Body of Words
This is a simple, fun game that gets everyone involved physically. The goal is for your team to create letters and words with their bodies alone. It's a great way to get people to loosen up and have fun at a team retreat.
Number of participants: 8-24 people
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Learn planning, creative thinking and cooperation
How to play
1. Find a wide open area without any obstacles.
2. Divide participants into teams of 4-8 people. Each team chooses one team leader.
3. Write down a bunch of words with the one letter less than as the number of people in each team (i.e. if there are 5 people per team, pick words like "book", "cats", etc.) on index cards.
4. Pick a word at random. Each team then has to make the word with their bodies alone. Each team member can contort his/her shape to form a letter, which can then form words. The team leaders can direct their teams.
5. Set a time limit of 5-7 minute for each word.
6. The team that makes the word the fastest wins.
7. In each round, ask the team to choose a different leader.
This is a simple, fun game that gets everyone involved physically. The goal is for your team to create letters and words with their bodies alone. It's a great way to get people to loosen up and have fun at a team retreat.
Number of participants: 8-24 people
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Learn planning, creative thinking and cooperation
How to play
1. Find a wide open area without any obstacles.
2. Divide participants into teams of 4-8 people. Each team chooses one team leader.
3. Write down a bunch of words with the one letter less than as the number of people in each team (i.e. if there are 5 people per team, pick words like "book", "cats", etc.) on index cards.
4. Pick a word at random. Each team then has to make the word with their bodies alone. Each team member can contort his/her shape to form a letter, which can then form words. The team leaders can direct their teams.
5. Set a time limit of 5-7 minute for each word.
6. The team that makes the word the fastest wins.
7. In each round, ask the team to choose a different leader.
Blind drawThis activity is similar to back-to-back drawing, except that it focuses on teams instead of individuals. The goal is the same: draw an object using only verbal instructions. Teamwork and communication are vital to be good at this game.
Number of participants: 6-20 people
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Objective: Focus on teamwork and communication skills in a group setting
How to play
1. Get a flipchart, markers and a bunch of everyday objects (such as a lampshade, bicycle, etc.). Alternatively, print pictures of objects. This game works best with more unobvious objects (say, a trampoline vs a coin).
2. Divide all participants into teams of 4-6 people.
3. Ask each team to pick one person to be the "artist". Ask the artist to take his place next to the flipchart.
4. Face the team away from the flipchart and give them an object from your pile.
5. The team will then instruct its artist on how to draw the object based on verbal instructions alone. They can describe the object but not state its name. The artist can't see the object at any time, nor can the team see what the artist is drawing. Each team gets 3 minutes for a drawing.
6. The team whose drawing comes closest to the actual object wins.
Number of participants: 6-20 people
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Objective: Focus on teamwork and communication skills in a group setting
How to play
1. Get a flipchart, markers and a bunch of everyday objects (such as a lampshade, bicycle, etc.). Alternatively, print pictures of objects. This game works best with more unobvious objects (say, a trampoline vs a coin).
2. Divide all participants into teams of 4-6 people.
3. Ask each team to pick one person to be the "artist". Ask the artist to take his place next to the flipchart.
4. Face the team away from the flipchart and give them an object from your pile.
5. The team will then instruct its artist on how to draw the object based on verbal instructions alone. They can describe the object but not state its name. The artist can't see the object at any time, nor can the team see what the artist is drawing. Each team gets 3 minutes for a drawing.
6. The team whose drawing comes closest to the actual object wins.
Back-to-Back DrawingThis fast, fun activity is a quick take on Pictionary. You can do it outdoors or indoors, though the physical nature of this activity makes it more suitable for relaxed outdoors environments. Use it as an interlude between longer activities or at the very start of the event to get people in a relaxed state.
Number of participants: 6-20 people
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Improve communication skills
How to play
1. Head to your favorite stock photography site and print a number of vector shapes on separate sheets of paper. These can be shapes of signs, objects, or even abstract shapes. Think "Statue of Liberty", "Formula 1 car", etc.
2. Divide participants into teams of two people each. Make them sit back-to-back.
3. Team Member A gets a pen and a sheet of paper. Team Member B is given one of the printed shapes.
4. The objective of the game is for the Team Member A to draw the shape using only verbal instructions from Team Member B. B cannot state what the object is; he/she can only describe its uses or give instructions on how to draw it.
5. Give each team 2 minutes to draw the shape.
6. Teams that get the most shapes right win.
Number of participants: 6-20 people
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Improve communication skills
How to play
1. Head to your favorite stock photography site and print a number of vector shapes on separate sheets of paper. These can be shapes of signs, objects, or even abstract shapes. Think "Statue of Liberty", "Formula 1 car", etc.
2. Divide participants into teams of two people each. Make them sit back-to-back.
3. Team Member A gets a pen and a sheet of paper. Team Member B is given one of the printed shapes.
4. The objective of the game is for the Team Member A to draw the shape using only verbal instructions from Team Member B. B cannot state what the object is; he/she can only describe its uses or give instructions on how to draw it.
5. Give each team 2 minutes to draw the shape.
6. Teams that get the most shapes right win.
Truth and Lies
A simple game to get people to open up. Teams gather together in an intimate environment. Each team member says three truths and one lie about himself. Team members have to guess the lie out of the four statements.
Number of participants: 4-16
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Break the ice and get people involved
How to play
1. Ask the players to sit in a circle.
2. Each player has to think up three truths and one lie about himself.
3. Each player then gets up in the center of the circle and says four statements about himself (three truths, one lie).
4. The rest of the group has to guess which of the statements is a truth, which one is a lie.
5. The process repeats for all other players.
Strategy
A simple game to get people to open up. Teams gather together in an intimate environment. Each team member says three truths and one lie about himself. Team members have to guess the lie out of the four statements.
Number of participants: 4-16
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Break the ice and get people involved
How to play
1. Ask the players to sit in a circle.
2. Each player has to think up three truths and one lie about himself.
3. Each player then gets up in the center of the circle and says four statements about himself (three truths, one lie).
4. The rest of the group has to guess which of the statements is a truth, which one is a lie.
5. The process repeats for all other players.
Strategy
Magazine Story
Who wouldn’t want to be featured on a magazine cover?
In this activity, each team has to create an imaginary magazine cover story about a successful project or business achievement. They have to get the right images, come up with headlines, formulate quotes, etc.
A great exercise in creativity that can also inspire your team to think bigger.
Number of participants: Any
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Objective: Visualize future success, motivate team members and encourage them to think big
How to play
1. The goal of this game is simple: get players to create a magazine cover story about your company or project (choose either). The players don't have to write the complete story; they only have to write the headlines and create images, quotes and sidebars.
2. Divide participants into teams of 3-6 players. Give them markers, pens, and anything else they'll need to create a fictional magazine cover.
3. Create several templates for different elements of the magazine story. This should include: a) magazine cover, b) cover story headline, c) quotes from leaders and team members, d) sidebars about project highlights, and e) images.
4. Distribute these templates to each team. Ask them to create a magazine story, filling in each template and focusing on the project or business.
5. Choose the best magazine cover.
Optional: Offer a prize for the most creative magazine cover.
Strategy
Who wouldn’t want to be featured on a magazine cover?
In this activity, each team has to create an imaginary magazine cover story about a successful project or business achievement. They have to get the right images, come up with headlines, formulate quotes, etc.
A great exercise in creativity that can also inspire your team to think bigger.
Number of participants: Any
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Objective: Visualize future success, motivate team members and encourage them to think big
How to play
1. The goal of this game is simple: get players to create a magazine cover story about your company or project (choose either). The players don't have to write the complete story; they only have to write the headlines and create images, quotes and sidebars.
2. Divide participants into teams of 3-6 players. Give them markers, pens, and anything else they'll need to create a fictional magazine cover.
3. Create several templates for different elements of the magazine story. This should include: a) magazine cover, b) cover story headline, c) quotes from leaders and team members, d) sidebars about project highlights, and e) images.
4. Distribute these templates to each team. Ask them to create a magazine story, filling in each template and focusing on the project or business.
5. Choose the best magazine cover.
Optional: Offer a prize for the most creative magazine cover.
Strategy
Biggest take away from this class.
One thing that Mrs. Strawn can change to make it better.
What are your plans for the summer?
One thing that Mrs. Strawn can change to make it better.
What are your plans for the summer?