Team Builders for Your Classroom

As the first day of school is approaching, I've had many conversations with teachers looking for some "getting to know you" activities for the first few weeks.

Teaching the Leadership Class last year, we implemented a team builder almost every day class met. Below are some of the sites I found most helpful in selecting team builders that kids enjoyed and were easy to implement.

• This is the site I used the most at the beginning of the year. Each Team Builder has only one required supply: Post It Notes. The kids I taught last year really loved doing most of these.  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/215750638375062899/
• This is a list of 25 different Team Builders. Some are more complex than others. The list is well organized and clearly states that materials needed for each activity.  http://www.momjunction.com/articles/team-building-activities-games-and-exercises-for-teens_00375666/
• These Ice Breakers are designed for teenagers. The site does a great job of fully explaining how to run each activity.  http://icebreakerideas.com/icebreaker-youth-groups
• This Pinterest link shows 5 Team Building activities that could work for a variety of grades. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/215750638375308186/ 
• This downloadable PDF has a variety of recommended Team Builders used by Girl Scouts of America. Just click on the download link to get the PDF.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2xc-Fu_AP3lZlpoNDlhaVQ0ZFk/view?usp=sharing
• Human bingo works great with older kids to get them up and talking to each other. This page goes step by step in terms of how to facilitate it. The page itself doesn't have game boards (it's more from a party planning perspective), but you can find many sample game boards by searching human bingo on Google Images.  http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Human-Bingo
• This site details 5 potential Ice Breakers for teens. It also gives great directions on how to facilitate each game. Beware that the Human Bingo sample board has a few questionable descriptions.  http://teentalk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Ice-Breakers-Energizers-and-Other-Activities_TeenTalk-2012.pdf
• This blog describes one version of the Switching Sides ice breaker (also sometimes called crossing the line). It is easily adapted for any grade or age level. http://mommieshobbies.blogspot.com/2014/01/switch-sides-if.html?m=1

If you are newer to teaching, be sure that you establish clear behavioral expectations before doing a team builder with your kids. I'd suggest picking a team builder that is less physical and more structured to start. Then, as the kids get to know each other and gain your trust, you can let them loose with some more hands-on activities.

Feel free to let me know if there is anything I can do to help you implement Team Builders in your class.