10 Team-Building Games That Promote Critical Thinking
- From Teach Thought
1. If You Build it…
This is a flexible activity that can be adapted in many ways to make it more appropriate for specific content areas or lessons. Students are in teams and are given certain materials and are required to construct something. The challenge can be variable, for example when given spaghetti and marshmallows, who can build the tallest castle or the most structurally sound castle etc.
Skills: Communication; problem-solving
2. Save the Egg
This activity is the traditional egg drop that I completed it grade 6. Students must find a way to save the egg from breaking when dropped from a specific height. They can be creative in their approach, whether that means creating something for a soft landing or a device to protect the egg when it is dropped.
Skills: Problem-solving, creative collaboration
3. Zoom
Students are formed into a circle and each one is given a picture of an object, animal etc. You start a story that incorporates whatever your picture is then the next student continues the story incorporating their photo and so on around the circle.
Skills: Communication; creative collaboration
4. Minefield
Arrange some sort of obstacle course and divide students into teams. Students take turns navigating the “mine field” while blindfolded, with only their teammates to guide them. You can also require students to only use certain words or clues to make it challenging or content-area specific.
Skills: Communication; trust
5. The Worst-Case Scenario
Fabricate a scenario in which students would need to work together and solve problems to succeed, like being stranded on a deserted island or getting lost at sea. Ask them to work together to concoct a solution that ensures everyone arrives safely. You might ask them to come up with a list of 10 must-have items that would help them most, or a creative passage to safety. Encourage them to vote — everyone must agree to the final solution.
Skills: Communication, problem-solving
6. A Shrinking Vessel
This game requires a good deal of strategy in addition to team work. Its rules are deceptively simple: The entire group must find a way to occupy a space that shrinks over time, until they are packed creatively like sardines. You can form the boundary with a rope, a tarp or blanket being folded over or small traffic cones.
Skills: Problem-solving, teamwork
7. Go for Gold
This game is similar to the “If you build it” game: Teams have a common objective, but instead of each one having the same materials, they have access to a whole cache of materials. For instance, the goal might be to create a contraption with pipes, rubber tubing and pieces of cardboard that can carry a marble from point A to point B in a certain number of steps, using only gravity.
Skills: Creative collaboration, communication, problem-solving
8. It’s a Mystery
Everyone enjoys a good mystery, so why not design one that must be solved cooperatively? Give each student a numbered clue. In order to solve the mystery — say, the case of the missing mascot — children must work together to solve the clues in order. The “case” might require them to move from one area of the room to the next, uncovering more clues.
Skills: Problem-solving, communication
9. 4-Way Tug-of-War
That playground classic is still a hit — not to mention inexpensive and simple to execute. For a unique variation, set up a multi-directional game by tying ropes in such a way that three or four teams tug at once. Some teams might choose to work together to eliminate the other groups before going head-to-head.
Skills: Team work; sportsmanship
10. Keep it Real
This open-ended concept is simple and serves as an excellent segue into problem-based learning. Challenge students to identify and cooperatively solve a real problem in their schools or communities. You may set the parameters, including a time limit, materials and physical boundaries.
Skills: Problem-solving; communication
- From Teach Thought
1. If You Build it…
This is a flexible activity that can be adapted in many ways to make it more appropriate for specific content areas or lessons. Students are in teams and are given certain materials and are required to construct something. The challenge can be variable, for example when given spaghetti and marshmallows, who can build the tallest castle or the most structurally sound castle etc.
Skills: Communication; problem-solving
2. Save the Egg
This activity is the traditional egg drop that I completed it grade 6. Students must find a way to save the egg from breaking when dropped from a specific height. They can be creative in their approach, whether that means creating something for a soft landing or a device to protect the egg when it is dropped.
Skills: Problem-solving, creative collaboration
3. Zoom
Students are formed into a circle and each one is given a picture of an object, animal etc. You start a story that incorporates whatever your picture is then the next student continues the story incorporating their photo and so on around the circle.
Skills: Communication; creative collaboration
4. Minefield
Arrange some sort of obstacle course and divide students into teams. Students take turns navigating the “mine field” while blindfolded, with only their teammates to guide them. You can also require students to only use certain words or clues to make it challenging or content-area specific.
Skills: Communication; trust
5. The Worst-Case Scenario
Fabricate a scenario in which students would need to work together and solve problems to succeed, like being stranded on a deserted island or getting lost at sea. Ask them to work together to concoct a solution that ensures everyone arrives safely. You might ask them to come up with a list of 10 must-have items that would help them most, or a creative passage to safety. Encourage them to vote — everyone must agree to the final solution.
Skills: Communication, problem-solving
6. A Shrinking Vessel
This game requires a good deal of strategy in addition to team work. Its rules are deceptively simple: The entire group must find a way to occupy a space that shrinks over time, until they are packed creatively like sardines. You can form the boundary with a rope, a tarp or blanket being folded over or small traffic cones.
Skills: Problem-solving, teamwork
7. Go for Gold
This game is similar to the “If you build it” game: Teams have a common objective, but instead of each one having the same materials, they have access to a whole cache of materials. For instance, the goal might be to create a contraption with pipes, rubber tubing and pieces of cardboard that can carry a marble from point A to point B in a certain number of steps, using only gravity.
Skills: Creative collaboration, communication, problem-solving
8. It’s a Mystery
Everyone enjoys a good mystery, so why not design one that must be solved cooperatively? Give each student a numbered clue. In order to solve the mystery — say, the case of the missing mascot — children must work together to solve the clues in order. The “case” might require them to move from one area of the room to the next, uncovering more clues.
Skills: Problem-solving, communication
9. 4-Way Tug-of-War
That playground classic is still a hit — not to mention inexpensive and simple to execute. For a unique variation, set up a multi-directional game by tying ropes in such a way that three or four teams tug at once. Some teams might choose to work together to eliminate the other groups before going head-to-head.
Skills: Team work; sportsmanship
10. Keep it Real
This open-ended concept is simple and serves as an excellent segue into problem-based learning. Challenge students to identify and cooperatively solve a real problem in their schools or communities. You may set the parameters, including a time limit, materials and physical boundaries.
Skills: Problem-solving; communication