11 Quick and Easy Team Building Activities for Small Groups

Maximize your time using these 11 quick and easy team building activities for small groups. Team building activities are great ways to create and strengthen bonds between groups. Whether it is in the classroom, workplace, organisation, and even for a group of friends; team building is definitely there to help people build a strong foundation for relationships. Being a small group it is essential to have everyone participate and to give everyone a meaningful part within the activity. Much like when building rapport, team building helps create trust and comfort within members of the group.

Since you are dealing with a smaller group of people, there are certain restrictions in that there are some activities better suited for larger groups than smaller ones. The activities listed here are also flexible and can be done in numerous environments. If you’re looking for something a little more workplace oriented, then check out our list of 11 Quick and Easy Team Building Activities in the Workplace. You can even opt to customize those listed here and add your own touch or flare to it. Some team building activities can be modified to suit the skills of your group as sometimes one has to enhance a specific skill of a group member being assigned a specific role.

This list is ranked based on how much time you need to spend in order to do and complete these activities. Since these are all meant to be quick we’ll mention the longer activities first on this list. Let’s find out more as we explore these 11 quick and easy team building activities for small groups:

11. Great Egg Drop

Approximate Time Required: 30 minutes – 2 hours

You can opt for the group to bring different materials needed in order to do this activity. For this activity the team needs to create a makeshift structure, or device to ensure that the egg survives a fall from around a height of a second story of a building. Different materials can be used.

10. Lost on a Desert Island

Approximate Time Required: 30 minutes

For this activity each individual would need to describe the one thing that survives with him/her after they are shipwrecked on an island. It doesn’t have to be necessary for survival and encourage others to be as creative as they want. The group then converges and with the use of their items come up with a strategy that will help them survive until rescue comes.

9. Barter Puzzle

Approximate Time Required: 30 minutes

For this activity you need to separate the group into 2 teams, each with their own distinct puzzle and jigsaw pieces. The catch here is that their jigsaw pieces may not necessarily fit in their own puzzle. So they have to learn to negotiate with the other group to get the pieces they desire while needing to finish first.

8. React and Act

Approximate Time Required: 20 minutes

This game is like charades but focuses more on animated expressions. The actor in the scene has to role-play a certain scenario. For example, winning the lottery or being attacked by a bear. Members of the group then get to guess the scenario.

7. Scavenger Hunt

Approximate Time Required: 20 minutes

This is a classic activity that can really test teamwork and resourcefulness. You can split the group into two teams and give them a list of items they need to acquire to complete the list. The first team to complete the list wins.

6. Two Truths and a Lie

Approximate Time Required: 15 minutes

You may be familiar with this short activity. Each member is given the chance to tell three unique or distinct things about them. The group then has to figure out which is the truth and which is the lie. This is a good activity for helping the group get to know each other better.

There are more activities to discuss as we continue this list of 11 quick and easy team building activities for small groups.

5. All Aboard

Approximate Time Required: 15 minutes

This activity requires a large open space and around two or more tarpaulins. The group is divided into two or pairs and will each have their own tarpaulin. The tarpaulin is then set on the ground and is their ship. For each round the tarpaulin decreases in size and teams must learn how to cooperate to stay within their ship.

4. Coin Logo

Approximate Time Required: 10 minutes

For this activity you ask each member to bring out coins they have in their pockets. If others have no coins then coins can be shared and borrowed. Each person will then use the coins they have along with other materials they may find near them and create their own personal logo. They then get to explain why they made that logo. It’s a good activity for getting to know one another.

3. Story Starters

Approximate Time Required: 5 minutes

For this activity you will have to create post it notes or small cards that have opening lines for stories. For example, “Once upon a time…”, “There was once a…” etc. After saying one sentence of the story, it then has to be continued by another member of the group. This promotes creativity and is good for laughs.

2. Mine Field

Approximate Time Required: 5 minutes

Probably best for small groups or pairs. This activity requires you to scatter different objects inside a room. A blindfolded person from the group is taken inside by one other person that will serve as his/her vocal guide. This teaches one to follow instructions and teaches another to be able to relay instructions properly.

1. Tug of War

Approximate Time Required: 5 minutes

Another classic game on this list, this game aims to encourage the competitive spirit of the group members. If you can divide the group into more teams then you can even pull off a multi-direction tug of war.

This has been the list of 11 quick and easy team building activities for small groups. Try these out and start creating those team bonds.