Finding good team-building games for adults can be tricky, especially when it comes to school staff meetings. You might be working with a mixed group where some school staff already know each other while others are brand-new to the school. You’ll want to choose activities that get everyone interacting and talking right off the bat. Be sure to take into account that many teachers have overloaded schedules already, so try to choose exercises that provide real value.
The right team-building games for adults help establish a sense of community and remind staff that when they work together, they can achieve more. Here is a selection of team-building games to try with your own school staff.
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Team-Building Games for Adults
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Benefits of Team Building for Adults
While the idea of team building might send moments from The Office spiraling through your mind, according to Brian Scudamore at Forbes, team building is the most important investment a business (or school!) can make. Why? These activities build trust, strengthen relationships, mitigate conflict, encourage open communication, and so much more. When done properly, team building can also improve company culture and generate lasting positive energy.
Job-search site Indeed agrees. The popular online platform for job searching and hiring shared an article singing the praises of team building. These group activities can:
- Increase productivity
- Encourage creativity
- Boost morale
- Discover strengths and weaknesses
- Connect remote teams
- Identify leaders (this is a big one!)
When we look at the potential upsides for spending this quality time with our coworkers, it’s easy to understand why so many organizations make the effort. Of course, a lot depends on how the activities are organized, but our attitudes also play a huge role. So, it’s a good idea to keep an open mind. It’s an even better idea to check out our team-building games for adults to help make sure your next event is a hit!
Easy Team-Building Games for Teachers
Need some simple, low-prep team-building activities for teachers? These easy team-building games are excellent for staff meetings, professional development days, or just hanging out. Connect with your coworkers with minimal prep or special materials.
1. Faculty Meeting Bingo
Object: Encourage staff to interact and learn fun facts about one another.
Materials: Custom bingo cards with personal or school-related prompts, pens
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–15 minutes (can run in background during meeting breaks)
Description: Hand out Faculty Meeting Bingo Cards with squares containing fun facts like “has a pet cat” or “teaches math.” As everyone mingles, mark off squares when they find someone who matches. First to complete a row wins.
2. Map It Out
Object: Spark conversations by sharing origins.
Materials: Large map (local, regional, or national), pushpins or stickers
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Post a map on the wall. Each staff member places a pin or sticker where they were born (or where they consider “home”). Invite the group to look at the map and chat about their origins.
3. Name That Tune
Object: Foster quick thinking and teamwork through a fun music challenge.
Materials: None (optional: simple instrument, phone for humming a tune)
Participants: Medium to large groups divided into 2+ teams
Time: 10 minutes
Description: One person hums, whistles, or plays a tune. Teams compete to name the song first. Continue until one team earns three points, or play just for fun.
4. Think Fast
Object: Sharpen memory and teamwork.
Materials: Projector or printed images showing a variety of items
Participants: Pairs or small groups
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Show a slide or paper with 10+ random objects for 15 seconds. Pairs work together to recall and list as many as they can. Compare lists to see who remembered the most.
5. Common Thread
Object: Help staff discover shared interests or traits.
Materials: None
Participants: Small groups of 3–5
Time: 5 minutes per round
Description: Groups chat for a few minutes to find something they all have in common (e.g., love for coffee, dislike of early mornings). Share with the full group, then mix up groups and repeat.
6. Greet Like a Stranger / Greet Like a Friend
Object: Build comfort and break down social barriers.
Materials: Optional light music
Participants: Any group size
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Staff greet each other first as strangers would (polite and formal). Then, they go around again, this time greeting one another as friends (less formally).
7. Two Truths and a Lie
Object: Encourage personal sharing and fun discovery.
Materials: None
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Each staff member shares three statements about themselves: two truths and one lie. The group tries to guess the lie.
8. Storytelling Chain
Object: Spark creativity and collaboration.
Materials: None (optional: paper for written version)
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Start with a simple sentence (e.g., “It was the first day of school …”). Each person adds a sentence to build a shared story. Read the full story aloud at the end for fun.
9. Numbers Game
Object: Promote fast thinking and teamwork.
Materials: Three sets of large number cards (0–9)
Participants: Groups of 10 per team
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Each person holds a number card. Call out multi-digit numbers (e.g., 734). Teams must arrange themselves in the correct order to form the number. First team to display it wins the point.
Quick Team-Building Games for Adults
Short on time? These quick team-building activities for teachers deliver big results fast! They’re perfect for bringing some pep to your next staff meeting or filling a small break on a busy day. With little setup, these games can be done in minutes but leave you smiling for hours.
10. Say It Backwards
Object: Promote quick thinking and add humor to your meeting.
Materials: Slips of paper, pens
Participants: Any group size
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Each staff member writes their first and last name backwards on a slip of paper. One at a time, names are drawn and read aloud. The first person to correctly guess the real name wins the round.
11. Fact Bag
Object: Help staff discover fun, lesser-known facts about one another.
Materials: Note cards or scrap paper, a bag or box
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Everyone writes down a surprising fact about themselves (with their name on the card) and places it in a bag. One at a time, facts are drawn and read aloud. The group works together to guess who the fact belongs to.
12. Silent Line-Up
Object: Build nonverbal communication and teamwork.
Materials: None
Participants: Any group size
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Without speaking, staff must line up in order based on a category (e.g., birth month, years of teaching). Watch as gestures and creativity help get the job done!
13. Phone Pics Show-and-Tell
Object: Encourage personal sharing and conversation.
Materials: Participants’ phones
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10 minutes
Description: Have everyone scroll through their phone photos for a few minutes, then choose one to share with the group. They explain why it’s meaningful.
14. Speed Networking
Object: Help staff quickly meet and connect with many colleagues.
Materials: Timer or stopwatch
Participants: Pairs, rotating through the group
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Pair up for two-minute conversations, then rotate to a new partner. Optionally provide fun prompts (e.g., “What was your first job?” or “What’s your favorite school event?”).
Indoor Team-Building Activities for Teachers
These team-building activities for teachers are ideal for when you want to do something a little more physical together but prefer to keep the action indoors.
15. Tower of Strengths
Object: Build a tower recognizing team members’ strengths.
Materials: Blocks, cups, books, tape, small slips of paper or cards, pens
Participants: Small teams of 4–6
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Teams work to build the tallest tower possible. As they build, each person shares a personal or professional strength, writes it on a card, and tapes it to the tower.
16. Traffic Jam
Object: Promote problem-solving and teamwork.
Materials: Floor markers (tape, paper squares) to represent spaces
Participants: Small groups of 6–10
Time: 15–20 minutes
Description: Players start on one side and try to cross to the opposite side, moving one space at a time and only occupying empty spaces. One wrong move jams the group, requiring a restart.
17. No-Hands Cup Stack
Object: Collaborate to build a cup pyramid without using hands directly.
Materials: Plastic cups, rubber bands, string
Participants: Teams of 4
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Teachers may already be familiar with the cup-stack game, a popular team-building activity for kids. Each team uses string tied to a shared rubber band to stack cups into a pyramid. Hands can’t touch the cups!
18. Follow the Leader
Object: Sharpen observation skills and group focus.
Materials: None
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: One person secretly leads movements (e.g., clapping, jumping). One guesser tries to spot who is leading as the group mimics the leader’s actions.
19. Perfect Square
Object: Promote clear communication and teamwork.
Materials: Rope or string (1 long piece per team)
Participants: Teams of 4–6
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Teams, blindfolded or with eyes closed, work together to form a perfect square with the rope.
20. Human Knot
Object: Foster problem-solving and cooperation.
Materials: None
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–20 minutes
Description: Players stand in a circle, grab two random hands, and work together to untangle themselves without letting go.
21. Sneak a Peek
Object: Build memory and clear communication.
Materials: Blocks or LEGO bricks
Participants: Teams of 4–6
Time: 10–20 minutes
Description: One team member looks at a hidden structure for 10 seconds, then describes it to the team. Each teammate gets a turn until they replicate the structure.
22. Team Juggling
Object: Strengthen group coordination and focus.
Materials: 3+ soft balls or beanbags
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: Participants form a circle and toss objects following a pattern. Gradually increase the number of objects tossed to build the challenge.
23. Blind Drawing
Object: Encourage clear instructions and active listening.
Materials: Simple image, paper, pencils
Participants: Pairs
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: One person describes an image without naming it, while their partner, sitting back-to-back, tries to draw it.
24. Team Pen
Object: Build collaboration on a shared task.
Materials: Pen, multiple strings
Participants: Small groups
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Tie several strings to a pen. Each person holds one string, and together they try to write a word (e.g., “TEAM”).
25. Paper Holding
Object: Encourage creative problem-solving.
Materials: Sheets of paper
Participants: Small teams
Time: 7–10 minutes
Description: Two team members hold paper between them (e.g., with knees, elbows). The rest of the team tries to add as many papers as possible without them falling.
26. Four Corners
Object: Encourage movement and discovery of shared interests.
Materials: Corner labels like “favorite season” or “subject to teach”
Participants: Any group size
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Staff move to corners representing their choice. Encourage a quick discussion at each stop.
Outdoor Team-Building Activities for Adults
Sometimes fresh air is the perfect setting, which is exactly why we’re sharing these outdoor team-building activities for teachers. They’re great for boosting energy, building collaboration, and giving everyone a break from the classroom.
27. School Scavenger Hunt
Object: Encourage teamwork while exploring the school grounds.
Materials: List of items to find (or locations to visit), optional phones for photos
Participants: Small teams
Time: 15–20 minutes
Description: Create a scavenger hunt list with items or locations around the school (e.g., art supplies, gym equipment, garden feature). Teams search and either collect or photograph each item. Pair new staff with experienced colleagues to promote connection. The team that finds the most wins!
28. The Longest Shadow
Object: Encourage teamwork through creative positioning.
Materials: None
Participants: Small teams (4–6)
Time: 10–15 minutes
Description: On a sunny day, teams work together to arrange themselves to cast the longest continuous shadow. Add a silent challenge for extra fun. Use the activity to discuss how individuals and teams make an impact together.
Longer Team-Building Games & Activities for Adults
29. Group Timeline
Object: Help staff reflect on personal and school milestones together.
Materials: Whiteboard or large paper, sticky notes in two colors, markers
Participants: Any group size
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: Draw a timeline including key dates (e.g., school founding). Staff add sticky notes with their start dates, career changes, or milestones. Review the timeline together and discuss generational experiences in teaching.
30. Team Jigsaw
Object: Build teamwork by solving puzzles that require collaboration.
Materials: Two small jigsaw puzzles (swap some pieces between them)
Participants: Two teams
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: Teams work on their puzzles, then realize they must exchange pieces to complete them. The activity highlights problem-solving and cooperation.
31. Escape Room
Object: Foster creative problem-solving and group communication.
Materials: Escape room board game or prepared puzzles/clues
Participants: Small teams
Time: 30–60 minutes
Description: Teams work through clues to “escape” a scenario. Choose a commercial board game or design your own with simple puzzles. Use our guide and create your own escape room adventure for your team.
32. Deserted Island
Object: Encourage creative thinking and collaboration.
Materials: None
Participants: Small groups of 3 or 4
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: Each person picks one survival item. Teams plan how to use their combined items to survive and escape. Share solutions with the whole group.
33. Would You Rather?
Object: Encourage fun discussions and quick decision-making.
Materials: List of “Would You Rather?” questions (or create them together)
Participants: Any group size
Time: 10–20 minutes (but could definitely go longer if the conversation gets going!)
Description: Use our free Teacher Would You Rather questions to start conversations. You can also challenge your staff to come up with their own Would You Rather scenarios to share.
34. Problem-Solving
Object: Inspire teamwork and creativity.
Materials: Random objects (e.g., chair, chocolate bar, hat, potato peeler)
Participants: Small teams
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: Present a funny problem (e.g., how to move a bus stuck in snow). Teams use only the objects to create a solution, then share with the group.
35. Guess the Classroom
Object: Build familiarity with colleagues’ spaces and personal style.
Materials: Slideshow of classroom photos
Participants: Any group size
Time: 20 minutes
Description: Show classroom photos one at a time. The group guesses whose space it is. Discuss creative setups and ideas.
36. Dream Budget
Object: Encourage discussion on priorities and creativity.
Materials: Paper, pens, optional internet for “shopping”
Participants: Small teams
Time: 30–45 minutes
Description: Teams plan a dream classroom with a $10,000 budget. They “shop” and present their design.
37. Life Hacks
Object: Share useful tips and collaborate on presentations.
Materials: Chart paper or poster board, markers
Participants: Pairs or small teams
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: Teams agree on a favorite teacher life hack, illustrate it on a poster, and share with the group.
38. Future Antiques
Object: Spark laughter and creative thinking.
Materials: None
Participants: Small teams
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: We can all think of items that used to be classroom staples but are rarely seen nowadays (TV/VCR carts, mimeographs, and even chalkboards come to mind!). In this game, your teams will guess which of today’s classroom must-haves will become “antiques” in 50 years. First, have them explain how the item was used in the “good old days,” then have them describe the invention that’s replaced it.
39. Five Words
Object: Help define school culture collaboratively.
Materials: Note cards, pens
Participants: Any group size (pairs to full group)
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: Players write 10 culture words, pair up to choose 5, then combine groups and narrow to 5 words the entire staff agrees on.
40. Memory Wall
Object: Reflect on shared memories and celebrate successes.
Materials: Paper, markers, tape or pins
Participants: Any group size
Time: 20–30 minutes
Description: Staff draw or write a favorite memory and add it to a shared wall or board. The group reflects together on their year.
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What team-building games for adults has your school used successfully? Come share your experiences in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out these awesome team-building games and activities for kids.
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