Student Team-Building Exercises

Hula-Hoop Pass

• Have the students stand in a circle and join hands. Break the circle momentarily to slip a Hula-hoop over one student's arm before reforming the circle. Students must communicate across the circle and work together to pass the Hula-hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other's hands. Once the students accomplish this task, make the game more difficult by adding a second or third Hula-hoop, or by enforcing a time limit.

Mine Field

• You can play this game outdoors or in a clear indoor space. Place cones or other objects around randomly to form an obstacle course. Divide the students into pairs. One member of each pair must attempt to walk blindfolded through the mine field or obstacle course while her partner gives her verbal instructions to help her navigate the course. Play two rounds so that each student gets a chance to be blindfolded and be the leader.

Egg Drop Game

• Divide the students into teams of three or more and place a set of supplies in the center of the room. Supplies might include cardboard, tape, rubber bands, packaging peanuts or newspapers. Each team must design a package to protect its egg from breaking when dropped from a designated height. Teams must work together to choose materials and assemble the protective package. Once all teams have finished this task, teams take turns dropping their eggs to test the success of their teamwork.

Tallest Tower

• This game resembles the egg drop game in that it requires small teams to work together to accomplish a task. Divide the students into teams of three or more. Each team must choose materials from the available supplies (toilet paper rolls, tape, toothpicks and paper cups, for example) and try to assemble them into the tallest tower possible. The team with the tallest tower after a set amount of time wins the game.