Back to school can feel like such a magical time in the classroom. From the perfectly cleaned classroom, to the decor reveal, to the activities you pour your heart into, the first week of school just can't be beat. Then there's the behavior...everyone is on their best and the classroom management is generally easier than at any other time throughout the school year. But how can we extend that magic throughout the year, starting on day one? I would say that there is one element that is extremely important in reaching that goal and that is team building, or as some call it, class building.
Team Building
The purpose behind team building is to get students working together, sharing ideas, and cooperating. These are some of the soft skills that we can teach throughout the year, starting from day one. Many companies will be looking to hire people with these skills, so even though it is not a part of your standard curriculum, it is important to teach along side the regular lessons. Team building gives students ways to interact, take turns, empathy, disagree respectfully, and compromise. It helps students learn problem solving skills, because, let's face it, if there is more than one person working on the same activity, a problem could arise. And it often does. Students need to learn how to work with people who are not always easy. They need to learn to do so in a positive way that helps deesculate the probelm.
Team Building Activities
With back-to-school season nearing, and stores putting out school supplies, it is definitely time to start thinking about how you will bring the important skills that go along with team building into your classroom. One great way to do it is through activities. From get-to-know-you activities, to team challenges and games, your students are sure to love these. Let me show you a few that I will be using when school gets back in session this year. Some are completely new and others are old favorites.
Back-to-School Team Buildling: Dice Convos
In this super simple activity, students are divided up into groups and are given a question board and two dice. Students take turns rolling the dice and finding one of the questions that line up to their numbers on the dice (this works like a coordinate grid). The student will read and answer the question then pass the dice to the next child. The activity continues with another student rolling, finding a question, answering it, and then passing to the next student. The teacher should set a timer for 5-10 minutes to allow enough conversation, but not let it continue on too long.
The great thing about this activity is that it gives everyone a chance to share. Questions are quick and easy. It is in a small group, so it is less threatening. Students will get to learn more about their classmates.
Back-to-School Team Buildling: Roll-N-Talk
This is a digital activity that can be projected on a smart board, or something similar. Students will be placed in small groups. Each student will need a die. In this PowerPoint slide show, students will see different slides with 6 questions on each. Each time a slide is shown, everyone in the group will roll their die. Taking turns, students will go around reading and answering the number of the question that corresponds to the number they rolled. You can do as many rounds as you like, or break it up over more than one day or time.
What I like about this is that it is an activity that keeps things moving quickly. You can allow just 2-3 minutes (maybe less) between each slide change. Every student will have a voice and share something about themselves. Students will get to know the other students in their group a little better.
Back-to-School Team Buildling: Making Connections
This is a new activity. I am excited to bring it to my class this year! Each group of 2-4 students will receive a template with rectangles and a circle they will also receive a list of statements. As a group, they will read through the statements to see who (in the group) they describe. If all members of the group relate to that statement, they will write it in the middle, showing a commonality. They will continue through the entire list. Once all the commonalities are written, students will each write some differences (from the list) in one of the individual rectangles.
Once everyone has filled in their rectangle, students will receive a small paper. On the paper, they will write the name of one of the teammates (make sure everyone chooses someone different so all members are chosen). Each person will then write that teammate's name and draw/color a portrait of them. The paper will be cut out and glued next to the teammates description on the side of the poster.
This creates a super cute display that students can look at to learn more about their other classmates as well.
What I like about this is that it includes an art aspect. I love that students will learn things they have in common with others in the class, as well as things that are unique to them. I really like that students are working together to create a product, a poster. This is a great way to strike up new friendships, because often we look for people with whom we have things in common.
Back-to-School Team Buildling: This or That
This is a forced choice activity that will get students up and moving. In this PowerPoint slide show, you will go through different slides. Each slide has two choices...one on the left and on on the right side of the slide. Students will decide which side best describes them. They will move to that side. You can have students share with a partner why they chose that side and also have a few share aloud if you want. There are extension ideas included in this activity as well.
What I love this is that right away you can see another student who has something in common with you. I like that this is a quick and easy activity that can be extended through converstaion or left as is. It also has extension ideas for a writing activity that can link back to this.
Back-to-School Team Buildling: Four Corners
In Four corners, students will be placed in groups. They will move from corner to corner reading the question in the corner and answering it.
This is a great way for students to get to know each other and share without having to share in a whole class situation, which can be scary, especially during the first days of school. I also like that this activity gets some movement in. Students are out of their chairs and get to move around the room.
Back-to-School Team Buildling: Art Challenge
This is one of my favorites to do at back-to-school time. Each group is given a bag of art supplies that must be used in a group art project (think the cooking show, Chopped Challenge). With the timer set, each group collaborates to create a project in the time allowed. Projects are presented and points are given based on teamwork, creativity, and other criteria. Three different rounds are played. This works best over the course of three days, since it is a more time consuming activity (about 30 minutes of work time). Once all three projects are scored, a winning team is announced!
I love this to gamify my classroom. Everyone loves a little competition. Getting students working and collaborating helps you see from the start who is a natural leader and which students may need additional help when working with others, etc. I always find this to be a very engaging activity.
Back-to-School Team Buildling: Me Myselfie and I
This activity gives you three choices. You can print out an all about me page, paragraph about me, or, my favorite, two truths and a lie. I like the two truths and a lie activity best. It turns students into detectives in a fun game. Each student decorates the premade front cover, which is made to look like a Poloroid picture. Then inside they will write two truths and a lie, but mix up the order. One by one, students will read their truths and lies. It is great if the truths are a bit outlandish and the lie seems believable. The rest of the class votes on which statement is the lie. The student will then reveal whether or not the class was able to guess correctly.
Once the activity is over, turn these into a fun bulletin board that says "Oh Snap! What a picture-perfect class!"
I love that this gamifies my classroom. I love the mystery aspect that has students trying to figure things out. I love that it gets students speaking outloud in class (but from their seats). It is a fun display to hang up.
Team Building
I am looking forward to using each of these team building ideas over the back-to-school week. I cannot wait to guide students and help them learn about each other and themselves. I want to see them grow throughout the year in their collaboration skills and many others. This will be a great start.
Be sure to click the link below or any of the pictures above to purchase this resource for your own class. These can be purchased as a bundle for $6 off the orginal price! You can also purchase separately.
