By: Shawn Cox
Submitted: 2011-06-22 11:25:32 | Word Count: 790
Games or activities are a great way of building a rock solid team. Here are some fun and free team building activities for high school students. Read on...
High school students are an altogether different lot, they have a bit 'been there, done that' kinda attitude. Moreover, these folks have a mountain size ego which shatters to pieces, if you do not treat them well. Hence, you have to be extremely careful while interacting with this group. Firstly, you have to inculcate a strong feeling of 'belongingness' in them. Since, this lot tends to be a bit self-centered, it is imperative that you teach them how to work together, as a team. For this, some funny yet useful team building activities and games can come to your rescue. More on school activities.
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Team Building Activities for High School Students
Following are some team building exercises activities ideas & games for high school students.
Set Your Own Rules
It is customary for teachers to hand out lengthy, printed sheets of rules and regulation, which the students are supposed to abide. Since, students are not involved in the entire process, they pay marginal attention at the printed sheet they receive. Instead, if you ask your students to pen down the set of rules and regulations which they are expected to follow, then it'll be a lot more effective option. Divide the class in teams of 4-5 students and ask each group to write down the set of rules. You can later hold an open discussion with the entire class to shortlist the rules, and of course you can add some of your own 'absolutely essential' rules as well. Ask a student to write the shortlisted rules on a paper and stick it on the classroom wall. Since, students drafted their own rules, they are more likely to adhere to them.
Blind Builders
Divide the class in teams of 3 students each, with 1 leader per team. Every team gets a copy of building structure they are supposed to be constructing, along with the building material. Only leader has the access to the structure, but he cannot touch the building material. All he has to do is, direct his team mates in such a way that they replicate the structure from the provided building material. This helps the class to understand the importance of giving precise instructions and executing them to the word. This is also one of the best ice breaker activities for high school students.
Tic-Tac-Toe
This is a usual tic-tac-toe game, but with a difference. Divide the class in two teams, X and O. Arrange 9 chairs in three rows and three columns. Now start asking questions, either from academics or general. The group that gets the answer correct gets to sit on the chair. Whichever group finishes first, either diagonally, horizontally or vertically, wins. This is one of those team building activities for high school kids, which cultivates winning spirit among high school students.
Obstacle Course
Get a few items for the students to 'step-over', 'walk around' or 'duck-under'. Arrange them at strategic locations within the classroom or gym. Divide the class in teams, with 3 members per team. One of the team member starts the race, blindfolded, while his team members instruct him appropriately to overcome the obstacles in his path. The blindfolded student has to entirely rely on the instruction of his team mates to successfully complete the course. This fosters the feeling of trust within the team members. Read more on team building exercises and games.
Change Change
Let the students make two lines, with every student in one line facing the other. Ask the students from one line to closely observe their partner from the second line, limit the time to 30 seconds. Then the students from one line close their eyes, meanwhile the students from the second line change something about their appearance. It could be removal of glasses, reversal of shoes or wearing an earring. When the students open their eyes, they have to find out what changed about the appearance of their partner. The students then reverse their roles and the game continues. This is actually one of the popular team building ideas for middle school students. However, you can let your high school students play this game, by letting them chose their own partner, so that they officially get to eye their object of desire.
There is really no dearth of team building activities for high school students. You can invent a few yourself by taking into consideration the personal taste of your classmates. These team building activities are a door to building a team in which members bestow a great trust in each other and share a beautiful bond.
