Elementary Teambuilding Activities

Teach your elementary students how to work together with team building activities.

Team building activities create a positive atmosphere in elementary schools. These activities allow elementary students to build important social skills, learn how to work together and promote problem-solving skills. Your imagination, exuberant pupils and a few supplies are all you need to get started creating team building activities.

Back-to-Back

Have each pupil select a partner and sit on the ground back-to-back. When you say "Go," the players must work together to stand up without using their hands. They must press their backs together while working to stand up. The first team to stand up wins the game. Have the players switch partners and play again.

Flip the Tarp

Place a tarp on the ground and have the children stand on the tarp. Tell the children they must work together to flip over the tarp without anyone stepping off the tarp. They must squeeze together and figure out a way to flip the tarp over little-by-little. Time the children and have them try to beat their fastest time on each repeated attempt.

Balloon Drop

Blow up several balloons and give each child a balloon. Tell the children to hit their balloons in the air and keep them in the air. Once all the children have the concept down, throw in a couple more balloons. The children will have to work together to keep the balloons from hitting the ground. If a balloon hits the ground, the game is over. Time the children and have them try to beat their record each time they play the game.

Follow the Leader

Choose one pupil to go out of the room, then select a leader from the remaining players. All players must stand in a circle facing in toward the center. The leader should start clapping, stomping his feet, patting his head or making another movement and all the children must follow suit. Bring the child from outside the room back inside and put him in the circle. The leader will continue to change movements and the children in the circle will follow him. The child who was outside the room has three chances to guess who the leader is. Tell the children in the circle to try not to give away the identity of the leader. If the child from outside the room is able to guess correctly, he gets to select the child who leaves the room for the next round. If he guesses incorrectly, he must go out of the room and try again.

References

• Ultimate Camp Resource: Team Building Games
• Jubed: Youth Group Games