Try some of these team-building games and activities if you’re looking for fantastic ways to teach students how to collaborate, listen intently, communicate clearly, and think creatively. Below we’ve compiled 38 team-building games and activities for the classroom that are a great way to give your students the chance to get to know one another, foster community, and, most importantly, have fun. We also have online team-building activities if that’s what you’re looking for.
You will apply a colored sticker dot (blue, red, green, or yellow) to each student’s forehead for this activity without letting them know what color it is. Each “team” of students in the game must locate one another without speaking when it first starts. This is a fantastic team-building exercise because it promotes cooperation and nonverbal communication.
Place students in small groups of four and assign them to sit together. Allow each group five minutes to talk with one another and discover a shared interest. It might be the case that they all enjoy eating pizza, play soccer, or each have a kitten. Whatever the connection, they will learn more about one another through their conversation. After five minutes, check in with the groups to see if they still need more time. Have each group create a common element, then have them collaborate to design a flag to represent it.
This time-tested outdoor pastime is twice as entertaining as traditional tug-of-war. Make an X shape by tying two long jump ropes together at their center points. Tie a bandanna around the center point. Next, create a circle that fits around the X using cones. Create four equal teams, and place each team at one of the ropes’ four ends. At your signal, each team begins pulling. Being the first team to pull the other teams far enough in their direction for the bandanna to cross to the outside of the cone circle is the goal. Students who are hesitant to participate can act as officials who ensure everyone’s safety.
Prepare a tray with 20 random items for this activity, such as a spool of thread, an eraser, a juice box, etc. Alternately, make a document with 20 seconds’ worth of items to display. Divide your class into even groups. Each group should categorize the 20 items into four groups that make sense to them. Set a timer. For instance, they might classify an earring, a glove, a headset, a pair of socks, and a smile as “things you wear.” Have teams work stealthily so that their concepts remain a secret. Give each group time to present their categories and the justification for each one after they are finished.
Students should line up in the middle of two long ropes that have been laid out parallel to each other. Make a list of contrasts, such as sweet or sour, day or night, and cat or dog. If they prefer the first rope, students will jump over it, while if they prefer the second rope, they will jump over the right rope. After giving them a moment to look around, have everyone come back to the center. This activity is a great way to learn more about your classmates and discover who shares your interests.
This entertaining game is similar to the game show Password. Your class should be divided into two teams, and they should sit side by side in groups facing the chalkboard or whiteboard. Place an empty chair at the front of the class, facing the team members, one for each team. These chairs are the “hot seats. A volunteer from each team is selected to come up and take the “hot seat,” facing their teammates and facing the board.
Make a list of the vocabulary terms you’ll use in the game. Choose one and write it clearly on the board. Using synonyms, antonyms, definitions, etc., each team will take turns attempting to guess the word with a teammate who is currently in the hot seat. Make sure the team cooperates so that everyone has a chance to offer hints.
While listening to their teammates, the student in the hot seat tries to guess the word. A point is awarded to the team of the first hot seat contestant to say the word. A new student from each team takes the hot seat after the word has been correctly guessed, and a new round with a different word starts.
It may take 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the age of your students, so make sure to plan accordingly. Did you know there are team-building games and activities that can help teach students how to line up? The goal is to have the students line up from January 1 through December 31 in the order of their birthdays. They will need to know their own birthday as well as the order in which the months fall in order to do this. To decide who goes in front of whom, they will also need to converse with one another. Tell them they must complete the task using only hand signals and no words at all to make it incredibly difficult. Other configurations include alphabetically, by height, or by foot size.
Benefits of classroom games
The following are some advantages of including educational games in your lesson plans:
What are classroom games?
Teachers can supplement academic assignments with games or use them to get their students to practice new skills. You can use technical resources, physical activity, or an art-based medium to play classroom games depending on your preferences and your students’ needs. Some instructors use classroom games to promote cooperation and present chances for personal growth.
20 ideas for classroom games
Consider these 20 ideas for classroom games:
1. Charades
By participating in the charades game, students can practice their public speaking abilities while studying vocabulary words. When a word is spoken, one student acts it out while the rest of the class guesses it aloud. The following word is performed by the person who correctly predicts the answer.
For example, if the word is “debate,” a student might act out a conversation with a partner. By putting the class into groups and instructing them to only guess the words for other team members, you can add a teamwork component.
2. Studying contest
This game is useful for reviewing test material because it enables students to quickly analyze information and learn lesson content. On a whiteboard or projector screen, you draw two circles and label one “Yes” and the other “No.” “Divide the class into two teams, then call a representative from each team to hear a statement and determine whether it is true or false. The round is won by the team of the first student to tap the circle containing the correct response.
3. Secret investigator
In between academic lessons, you can use this game to teach deductive reasoning skills. You choose one student to be the investigator and then leave the room while choosing another to be the secret leader after writing a word on the board. This student leads the group in a coordinated action, such as clapping or chanting words that are changed every 30 seconds. The task is to identify the covert leader when the investigator enters the room.
4. Stacking competition
In this contest, students can learn teamwork and practice problem-solving. Group the students and distribute plastic cups, rubber bands, and strings to each group. Each team member’s piece of string is tied to a rubber band by the students who then wrap the rubber band around the first cup. Their objective is to work together to find a way to lift the cups using the strings and stack them in a particular configuration, such as a pyramid.
5. Find the clues
Students can work on their focus and communication skills while studying the lesson material during this timed game. You write down several terms or names on small pieces of paper, and you give each one a certain number of points. Working in teams, each student selects a word and provides hints to their teammates without actually saying them. Their objective is to recognize the most words possible. After 60 seconds, the team with the most wins the round.
6. Jeopardy
Students can gain teamwork skills and review lesson material by earning points in this competition. On index cards, you write questions or mathematical equations, and on the back, you list points according to how difficult the content is. Sort the cards into categories, then display them on a screen or board for the teams to choose from and try to respond to. For instance, a category like quadratic equations might have a 500-point card with many steps but only a few on a 100-point card.
7. Find the object or image
Students can develop their research skills while learning about the elements of a classroom through this physical activity. Students are given a list of images or objects in the classroom, and you set a timer for three minutes for them to find them. You could also place mathematical equations around the room and give students a deadline to solve them. Additional object-finding instructions may be beneficial to promote cooperation and productive exploration.
8. Category contest
Students play this game to learn how to link various concepts together using their base of knowledge. You give students teams topics and categories that are related to them, then instruct them to come up with words that are related to it that start with a randomly chosen letter. For instance, “outer space” could be one topic and “planets” could be another. The planet may be Mars if the assigned letter is “M.” It might be beneficial to create a point system based on various factors, such as the word’s complexity.
9. Bingo
This game can be used to review lessons and assist students with exam preparation, especially when teaching difficult vocabulary words or multiplication tables. You create a grid with various questions or mathematical expressions for each student. Students listen for their options as they are read from a list that corresponds to what was just read, marking the grid when they hear an answer. The round is won by the student who marks their entire grid with the most accurate responses.
10. Pass the object
Students can practice while learning key terms and mathematical expressions in this game. You divide the class into groups and give each participant a soft object or small ball to throw a short distance. After that, you ask a question that the student must respond to before passing the ball to a different player who responds to the subsequent question. A group wins the round once all of the students in it have completed passing the object.
11. Invent a solution
During breaks, students can play this game to practice problem-solving in groups and develop their original idea generation skills. You pose a challenge that students can complete with the help of the three provided objects. You can give imaginative examples, such as defending the planet against a fantastical creature, or real-world examples, such as guiding a friend through a difficult decision. Each group presents the solution to the class after a predetermined amount of time, then responds to inquiries about it.
12. Guess a classmate
After a break, you can use this game to assist students in regaining focus and honing their deduction abilities. Students put their hands on a table in front of them and close their eyes. You choose a few students to make their way around the classroom and gently tap the hands of other students. Then, if they correctly identify the classmate who tapped each student’s hand, they switch places.
13. Walk to four corners
To help students burn off some energy in a larger classroom, try this game. Students are instructed to choose a corner to stand in during a specific time period as the four corners of the room are given names by the instructors. You then declare one of the four corners, and the students positioned there are required to leave the game until the following round. The last student standing in a corner is the winner.
14. Word definition
Students can deepen their understanding of pertinent vocabulary words in this game, especially high-level options. Students are instructed to write their interpretations of a word you choose on a piece of paper. Students vote on the definition they believe is most likely to be accurate after you read the definitions aloud. Giving students advice during this game, such as how to spot familiar words within the more difficult vocabulary, may be useful.
15. Finish the sentence
This game can be used to teach students how to memorize information and focus, especially if they are in the middle school grade level. On a board, you write the first part of a sentence, such as “I’m going on vacation and bringing,” and leave a blank space for the second part. The first pupil adds something to the list, like, “I’m going on vacation and bringing my dog.” Each student then repeats all prior additions before incorporating their own.
16. Collaborative drawing
Students can practice teamwork and showcase their creativity in this activity. Each student receives a sheet of paper and a writing tool, and you instruct them to draw a picture within a predetermined amount of time. The student then gives their drawing to a different classmate, who then continues to draw a different person. This continues until the pupil receives their unique piece of art, which they then exhibit to the class.
17. Replace the number
Students can hone their concentration while playing this game and learn crucial number sets. You choose one number and substitute a word or sound, such as “zing” or “buzz,” for it. Students then read the numbers aloud and substitute the replacement for the original number. When the next round begins, the player leaves the game if they say the number instead of the replacement.
18. Memorize objects
With lots of useful tools and materials, like chemistry, this game can be an entertaining way to introduce a new subject. Students study at least 15 various objects that are placed on a classroom table for a set amount of time. After that, you cover the items and ask students to recall specific information about them and explain how they might serve a purpose. The students could alternatively watch images on a projector screen.
19. Connect through stories
This game can help students connect with one another and think about their behavior, especially if they are in high school. You can grab a ball of yarn and relate a story about how you overcame a challenge or discovered something new. After that, you hand the ball to a student who shares your situation while still holding the end of the yarn string. They pass the ball again after finishing, holding onto the yarn string to create a physical representation of interacting with others.
20. Freeze-dance
You can use this game to help students prepare for an academic lesson after break or to bring a positive conclusion to the school day. While you set up a speaker to play entertaining music, the students move all tables and chairs to one side of the room. You pause the music at random intervals, telling the students to stop moving their bodies. A student leaves the game for the current round if they continue to move.
Review Games Students LOVE | Elementary, Middle, and High School
FAQ
What is a fun game to play in class?
charades By playing the game of charades, students can practice their public speaking abilities while studying vocabulary words. When a word is spoken, one student acts it out while the rest of the class guesses it aloud. The following word is performed by the person who correctly predicts the answer.
What activities do you perform inside the classroom?
- Incorporate Mystery Into Your Lessons.
- Don’t Repeat Classroom Material.
- Create Classroom Games.
- Give Your Students Choices.
- Use Technology.
- Don’t Take Teaching so Seriously.
- Make Your Lessons Interactive.
- Relate Material to Your Students’ Lives.
What games can we play on Teachers Day virtually?
- Entry/Exit Tickets. …
- Free Writing/Minute Paper/Question of the Day Exercise. …
- Ice Breakers. …
- Think–Pair–Share. …
- Case Studies and Problem-Based Learning. …
- Debate. …
- Interview or Role Play. …
- Interactive Demonstrations.
