Here are some more responses, courtesy of various trainers from the State of Texas:
Real quick, real energizing, use balloons - have them form into small groups, 4 - 5 people, form a circle, holding hands, give each group a balloon, then have them keep the balloon up in the air by first using only their joined wrists, then their knees, their feet, then their heads. Will get them energized and thinking.
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This one is fun, and I am not sure if it is teamwork oriented, but it is a blast.
Based on the historic "Musical Chairs" game. This should be a non-contact activity!
GOAL: Stay out of the center of the circle.
1) Everyone stands in a circle.
2) Everyone is given a piece of masking tape to mark his or her spot on the floor.
3) One person, usually the facilitator, stands in the center of the circle.
4) The person standing in the center sayss omething that he or she has done in his or her life (for example gone to Disneyworld, gone skinny-dipping, cried his or her way out of a traffic ticket -- whatever direction the facilitator wants to take this activity.)
5) If any other person or people can answer "yes, me too," he or she must move to another marked spot that makes up the circle. However, a person may
not move to a position directly to his or her left or right. It must be a least 2 spaces away.
6) The person in the center of the circle must also move and find an open, marked place that makes up the circle.
7) Any person left not standing on a marked spot assumes the center spot and begins another round with step four.
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Here are
some tried-and-true generic offerings:
1. At beginning of meeting, distribute paper and pens/pencils as needed. Ask participants to write down the purpose for the team. Why is the team formed? What is the goalmission of the team? Pick up all of the written information, and without using names, read some of them aloud. Then, clarify what the purpose/mission/goal is of the group, if there are discrepancies in responses. Really opens people up plus give everyone an opportunity to find out together what the
mission/purpose/goals are.
2. Write at the top of several pieces of large paper or poster board (one per each participant):
We appreciate _______________________ (team member's name) because:
Tape all pieces of paper to the walls and as participants enter the room, have them write on eachpiece of paper why they appreciate the person listed at the top of the page. Participants can appreciate a fellow team member's specific strength, unique mannerism, or anything else positive about the person identified on the page.
3. Get a large piece of string or yarn. Roll it in a large ball.
All participants stand in a circle. The team leader stands in the center of the circle formed by all participants and rolls the piece of yarn to one team member within the circle. The person that the string is rolled to picks up the yarn. The team leader steps into the circle, holding the end of the string. Once the person picks up the ball of string, the team leader announces one reason why he/she appreciates that team member. The person holding the string rolls the ball of string,
holding onto his/her "end." Once the next person picks up the ball of string, the one rolling the string announces one reason why he/she appreciates that next person. Continue to roll the string and verbalize what is appreciated about each person. Groups can either stand or sit in this activity. After all team members have had an opportunity to participate, as they are still holding their piece of string, have participants raise the string above their heads. The team leader should
describe that all members of the team are very specifically bound to each other (as the string binds them). After this distinction is made, the team leader should let his/her piece of string fall. Participants should describe what happens when that piece of string fell. Is the team still a team? What's missing if another team member drops his/her string? (What's missing if a team member is not there to assist the whole team?) This outlines the uniqueness we each bring to a team and the whole is not a whole unless all parts activity participate, using their identified strengths, knowledge, skills, abilities, and talents.
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1) Yarn toss - toss ball of yarn to one person, telling the group how that person is important to the mission, group, team, etc
2) Photo Finish - Team members must cross a line as ONE, with camera noting those "laggards, anticipators"
3) Build a balloon castle - Split into teams to build highest freestanding balloon tower
4) Autograph Bingo - Bingo sheet with squares that members must ask/autograph
squares. Questions like
I have more brothers than sisters. or I played the trombone in high school.
or I won a blue ribbon for ______ (best pie, cutest baby, etc)
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People Bingo (as a “get to know each other†team icebreaker). You come up with a large set of descriptions and create Bingo cards each with a unique subset of those questions. (They can vary a little or a lot, depending on how much work you want to put into it.) Each person takes their card around the room, getting signatures (only one per person per card) of people to whom that phrase applies. Decide what kind of “Bingo†– straight line, postage stamp, blackout, and see who calls out first. Can keep going until everyone has a Bingo. Example of descriptions:
Enjoys golf
Enjoys word puzzles
Gives exceptional customer service
Has a dog
Has a license other than a drivers license
Has a sail boat
Has had a ride in a hot air balloon
Has lived in another country
Has moved within the last 6 months
Has visited Hawaii
Has won a prize valued at more than $500.00
Has won an achievement award
Has worked at 2 other universities
Is a grandparent
Is a parent
Is a twin
Is known for their humor
Is working on another degree
Likes to dance
Lives on a ranch
Loves to bowl
Loves to fish
Was a cheerleader
Was born in November
Was raised on a farm
