somewhere to build your dens and some resources to build with (few ideas below). Shelter is one of the top priorities when faced with a survival situation, so it is essential to know how to construct a simple shelter (or den). During the activity you can set various challenges such as: Which team can make the biggest den, and how many people can…
The objective of this challenge is for the team to work together to navigate a ball around a tarpaulin for as long as possible without the ball falling through a hole or off the tarp completely. Equipment Required: One tarpaulin with randomly cut holes and 1-3 tennis balls per group. Space Required: Medium. Indoors or outdoors. Group Size: 8 to 16 ideally per tarpaulin. Total Time: 30 minutes 5 minute to brief and set up 20 minutes for challenge 5 minutes to review and debrief Suggested Learning Outcomes Communication Cooperation Problem solving Reviewing and reflection The full description for Hole Tarp can be found in my eBook, The…
Sometimes when leading a team building workshop, getting participants to think on a ‘deeper level’ can be a struggle. However, I have found that something as simple as a one-sentence quote card can have them making connections they never knew were there. Not only are quotes an excellent tool to use at the end of the workshop when reflecting on the team-building experience, but they can also be used as an engaging introductory exercise. Sharing quotes can help team members build connections, find common ground, and spark creative thought around a specific learning theme. Recently, I found success in using…
With every activity or team challenge listed on this website, I have included a list of equipment requirements. However, it is recommended to have the following items kept as a “team building pack‟, readily available and at your fingertips when the time comes to inspire and  motivate your team. This pack can be purchased for less than $250 and includes everything you need to deliver the majority of team building activities and ice breaker games on this website. A lot of these resources you will have already, especially if you work in a school or in an office environment. Rope: a selection…
Each team is provided with two pieces of flip chart paper and a roll of sellotape and is tasked with creating two marble movers to keep a marble rolling as long as possible. After creating their builds, all teams come together to test their marble movers. The team that has the longest combined time, wins the challenge. Equipment Required: 2 x flip chart paper (per team), sellotape, and marbles. Space Required: Small. Indoors or outdoors. Group Size: Up to 48, split into teams smaller teams of 8-12 Total Time: 70 minutes 5 minutes to brief and set up 50 minutes to build marble movers 10…