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. Read on for some insider tips on successfully implementing team-building games into your PD time.
Jump to:
To get right to the heart of the matter, we spoke with two experienced educators who shared their thoughts on why team building matters and what kinds of activities are most beneficial. Chrissy Beltram (@buzzinwithmsb), former elementary school teacher, is an instructional coach and keynote speaker. Dr. Jo Lein (@educoachbyjo), former middle school teacher, is a leadership development consultant and author of Burn the Script: How Great Coaches Disrupt Thinking and Transform Practice.
With years of teaching and coaching experience between them, Chrissy and Jo have learned firsthand what makes team-building activities for adults fun and effective. Here, they share sage advice and some of their favorite go-to activities.
Tips for Team-Building Activities for Adults
For many educators, the words “team building” on a staff agenda are enough to trigger internal groans. As teacher/coach Chrissy Beltram points out, educators are already stretched thin, and any time pulled away from planning or students needs to feel worthwhile. The most effective team-building activities are not the flashiest or most elaborate. They are the ones that help teachers connect authentically, communicate better, and feel supported in the realities of their work.
In reality, school culture is built by doing meaningful work together over time. “The fastest way to lose adults,” Jo Lein advises, “is through performative BS that feels disconnected from reality.”
Both Chrissy and Jo emphasize that teachers aren’t opposed to having fun together. They just dislike activities that feel forced or disconnected from the everyday pressures of their jobs. Educators want opportunities to build trust, regulate stress, solve problems collaboratively, and leave feeling more connected to their colleagues, not more drained. On this point they agree: A simple conversation-based activity can be far more valuable than a high-energy competition or complicated challenge.
Here are five tips to get the most out of team building with teachers and staff:
1. Keep it respectful of teachers’ time
Chrissy stresses that educators are able to immediately evaluate whether an activity feels meaningful or like “just one more thing.” Short, purposeful activities that strengthen relationships without taking over valuable planning time tend to earn far more buy-in.
2. Focus on connection over performance
Both experts caution against overly competitive or performative activities. Chrissy explains that contests and high-pressure games can leave task-oriented teachers feeling mentally exhausted rather than connected. Instead, low-pressure conversation starters or collaborative discussions often create more genuine interaction.
3. Make the activity relevant to real work
Former middle school teacher Jo Lein notes that teachers are far more receptive when activities help staff “think better, communicate better, and solve real problems together.” Team building becomes more effective when it reflects the actual challenges educators face instead of random activities that feel disconnected from daily school life.
4. Keep it simple
According to Chrissy, a simple “Would You Rather” discussion may do more to strengthen relationships than an elaborate escape-room-style activity. The goal is not the activity itself. Rather, it’s about creating space for authentic interaction and understanding among colleagues.
5. Reduce stress, don’t add to it
Jo emphasizes that teachers value experiences that support emotional regulation, clarity, and collaboration. The best activities leave staff feeling lighter, calmer, and more connected—not overwhelmed or pressured to perform.
Easy Team-Building Games for Teachers
These simple, low-prep 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.
Gameplay (Chrissy’s favorite easy team-builder)
Objective: To have fun and chat!
Materials: Board games and/or card games
Participants: Any group size
Why Chrissy Loves It: “Games are a fantastic way to support team building while being aware of time (and the best part is they take basically no prep time either!). A few rounds of $10,000 Pyramid, Bananagrams, or Candyland set out on the tables, or a deck of cards for playing Old Maid, builds collegiality and gives team members a fun shared experience to build their relationships,” says Chrissy.
Faculty Meeting Bingo
Objective: 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.
Map It Out
Objective: 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 (or use our free printables below). 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.
Tiny Wins
Objective: To share good news and progress reports.
Materials: None
Participants: Small group or whole group
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Create a few minutes for teachers and staff to share the small success stories they’ve experienced this week.
Name That Tune
Objective: 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.
Think Fast
Objective: 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.
Common Thread
Objective: 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.
Greet Like a Stranger / Greet Like a Friend
Objective: Build comfort and break down social barriers.
Materials: Optional light music
Participants: Any group size
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: Staff greet one another first as strangers would (polite and formal). Then, they go around again, this time greeting one another as friends (less formally).
Two Truths and a Lie
Objective: 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.
Caption This
Objective: As a warm-up and to share a laugh.
Materials: A projected image
Participants: Partners or small groups
Time: 10 minutes
Description: Show a funny or random image and let teams create captions.
Numbers Game
Objective: 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.
Shout-Outs
Objective: To shine a spotlight on gratitude.
Materials: None
Participants: Whole group
Time: 5–10 minutes
Description: A typical school day is so crammed with activities that there is often little time to slow down and show appreciation. This activity is a great opportunity for teachers and staff to show gratitude for one another by giving shout-outs to one another for things that deserve recognition.
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.
Learning New Things (Jo’s favorite quick team-builder)
“Practice literally anything new together and then give each other feedback on it,” says Jo. “It could be a dance from YouTube, making shadow puppets, learning a card trick, drawing something, or building something simple.”
The activity itself barely matters. “What matters,” Jo explains, “is that adults experience the discomfort of learning, the vulnerability of performing imperfectly, and the challenge of giving useful feedback. Most educators need feedback on how to give feedback. These kinds of activities create empathy for frustrated learning while also normalizing practice and revision.”
Say It Backwards
Objective: 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.
High-Low-Interesting
Storytelling Chain
Objective: 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.
Silent Line-Up
Objective: 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!
Fact Bag
Objective: 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.
Phone Pics Show-and-Tell
Objective: 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. Then they explain why it’s meaningful.
Speed Networking
Objective: 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?”).
Get-To-Know-You Team-Building Activities for Teachers
A staff that forms authentic relationships with one another just naturally operates better, plus they serve as powerful role models for their students.
Team Circle (Chrissy’s favorite get-to-know-you activity)
Objective: To connect and show appreciation.
Materials: None
Participants: Teacher teams
Description: Each team sits around their table during PD. They choose someone to start the round. Moving around the table counterclockwise, that person states something they appreciate about every other person on their team. Then, the next person does the same. This continues until each person has shared what they value about each other person.
Why Chrissy Loves It: “It’s a strikingly simple activity, but the benefits are enormous,” explains Chrissy. “Sharing what we find beautiful or amazing about others is good for our soul, and it’s good for theirs too. You’re so much more likely to love working with people who see good things in you.”
Tower of Strengths
Objective: 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.
Bucket-List Wall
Objective: To share personal dreams and get to know each other better.
Materials: Sticky notes, pens
Participants: Whole group
Time: 10–15 minutes to build the list, more to discuss
Description: Using sticky notes, have each participant write one thing that they hope to do, see, or accomplish in their lifetime.
The Invisible Work Game
Objective: To shine a light on all the unacknowledged work teachers do and build empathy for one another.
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: Small groups of 5 or 6
Time: 25–35 minutes
Description: Each teacher writes down one task that others may not realize they do. Then each person reads theirs aloud and receives feedback.
Mystery Fun Facts
Objective: To learn more about colleagues.
Materials: Mystery slips
Participants: 2 teams
Time: 25–30 minutes
Description: Have each teacher/staff member write on a slip of paper one thing that others may not know about them. Fold the slip in half and do not sign it. Each team will collect their slips in a cup or container. Taking turns, each team draws one of the other team’s mystery slips and together they try to guess which person wrote it.
Four Corners
Objective: 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 of various things like “favorite lunch” or “favorite subject to teach.” Encourage a quick discussion at each stop.
Active Team-Building Activities for Adults
When the staff needs a few minutes to get up and move around, these activities can lighten the mood and get the blood flowing. In addition, most of them encourage creative thinking and collaboration.
Mixed Puzzles (Jo’s favorite active team-builder)
Objective: To work cooperatively to solve a puzzle.
Materials: 3 puzzles separated into 4 bags
Participants: The whole team!
Description: Divide three 24-piece puzzles into four separate bags with pieces from each puzzle. Give each team one bag. The object is to create a complete puzzle without knowing what the final image is supposed to be or whether your team even has all the correct pieces. Your job is to figure out how to cooperate with the other teams to complete your puzzle.
Why Jo Loves It: “I love this activity because it gets people thinking about the interconnected nature of schools. Too often, teams become territorial or isolated. The activity shows how much progress depends on communication, shared purpose, and the willingness to not be selfish with resources or information.”
Traffic Jam
Objective: 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.
No-Hands Cup Stack
Objective: 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!
Perfect Square
Objective: 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.
Human Knot
Objective: 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.
Sneak a Peek
Objective: 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.
Team Juggling
Objective: 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.
Blind Drawing
Objective: 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.
Team Pen
Objective: 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”).
Paper Holding
Objective: 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.
School Scavenger Hunt
Objective: 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!
Longer Team-Building Games & Activities for Adults
Group Timeline
Objective: 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.
Paper Airplane Advice Exchange
Objective: To strengthen peer relationships and foster collective problem-solving.
Materials: Paper, pens
Participants: Any size group
Time: 30–40 minutes
Description: Teachers write a work challenge or question on a sheet of paper, then fold that paper into a paper airplane. All together, everyone tosses their plane into the center. One at a time, a teacher retrieves a plane, reads it aloud, and offers their best advice.
Five Words
Objective: 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.
Escape Room
Objective: Foster creative problem-solving and group communication. Make this opportunity optional for teachers who feel comfortable participating.
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.
Deserted Island
Objective: 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.
Would You Rather?
Objective: 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.
Memory Wall
Objective: 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.
Creative Problem-Solving
Objective: 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 designated materials to create a solution, then share with the group.
Guess the Classroom
Objective: 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.
Dream Budget
Objective: 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.
Life Hacks
Objective: 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.
Future Antiques
Objective: 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.
Get your free Team-Building Games for Adults Google Slides!
Ready to get bonding? Download our Google Slides and have them on hand when playing these team-building games. Just fill out the form on this page to get them.
