Summary
This collection features over a dozen team-building strategies designed to help educators and facilitators foster collaboration, communication, and trust among participants in classroom, orientation, or workshop settings. Many strategies are ideal for use early in a group's formation when the goal is to break the ice, establish relationships, and build a sense of shared identity. However, some strategies are better suited for established groups to coordinate problem-solving or to help them reflect on how they collaborate by asking them to perform a task, pause, assess their approach, and adjust their strategy. Most include optional reflection questions to help participants connect the experience to teamwork, making them flexible and accessible for a wide range of group sizes and contexts.Resources
Boards Up
- 6th - Undergraduate
Small groups compete to correctly answer the largest number of trivia questions. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
December 18th, 2025
- Individual, Small Group, Small Group (at least 4)
- Explain/Closing, Evaluate/Assessment
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- Evaluate, Reflection, Review, Speak & Listen, Summarize
- 6th - Undergraduate
Color By Number
- 6th - Secondary
A small-group activity where participants take turns highlighting numbers in order, then pause and reflect to try a new strategy to improve performance. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
January 23rd, 2026
- Small Group, Small Group (at least 4)
- Engage/Opening
- Less Than 10 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Identify, Recognize
- 6th - Secondary
Drawn Together
- 6th - Secondary
This is a collaborative string-drawing challenge that requires teamwork to create a shared image. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 10th, 2025
- Small Group (at least 4)
- Engage/Opening
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Physical Movement, Problem Solving
- 6th - Secondary
Fiction in the Facts
- 6th - 12th
Students analyze statements to differentiate between fact and fiction, promoting critical thinking and discourse among students to identify correct content area knowledge. Read more »
Created by: Jane Baber
October 13th, 2023
- Individual, Whole Class
- Engage/Opening
- Less Than 10 Minutes
- Analyze, Collaborate, Compare & Contrast, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Recognize
- 6th - 12th
Forbidden Phrases
- 4th - 12th
In this collaborative strategy, students use their prior knowledge to review vocabulary terms, people, events, places, and more. Read more »
Created by: Laura Halstied
March 5th, 2025
- Whole Class
- Engage/Opening, Explore/Learning Activity, Extend/Additional Learning Activity
- 20 - 30 Minutes
- Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, Collaborate, Conversation Starter, Elaborate
- 4th - 12th
Hole in One
- 9th - Secondary
A quick activity where participants try to cut a hole in a single sheet of paper large enough to step through; they then debrief how creative thinking led to a solution. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
December 18th, 2025
- Individual, Small Group, Small Group (at least 4)
- Engage/Opening
- Less Than 10 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Brainstorming, Critical Thinking, Hypothesize, Interpret, Problem Solving, Reason
- 9th - Secondary
Human Knot
- 9th - Undergraduate
The Human Knot is a fun, interactive activity that encourages teamwork, communication, and problem-solving through collaboration. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 10th, 2025
- Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Whole Class
- Engage/Opening
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Physical Movement, Problem Solving, Reflection
- 9th - Undergraduate
Picture the Possibilities
- 6th - Secondary
The activity is a group puzzle challenge that highlights the importance of guidance, communication, and shared vision when working together. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 10th, 2025
- Small Group (at least 4)
- Engage/Opening
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving
- 6th - Secondary
Roll It Out
- 6th - Undergraduate
Players take turns rolling a die to select reflection questions, then respond with their personal answers while others listen. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 30th, 2025
- Small Group
- Engage/Opening
- Less Than 10 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Conversation Starter, Speak & Listen
- 6th - Undergraduate
Simple Simon
- 6th - Undergraduate
Students must learn to override their instincts as they race to identify the paper with the correct color written on it rather than the color of the paper itself. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 30th, 2025
- Small Group
- Engage/Opening
- Less Than 10 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Critical Thinking, Identify, Recognize, Speak & Listen, Text analysis
- 6th - Undergraduate
The Success Loop
- 9th - Undergraduate
Students work together in teams to move a hula hoop though a line without letting go of hands, learning how strategy and support improve success. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 10th, 2025
- Medium Group (at least 10)
- Engage/Opening
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Physical Movement, Problem Solving
- 9th - Undergraduate
Tower Challenge
- 6th - Undergraduate
Teams work together using strings attached to a rubber band to stack cups into the tallest tower possible without touching the cups directly. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 30th, 2025
- Small Group (at least 4)
- Engage/Opening
- Less Than 10 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Physical Movement, Problem Solving, Speak & Listen
- 6th - Undergraduate
Trust Walk
- 9th - Undergraduate
Partners take turns guiding each other blindfolded through a “minefield” obstacle course using only verbal directions. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 30th, 2025
- Small Group (at least 4)
- Engage/Opening
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Physical Movement, Problem Solving
- 9th - Undergraduate
Web of Connections
- 9th - Undergraduate
The activity uses string to create a web that shows group connections by highlighting commonalities among participants. Read more »
Created by: Patricia McDaniels-Gomez
October 10th, 2025
- Whole Class
- Engage/Opening
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- Active Engagement, Conversation Starter, Physical Movement, Speak & Listen
- 9th - Undergraduate
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