Jenny Phillips #10

TEAM BUILDING

Learning

Social

Skills

Initiate social interaction

Follow instructions

Listen to others

Communication Skills

Help foster classroom

participation

Work collaboratively

Problem solving skills

Builds trust

Advantages

Great for inclusive classrooms to create a sense of community

Can be connected to content

Fosters acceptance in a diverse classroom

Can promote leadership skills

Who it Benefits
Tips

The focus should be on teamwork

and not competition

Find time for community building

throughout the year not just at the
beginning

Students with autism

Students with Emotional Behavioral

Disorder

Students with ADHD

Students with mild learning disabilities

ALL students

Activities
Community Building: String Game
Bring a ball of yarn. Start off by giving someone a compliment, and rolling the ball of yarn to them.
The new person with the yarn gives another compliment and sends the ball of yarn to the next
person. In the end, talk about how connected everyone is in a community and how each persons
roles/skills/characteristics etc... are unique, but crucial to the community

Problem Solving: Build It

This team-building game is flexible. Simply divide students 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?).

Trust-Building: Trust Walk

Have group members partner up. One person is blind (eyes shut) and the other is the guide. Instruct
the guides to get the student with eyes closed from one place to another. To guide, they may use
physical touch or verbal cues or both. The guide must communicate with the blind partner, prior to
starting, to find out how the blind person would like to be guided (verbal only, holding hands, touch
on the elbow, etc.).

Planning and Adaptability: Egg Drop Challenge

The team is given an egg and a bunch of materials such as cotton, duct tape and plastic straws. The
team has to create a container that will keep the egg from breaking when its dropped from a
ladder. What happens if the first design doesnt work well and the egg breaks? There are two more
rounds so the team can adapt its plan and look for different ways to protect the egg.
References
Harriott, W. A., & Martin, S. S. (2004). Using Culturally Responsive Activities to Promote Social Competence and Classroom
Community. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 37(1), 48-54. doi:10.1177/004005990403700106.
Grenwelge, C., Zhang, D., & Landmark, L. (2010). Comprehensive Leadership Training for Youth with Disabilities. TEACHING
Exceptional Children, 42(4), 62-68. doi:10.1177/004005991004200407.
Grenwelge, C., Zhang, D., & Landmark, L. (2010). Comprehensive Leadership Training for Youth with Disabilities. TEACHING
Exceptional Children, 42(4), 62-68. doi:10.1177/004005991004200407.