Creative building games

The group then picks an item or picture from those supplied. They must successfully get the artist to draw this item or picture in 3 minutes.

However they aren't allowed to tell the artist what the item is; they can only give indirect descriptions. Say the team chose a photo of a bee. They can't say 'draw a bee' however they can give hints like 'buzz', 'yellow and black,' 'honey maker,' etc.

The artist can not ask any questions and must draw only based on the descriptions. When times up, groups should compare their drawings. It can be comical to see how badly they can turn out. The game can get people laughing and highlights how difficult giving instructions can be and how important it is to communicate clearly. Time: 30 Minutes. Number of Participants: Items Needed: Smart phone, Reverse charades application or board game Goal: Teams use 60 second rounds to act out as many words as possible while only one person guesses.

In a normal game of charades, one person from a group stands up and acts out a word or phrase while the rest of the team tries to guess. However, in reverse charades, the scenario is flipped. The rest of the team must work together to act out a word or phrase while one person has to guess. You can play the box game version or download the mobile app. In Reverse Charades, it is necessary for team members to communicate with each other. Because there is one person is guessing and everyone else is acting, everyone is involved throughout the entire game, making it a good pick for shyer or attention avoidant team members.

No one can sit back while a few take on the challenge. Items Needed: Building materials clay, toothpick, plasticine, legos Goal: Recreate an object out of building materials only going off a verbal description. In this game, divide the group into multiple teams. One person from each team is selected to view a hidden object or sculpture. They only have 10 seconds at a time to peek at the sculpture and must relay the information that they see to the rest of their group. The group must try to recreate the sculpture based on the peek person's description.

Players must trust the team member to describe it accurately and listen to their instructions. It can help break down management barriers if you select a lower-level person as the person to view the sculpture.

In a different position than they are accustomed to, it pushes them to adjust, direct a team and communicate clearly. Time: Minutes. Items Needed: None. Goal: Create an interesting story one sentence at a time. To do a Conducted Story, groups stand in a circle. One person may act as the conductor, who is responsible for moving the story along. The first person starts the story with a sentence like, "Mike went to the supermarket because The conducted story is a listening exercise that requires every team member to pay attention to what the others have said.

It also stresses the importance of telling a seamless story and that unity and strong communication are needed to do that. Goal: To tell an entertaining story while incorporating team suggestions. This is another activity that combines storytelling and teamwork but with a twist. People work in pairs or small teams of no more than four. One person is the storyteller while the others are the word givers. The word givers start off by giving a title that the storyteller must start talking about.

Then, as they are speaking, givers yell random words that storytellers must incorporate. The key is that the words should be unrelated to the topic to make it more challenging and interesting. For instance, in a story about, "Visiting the City," word givers should avoid relevant words like, "taxi", "skyscrapers", and "subway".

Instead, they shout out unrelated words like, "coconuts", "T-Rex", "Big Foot", or "lumberjacks". You can see a combination of Swedish Story and Conducted Story here:. Storytellers will be put on the spot and have to think fast.

It drives them to actively listen to the words the other members say and insert them into the storyline. Did coming up with a story come naturally or did you find it to be a struggle? Goal: Complete a goal while team's hands are tied together.

In this activity, divide groups up into teams of 2 to 4. Form members into circles facing each other and use rope or shoe strings to tie their wrists to their neighbours wrist. Then, give them a task that they must complete together with their hands tied.

Because everyone's hands are tied, it will require the effort of each person to complete the task. The constraints can increase their creativity and push them to think outside-of-the-box. This will also require good and constant communication. Number of Participants: 2. Items Needed: 1 smart phone for 2 people.

Goal: Complete a dance with another person. Bounden is a mobile dance game designed to be played with partners with choreography by the Dutch National Ballet. A pairs holds a smartphone or tablet while instructions appear on the screen. Holding opposite ends of the device, you tilt the phone around a virtual sphere following a path of rings, resulting in players swinging their arms and twisting their bodies. Sensors in the phone detect if the right moves are made.

This can be used as a great icebreaker for small groups. It also requires people to pay close attention and follow the instructions. As they continue, the moves can get more fast-paced or difficult, so they'll have to stay in sync and keep communicating to win. Was there anything you picked up on from your partner's non-verbal communication? Items Needed: Various random objects, one per each participant.

Goal: Come up with alternative uses for everyday objects and have team members guess said uses. Each participant is given an object and must demonstrate an alternative use for it. You can use anything from a basketball or plastic bag to a hula hoop or stapler. Give the participant one-minute to silently act out their alternative use for the object; for example, a stapler could be used as a fork or a trumpet. While they're acting, others in the group try to guess what they're mimeing.

Every person who correctly guesses the alternative use gets a point. Once the minute is over, the next person will do the same and so on. The Game of Possibilities is a great way to bring out your team's creativity and quick thinking as well as a fun way to boost team creativity and innovation. Time: 30 minutes. Goal: Closely mimic movements of dancers to get points.

Although one of the most effective and quickest ways to bring someone out of their comfort zone is to get them to dance, dancing can be uncomfortable for people who shy away from attention.

Dance Party solves this issue by having up to 4 participants dance at once. You can download the Dance Party app from the App Store and set it up in your office. Players mimic the dance moves that the avatar performs on the screen. Encourage members to form teams and compete. Dancing as a group takes the pressure and embarrassment out of dancing. Dance Party fosters healthy competition and energizes teams.

Plus, the physical activity can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Items Needed: Smartphone. Goal: Guess the word displayed on participants phone. You may have seen "Heads Up! It is a mobile app available for download on Android and iOS devices, in which one player puts the phone on their forehead, the rest of the players can see the word, celebrity, or other category on the card, but it is hidden from the person holding it.

He or she has to guess the item on the card based on clues from their team. Although it is a fun app usually associated with parties, it can be perfect for office team-building. The best part about the game is that you can use the preloaded decks or you can create your own decks. Make a deck that relates to your company or industry and test their knowledge while having some fun. Items Needed: Blindfold, masking tape, random assortment of items for the mine field.

Goal: Team members must guide a blindfolded person through a minefield with only their words. Minefield can be set up inside or outside, but make sure to clear the area to avoid any accidents. Place "mines" or objects in an obstacle area and mark a finish line with masking tape.

Mines can be anything from styrofoam cups to cones, as long as they are soft with no rough edges. The member that is going through the field, or obstacle area must be blindfolded.

The other members of the team direct them through the minefield by giving them verbal instructions. If they hit an object, they must start over. The first team with all members across the minefield wins.

It can be difficult for some to trust their team members or to rely on someone else to help them reach a goal. Some may think they have to do it on their own. Minefield is an activity designed to foster trust in teams. It can help members that are resistant to collaboration become more open. What was the most difficult part about giving instructions? What about receiving instructions? What style of communication was the most effective? What didn't work?

Items Needed: Tarp, Balls. Goal: Guide a ball around tarp without letting it fall into a hole. Thought it may remind you of an activity you did in gym class, Hole Tarp can be a lot of fun, even for adults. It can be done with a tarp or plastic sheet and a few tennis balls. First you must cut one or a few holes into the tarp. Once this is done, place your team evenly around the tarp.

Have each member hold the edge with both their hands. Instruct your team to shake the tarp so it begins moves around like a wave. Once it is moving, throw in a ball. Participants must navigate the ball around the tarp for the longest possible period without having the ball fall through one of the holes. If the ball falls through a hole or off the side of the tarp, your team must restart the game. Alternatively, you can have the team guide the ball, circling each hole.

The team wins the game when they successfully navigated the ball around the circumference of each tarp without having it fall into any of the holes. Everyone on your team has to keep moving to keep the ball rolling. If someone stops, the ball will drop. This game relies on constant communication to achieve its final goal. Was there any forms of communication that worked better than others? Did you assign a leader formally or informally? Did that help or hinder your progress?

Time: 25 Minutes. Items Needed: Items that can be used as platforms milk crates, fabric square, tires, baseball base , 2 ropes or 4 cones. Goal: Cross the floor or ground by maneuvering across different objects. If the phrase "the floor is lava! Lava Flow, also called River Crossing, is a game in which a group must cross the river of lava by jumping and maneuvering across different objects. It's the team's task to figure out how to get the entire group from one side of the lava field to the other without touching the ground.

The group should be given a limited number of objects, 2 or 3, that way they have to be moved and shared each time someone crosses.

If someone touches the floor at any point, then they will get burnt and must start over. The first team to cross the river with all members intact are the winners. Time: Hours. Items Needed: Scavenger hunt list, smartphones optional. Goal: Gather as many items on the list within a set period of time.

Scavenger hunts are one of the oldest ways to get people to interact and collaborate. But, there are still one of the most effective and fun. Smartphones and apps have made it possible to do scavenger hunts anywhere.

You can even add in photo or video challenges and share an album within the organization. You can do a simple scavenger hunt and keep it in the office or take it outdoors, which can be much more exciting. Create a list of items that groups must collect or tasks that they have to complete.

They can be goofy, as long as it's possible to complete. Some examples are: "Take a selfie with someone wearing a cat shirt" or "Grab a take-out menu and a fortune cookie from a Chinese restaurant. Time: 40 Minutes. Goal: Get everyone through a web of rope without touching the rope. Do you remember all those spy movies with the intricate laser security systems people had to maneuver through?

Spider Web is kind of like that. Create a maze of lines and shapes by stringing twine between vertical 2 poles. The end result should resemble a spider's web with some larger, easier holes and some smaller more difficult gaps.

Teams must cross the spider web to reach the other side without touching the string or going in the same shapes as anyone before them.

The challenge gets harder as more people cross to the other side and requires everyone to remember and communicate with each other. Goal: Submerge a ballon in a bucket of water using only the supplies given. Balloon in water is a great way to see how your team solves problems together, particularly when faced with limited resources. Each group must immerse an inflated balloon in a bucket of water for a minimum of 5 seconds. They can only use the provided materials to complete the activity.

The brick goes in the bottom of the bucket of water. Teams have a minute to strategize and flesh out their plan and only 5 minutes to do the activity. Only the provided materials can be used during the challenge. The 3 binder clips and inflated balloon given to the team cannot be altered in any way. Before starting the activity, the team has one minute to plan and they have to plan without touching the materials.

After planning, the team is given 5 minutes to execute their plan. The balloon must be fully immersed in the water before the 5 minutes is over.

The balloon must remain immersed for at least 5 seconds, and the team must notify the trainer s when they are ready to be timed. Goal: Teams must retrieve a ping pong ball from the pipe by filling it up with water and floating the ball to the top.

This game can get a little messy, so it's recommended for outside. Leaky Pipe is a highly interactive activity that requires groups to work fast and efficiently together.

You'll need water, buckets, several cups, 2 pipes with holes drilled in them, and 2 ping pong balls. To win, teams must retrieve a ping pong ball from the pipe by filling it up with water and floating the ball to the top.

Participants will need to work together using the cups to carry the water from the bucket to the pipe, relay race style with cups of water to fill it. The pipe has holes drilled in it, so they will have to plug the holes as the water gets higher. To complete the challenge, each team will receive a bucket of water which is placed 10 metres away from the pipe and several cups. Remember to set a countdown, so they are racing against the clock. Items Needed: Ball Goal: Have every participant say their name.

For new groups, check out an icebreaker and memory game called Group Juggle. Participants form a large circle facing each other. If you have a large group, break into groups so there are no more than 20 people in each. Throw a ball to one person. The high energy training program will help you equip members of a team with the essential skill set and mind set to be a professional team player in a high performing team in which every individual takes responsibility to be productive, proactive and reliable.

Our training material packages come with all you need to provide a professional and accelerated learning solution with. To support immersive learning, a high impact professionally designed power point slide deck to engage trainees at all levels.

A comprehensive reference workbook you can give out to your class participants as a quick future reference. With step-by-step clear directions with tips and suggestions on what to say and how to present each slide. Various training material and support documents to help you both explain and debrief the different exercises, activities and games Plus a fun final Jeopardy style review game as a fun ending for your training program.

To ensure you have all you need to deliver a complete and professional training program, additional supporting documents are included with each full course material package. From training evaluation forms to 5 different certificate templates that you can edit and hand out to your participants at the end of your training.

Specific forms designed to extend and reinforce the training that participants can utilize back on the job to help them apply the new learned concepts Select training material packages.

Call Us Toll Free Creative thinking activities. Instant Download Training packages. Administrative Assistant Skills This two day training program is packed with techniques for improving the most essential basic business writing skills as well as both verbal and non-verbal communication in general in addition to proper time management and general office organization techniques that will help administrative assistants, secretaries and office managers in performing their day to day tasks more confidently and professionally.

Time Management No matter who you are, we all have hours each week. Building High Performing Teams A highly engaging one-day training program packed with a plethora of fun activities and games focusing on the key characteristics of high performing teams. Business Etiquette The ability to handle yourself properly today can sometimes outweigh even your technical skills.

To play this game, participants make best-of lists and share those answers with the group. Or, you can send out the categories before the call or meeting, and ask attendees to prepare lists ahead of time. You can also have teammates submit the lists on remote work platforms like Basecamp, Slack, or Trello. Here are more virtual game show ideas.

Players can either answer the question or eat a gross food, a messy food, a spicy food, or a large quantity of food. For example, the consequence for dodging a question might be swallowing a spoon full of hot sauce or stuffing five crackers in your mouth.

Players take turns asking each other questions back and forth. The best time to play Spill It or Eat It tends to be at lunch time or during an afternoon break.

Confess and Guess is one of the easiest getting to know you games for small groups. Each round, participants write down the answer to a prompt on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. Then, a host reads out each reply, and players must guess which player wrote the answer.

This game is also playable online. Simply have players privately message answers to the leader during a video call, or have participants fill out a form before the game. Then, share the responses, and challenge players to guess which teammate gave which answer. If I Were is a game that encourages players to imagine themselves in different situations. To play the game, read out the prompts and give each participant a turn to respond.

Most trivia games revolve around static subjects like pop culture, math, or literature. However, you can also create a personalized trivia game that uses tidbits about teammates as prompts. To design your game, first gather data by asking employees to fill out a survey. Then, make a multiple-choice style quiz in Kahoot. Players enter the game room pin and answer questions on mobile devices, and the app automatically keeps score.

Check out these virtual team trivia tips. All Alike is a game that encourages players to find common ground. To start the game, first split the group into teams of 3 to 6.

Next, send teams into breakout rooms or different areas of the physical meeting room. The groups have five minutes to find a trait that all team members share. You could also turn the exercise into a guessing game where other teams must try to predict which quality the team members share. Never Have I Ever gets players to fess up to questionable behavior. Each player starts the game by holding up ten fingers.

The game ends when only one player still has fingers up or after a certain number of rounds. Check out more online drinking games to play on Zoom. Truth or Dare is one of the most classic getting to know you games. Each round, players must choose to answer a personal question or perform a dare. You can also use this truth or dare generator to come up with safe for work challenges. Group art projects are a visual get to know you activity that caters to teammates who are not natural talkers. The first step to this exercise is to provide participants with materials and a workspace.

You can use different mediums such as paper, paint, magazines, glass, or computer graphics. When teammates complete and submit the projects, arrange the squares into a collage. Then, display the finished product in a shared space such as a common room or a Google Drive.

For more team building art activities, check out this list of online art classes. Show and Tell is one of the simplest get to know you activities.

Every participant shows an item to the group and explains the importance of the object. Often, presenters tell stories relating to the item. Organizers can assign themes to the activity, for example, childhood toys, vacations, learning, first love, or hobbies.

The exercise serves as a way to learn what matters and is meaningful to team members. I Am A…is an identity game that helps players find common bonds. If the group is in-person, then players will start the game spread out and will move towards speakers. In Zoom rooms, players can shut off the camera when they do not relate to a declaration. Twenty Questions is one of the most straightforward get to know you games.