Team Challenges
I recently came across the book Team Challenges: 170+ Group Activities by Kris Bordessa in the Transit House. I am currently searching for ice breakers and small group games for Camp G2LOW and found a few that are worth sharing that could be done rather easily here.
Scrap-Box Scramble p. 29
Sometimes you can use your common ‘trash’ items to do creative activities. Things like cookie boxes, toilet paper rolls, bandaids, bottle caps, newspapers, magazines, tape, and string are good things to save. If you start keeping these in a plastic bag you can put the materials together and then give your teams 5 minutes to create something from the list below and one minute to test or present the solution:
- A tower as tall as possible
- A bridge that will hold a certain amount of weight
- A new school uniform
- A vehicle that will move at least 3 feet (0.9 m) across the floor
- A new game
- Etc.
Getting to Know You (The Name Game) p.38
“Materials
- Index cards, 1 for each member
- 1 marker or felt-tipped pen
- 1 roll of masking tape
Set Up
Write each team member’s name on an index card. Shuffle the cards face down and then tape one name to each participant’s back. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
You each have a teammate’s name taped to your back. The object is to correctly guess the name on your own back—but, be careful! You may not ask about the name on your back; you may only tell your teammates about the person whose name is on their backs. You may not say the person’s name, gesture, or point, or discuss the clothing or accessories that the teammate is wearing. When you think you are ready, give the judge your best guess. You are each limited to two guesses. If a player makes two incorrect guesses, he or she is out of the game.”
Team Talk p. 54
“Learning to voice creative ideas can sometimes be difficult, since kids worry about the reactions of their peers. These simple verbal activities encourage kids to come up with a wide variety of possible answers in a short amount of time, making it not only acceptable to share unique ideas, but also desirable. Your team members will quickly learn that, in order to beat their own high score, they’ll need to think of some pretty outrageous answers.
Set Up
Choose a team talk challenge from the following list. Gather a pencil, a piece of paper, and a stopwatch for scoring (or use a nearby chalkboard). Read the team instructions and a team talk challenge aloud to your group. Begin tallying their answers as soon as they begin. There’s no need to write down individual responses—just keep track of how many answers the team comes up with, so that next time they can aim for a higher count. Allow the team two minutes to come up with as many answers as possible.
Team Instructions
Here’s your chance to think quickly and creatively. In this challenge, you’ll be asked to name different things or list as many items as possible that fit within a certain category. Once you hear the team talk challenge, you’ll have two minutes to come up with as many clever answers as possible.
- Name things that come in a rainbow of colors (fish, candy, fabric)
- Name things that are ordered (days, weeks, a meal)
- Name things that are numbered (chapters, tickets, athletes)
- Name things that change or are changed (seasons, clothes, minds)
- Name things that are hard (rock, tests, wood)
- Name containers that could be used to carry liquids (bottle, bucket, coconut)
- Name things that come in pairs (shoes, dice, gloves)
- Name things that glow (fireflies, brides, street signs)
- Name things that are colored orange
- Name things that are timed
- Name things that shine
- Name things that fly
- Name things that pop”
Move Some Candy p. 159
Materials
- 1 bowl
- 1 bag of colored candy
- Pieces of construction paper that match the colors (or pieces of paper with the color names written on)
- 1 blindfold
Set Up
Pour the candy into the bowl. Then, ask the team to choose a candy sorter. Set the construction paper in a row on a table. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
Your task is to sort the candies into color groups. The candy sorter must place each candy on the coordinating color of construction paper—blindfolded. You must accomplish this using a nonverbal method of communication. At the end of planning time, blindfold the candy sorter. You must now begin using your nonverbal method of communication to help your teammate place the candies on the correct pieces of paper. You have four minutes to move as much candy as possible. Once a piece of candy has been placed on a piece of construction paper, it may not be moved. You will be notified when you have only one minute remaining. You will receive one bonus point for every correctly placed piece of candy. You will receive five negative points for every use of verbal communication. Once the task is completed, you may eat the candy.”
Line Up in Order of Height p.173
“Materials
- Blindfolds, 1 for each team member
Set Up
Provide a clear space in which the team can work. Blindfold all the teammates and tell them that no talking is allowed. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
You have two minutes to line up in order of height, from shortest to tallest. There will be no talking during this task.”
Traverse an Obstacle Course p.178
“Materials
- 1 roll of masking tape
- An assortment of items to be used as obstacles, such as chairs, buckets, desks, or cones
- 1 blindfold
Set Up
Create an obstacle course and mark a start and finish line with tape. Read the team instructions out loud. Note: During the task, you will need to monitor the blindfolded team member for safety.
Team Instructions
Choose one team member to maneuver through the obstacle course you see in front of you. (Note to team leader: You may wish to demonstrate the path at this point.) This team member will be blindfolded and totally dependent upon his or her teammates to complete the course. You have two minutes to develop a nonverbal method of communication that will guide your blindfolded teammate safely through the obstacle course. There is no time limit for successfully maneuvering the obstacle course.”
Have a Seat p. 181
“Set Up
Clear a large space in which the team can work and arrange the chairs. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
Working as a team means that you can depend upon one another. In this task, you must figure out how to give each other a break. Without touching anything in the room other than the floor, figure out a way that every team member can sit on a teammate’s lap. You have one minute to discuss your ideas. At the end of one minute, all verbal discussion must cease. You have three minutes to make your plan work. You can notify the judge that you have successfully completed the task at any time during the three minutes.”
Move It on Over p. 190
“Materials
- 1 round, flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth (ok, probably something not found in Burkina, but I think any type of blanket or pagne could work… just so you can tell which side is which)
Set Up
Direct team members to lie on their backs in a circle, feet toward the center of the circle and in the air. Drape the tablecloth, vinyl side up, over the team’s raised feet. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
The tablecloth resting on your feet has two sides: a fuzzy side (the right side) and a smooth side (the backside). Currently, the smooth side of the tablecloth is facing up (wrong side up). Working together, your task is to flip the table cloth completely over, using only your feet, so that the fuzzy side (the right side) of the tablecloth is facing up. You have five minutes in which to complete this task. If the tablecloth falls from your feet, the judge will place it back on your feet in the original starting position (smooth side up). You will be notified when you have one minute remaining. “
Magic Carpet p. 199
“Materials
- 12 in. square of cardboard, 1 for each team member
- 1 roll of masking tape
- 1 yardstick
Set Up
Tape two lines on the floor, about 15 feet (4.6 m) apart, to create a mock gorge. Assemble the team on one side of the gorge and give each participant a piece of cardboard. Be prepared to remove unattended magic carpets during the task. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
Your team in stranded and must figure out a way to cross the deep gorge ahead of you. You each have a magic carpet that will support weight as you attempt to cross the gorge. You must not leave your magic carpet unattended, or the raven (team leader) that inhabits the gorge will swoop in and take it. You have ten minutes to traverse the gorge. You will be notified when there are three minutes remaining and again when there is one minute remaining.”
Loop the Group p. 205
“Materials
- 2 6-ft. (1.8 m) lengths of cotton rope, tied into loops
Set Up
Provide a large space in which the team can work. Ask the team to form a circle. Place one loop of rope over the art of one of the players and another over the arm of another player, who is standing roughly opposite the first player in the circle. Now, have the team hold hands. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
There are two loops of rope hanging from the arms of your group. The loops must trade places in the circle during this task (or you can just try to have the loops passed around the circle). You have three minutes to move the loops of rope from their original place in the circle and into the space held by the other loop. You may not release your grasped hands at any time during this task.“
Tell a Story from a Magazine p. 221
“Materials
- Old magazines, 1 for each team member
Set Up
Give one old magazine to each player. Provide ample room in which the team can work. Read the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
You each have a magazine. You have five minutes to tear pictures or phrases out of the magazines and plan a skit. You will be notified when you have one minute remaining. When time is up, you have two minutes to use every picture or phrase in a coherent performance. You will be penalized (?!?) for every torn-out picture or phrase that is not incorporated into the story.
Sell the Moon p.236
“Materials
- 1 picture of the moon
- 1 sheet of poster board
- Markers
Set Up
Place the materials on a table. Read the list of materials and the team instructions out loud.
Team Instructions
Modern technology has finally made travel to the moon possible! Your team has agreed to act as the official travel agent for the lunar trips that are now available to everyone, yet still a bit expensive. Use the materials provided and the next five minutes to create an advertisement that will convince people to spend their hand-earned money on a trip to the moon. You will be notified when you have one minute remaining. When time expires, you have two minutes to present your advertisement.”
