Team Building Activities

BACK-TO-SCHOOL TEAM BUILDING

Great teamwork is one of the key factors to a successful school year.  At the beginning of every new school year, teachers want to help their new students get to know each other better, improve communication, motivate them, and learn everyone's strengths and weaknesses.  So each year we plan various activities that are both fun and challenging for the first weeks of school.  Over the years, we have tried many different activities.  Through trial and error, we have come up with a list of our favorites and added a few new ones.

JENGA

BTS Jenga - This activity is perfect because all students can participate with their new classmates. Not only that,
but they also share their wisdom about common classroom procedures and expectations without you as the teacher having to directly ask about each one. Definitely gets their wheels spinning. Plus as the teacher, you can walk around and listen to their learning styles and personal goals through an active game that encourages valuable discussions with peers. Our students enjoy playing a game while they learn because to them it feels much less like learning and a lot more like playing.  Once we finish up the game we have a whole group discussion hitting the high points.  It's a great way to ease back into school!

2 TRUTHS AND A LIE
This is a fun activity to get to know your new students.  We always start out giving our students a few 2 truths and a lie about us to get the ball rolling.  Then sit back and enjoy what our students come up with about themselves. This simple game will allow you to get to know your kiddos in no time.  Have fun!  Grab the freebie from our TpT store HERE.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU QUIZ
Last year we created a Back To School Quiz about ourselves and gave it to our students.  It contained simple questions.  For example, How long have I been teaching? What is my cat's name?  We graded it and handed it to them the following day.  They loved sharing their correct and incorrect answers. Then we reversed roles. They came up with the questions, we took their quiz (don't worry it's only two questions-we aren't totally crazy!), and let them grade us. They love telling us how bad we did! Click HERE to download the freebie!

BOOKMARKS

This is another one of our favorite BTS traditions - bookmarks!! We scramble to create a bookmark for each student with their name on it during the first couple days of school. We choose a font that can be colored in. They love designing and coloring it to match their personalities. Once they're finished, we take them back to laminate them. It's awesome to see the ones who are still using it at the end of the year. We've created a blank bookmark template HERE for your use! Just choose a font and add your students' names! 

This year we're adding another bookmark to the mix - BITMOJI Bookmarks! Bitmojis are all the rage right now - or at least in the teacher world! Ha. What kiddo doesn't love a cartoon picture of their teacher on a bookmark?! We know ours will love them. Click HERE to see them in our Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

BECOMING A TRIBE OF LEARNERS
We created these Becoming A Tribe activities to help build camaraderie, classroom expectations, ownership, and student self esteem at the beginning of the year that will last until the very last day of school. Each page is designed to fit a specific picture book, however each activity could be used with a variety of texts. Click HERE for a preview.

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSOR CHALLENGE

First we read the book, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt.  It is a hilariously funny tale that kids will adore.  Daywalt did a great job writing from the perspectives of each character! Then we partner the kids up and have a Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge Tournament. To make it quick and simple, each students finds their own partner to challenge. The winner moves on to find another classmate to challenge. However, the loser must follow around their winner cheering them on.  At the end of the tournament, we talk about using rock, paper, scissors to solve minor differences - like who gets to sit at the tall coffee table or who gets to help the teacher - rather than arguing. It came in handy throughout the entire year. As an added bonus, we also tried having the kids come up with their own versions.  That was definitely...interesting. 

PUZZLES
Our fourth graders love to put together puzzles.  Especially if they are fun images of silly animals or interesting landmarks.  Last year we found some tower puzzles from the Dollar Tree.  It's interesting to watch who takes charge, gets easily frustrated, or takes a backseat - definitely all things to take note of for future group making!

TETRIZ PUZZLE

We found this idea from @BabblingAbby on Instagram. We remember playing this game on our Game Boys back in the day, so we knew we had to do this activity with our students!  Little did we know, that the Tetriz was just the beginning. She had a huge (Throw) Back to School Bundle. There are tons of old school games reinvented to do with your students during the first few weeks. We're in love!  Click HERE to visit her TpT store!

Photo Cred: @BabblingAbby on IG

BREAKOUT COLLABORATIVE ESCAPE ROOM
This is such a cute idea from @thewonderfulclassroomofoz on Instagram!  It is designed to work in 5 groups, but you definitely could do it whole group.  Last year, our students loved doing breakout boxes.  This would be a great way to incorporate it at the beginning of the year while setting expectations for the school year. Click HERE to see the product on TpT!

Photo Cred: The Wonderful Classroom of Oz

FIRST DAY BACK POP QUIZ
We found this gem from TpT seller @teachinbythebay.  How fun would it be to announce you are having a pop quiz the first day of school.  Can you imagine your students' faces?  This product is totally editable and free!  Great way to introduce yourself to your kids. Click HERE to find this product on TpT!

Photo Cred: @teachinbythebay on IG