Games to improve teamwork and help
students understand group dynamics
CRASC Middle School Conference
January 2010
Some Basic Needs of People in Groups
From the Middle Level Leadership Handbook
Group members need…
-a sense of belonging.
-to have a share in planning the group goals.
-to feel that what I’m doing contributes to human welfare-that its value extends
beyond the group itself.
-to share in making the rules of the group- the rules by which we shall live and
work toward our goals together.
-to know in clear detail just what is expected of me so that I can work confidently.
-to have responsibilities that challenge, that are within range of my abilities, and
that contribute toward reaching our goals.
-to see that progress is being made toward the goals we have set.
-to be kept informed.
-to have confidence in our leader, confidence based upon assurance of consistent
fair treatment, of recognition when it is due, and trust that loyalty will bring
increased security.
Pass the Can
Materials:
One large can
1. Ask the group to sit in a circle.
2. The leader places the can or container on his or her foot and tells the group
to pass the can around the circle using only their feet. If someone fails to
complete the pass, the circle must start over.
3. Once this task is completed, ask the group to stand and try passing the can
around the circle again.
Questions: Which of these tasks was the hardest? Why?
Adapted from Manito-wish
Knot Game
Materials:
Rope
1. Knot the rope several times.
2. Have each person in the group place one hand on a section of the rope.
3. When all hands are in place, have the group untangle the knots without
removing their hands.
Questions: How did you feel doing this exercise? What was the hardest part?
What did you learn about teamwork?
Adapted from Boundary Breakers, NASSP Department of Student Activities
Who Am I?
Materials: 2 x 6” headband tags made from poster board and string, markers
1. Prior to the event, create headband tags with messages regarding behavior.
Examples: “Ignore me.” “Interrupt me.” “Laugh at what I say.”
2. Form circles in each group.
3. Have helpers place a tag on the forehead of each group member so they
cannot see the tag being placed on their head.
4. Give each group a problem to solve or task to complete.
5. Before the groups begin, instruct participants to treat fellow teammates
according to the message on the tag.
6. When the exercise ends, have students guess what message was on their
tag.
Questions: How did you feel when you were treated rudely? Do you see this
behavior happening in your daily life? What can learn from this activity?
Adapted from Boundary Breakers, NASSP Department of Student Activities
Trust Me
Materials:
Bandanas
1. Divide the group into teams of 4.
2. One person in each group is blindfolded, another is the leader who will
verbally instruct the blindfolded person to different locations around the
room. The leader must not touch the blindfolded person. The other two
people assist the leader in making sure the blindfolded person doesn’t
bump into anything.
3. When the walk (2-3 minutes) is completed, switch roles and repeat the
exercise.
Questions: How did you feel when blindfolded? Did you trust your leader? What
did you need when you were blindfolded?
Adapted from The Big Book of Team Building Games- Newstrom/Scannell
Toxic Waste Dump
Materials:
2 coffee cans, enough popcorn kernels to fill one can halfway, 6-8 pieces of 7 ½
foot rope, a large sheet of plastic, a rope about 50’ long, and 1 bicycle tire tube
1. Have students stand in a 8 foot diameter circle marked off with the long rope and plastic
underneath to catch any popcorn.
2. Give the following instructions:
a. A can of highly toxic popcorn has contaminated your circle. The toxic area goes
from floor to ceiling. If the poisonous popcorn is not transferred to the safe
container, the popcorn will destroy the entire school. The popcorn is estimated
to have a safe life of 30 minutes before it explodes. It’s up to you to make sure
that doesn’t happen. Inside the circle, you will find two cans. One container
with the toxic popcorn and one to put the toxic popcorn in. You must find a way
to safely transfer the toxic popcorn to the decontamination container using
materials in front of you: 6-8 pieces of 7 ½ foot rope and a bicycle tire tube.
b. Rules:
i. No person may cross over the line of the circle with any part of their
body. If you do, you will be taken to the “hospital” and removed from
the activity.
ii. No member may sacrifice himself or herself to aid in the transfer of
popcorn.
iii. No spills are allowed, or the popcorn will explode.
iv. Members may ONLY use the materials provided, however, you can use
them however you would like.
v. The popcorn will not spread its toxicity to the safe can, ropes, the tube,
or the instruction-giver.
vi. The safe container may move anywhere in or outside the circle. The
unsafe container must stay INSIDE the circle and cannot be moved more
than one foot from the center of the circle.
vii. The popcorn must be transferred in 30 minutes.
3. Provide the group with a large open space to complete the activity
4. Enforce the rules.
Questions: Was your team successful and how did you measure your success? What did your
team do that helped it succeed?
Adapted from The Big Book of Team Building Games- Newstrom/Scannell
Pipe Dreams
Materials:
Pipe cleaners (3 per person)
1. Before the activity, place 3 pipe cleaners at each person’s place.
2. To begin, tell the team that the pipe cleaners are theirs to make a
personalized sculpture that represents their team.
Questions: What does your sculpture say about your team? How did you organize
the group to complete this task?
Adapted from The Big Book of Team Building Games- Newstrom/Scannell
Human Spider Web
Materials:
None
1. Have members stand in a small circle and extend their left hands across the
circle and grasp the right hands of the member who is opposite them.
2. Then have them extend their right hands across the circle and grasp the left
hands of other individuals.
3. Inform the group that their task is to unravel the spider web of arms
without anyone letting go of anyone’s hands.
4. If you have multiple groups doing this at the same time, have a competition
to see who can do it the quickest.
Questions: What was the hardest part? What did you learn about teamwork from
this activity?