All about Teambuilding & Event Management

Various Team-Building Games That Promote Critical Thinking (part 1)

1. If You Build it…This team-building game is flexible. Simply divide participants into teams and give them equal amounts of a certain material, like pipe cleaners, blocks, or even dried spaghetti and marshmallows. Then, give them something to construct. The challenge can be variable (Think: Which team can build the tallest, structurally-sound castle? Which team can build a castle the fastest?).
Skills: Communication; problem-solving

2. Save the Egg...This activity can get messy and may be suitable for older people who can follow safety guidelines when working with raw eggs. Teams must work together to find a way to “save” the egg (Humpty Dumpty for elementary school students?) - in this case an egg dropped from a specific height. That could involve finding the perfect soft landing, or creating a device that guides the egg safely to the ground. Let their creativity work here.
Skills: Problem-solving, creative collaboration

3. Zoom
Zoom is a classic classroom cooperative game that never seems to go out of style. Simply form participants into a circle and give each a unique picture of an object, animal or whatever else suits your fancy. You begin a story that incorporates whatever happens to be on your assigned photo. The next student continues the story, incorporating their photo, and so on.
Skills: Communication; creative collaboration

4. Minefield
Another classic team-building game. Arrange some sort of obstacle course and divide students into teams. Students take turns navigating the “mine field” while blindfolded, with only their teammates to guide them. You can also require players to only use certain words or clues to make it challenging or content-area specific.
Skills: Communication; trust

5. The Worst-Case Scenario
Fabricate a scenario in which team players would need to work together and solve problems to succeed, like being stranded on a deserted island or getting lost at sea. Ask them to work together to concoct a solution that ensures everyone arrives safely. You might ask them to come up with a list of 10 must-have items that would help them most, or a creative passage to safety. Encourage them to vote - everyone must agree to the final solution.
Skills: Communication, problem-solving