group problem solving activities for middle school

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20 Problem-Solving Activities For Middle School: Discussions, Games, Strategies, And Resources

November 20, 2023 //  by  Lesa M.K. Bullins, EdS

Problem-solving skills are important to the building of critical thinking, which in turn strengthens student executive function. Good problem solvers can build stronger cognitive flexibility, a critical component of executive functioning.

The teenage years are a crucial time for neuroplasticity, so it is a prime time for learning and developing important cognitive skills along with critical information. Bring problem-solving to life in your middle school classroom with these 20 activities.

1. Feelings Expression Scenarios

A huge part of problem-solving is properly expressing your own feelings. Students often struggle to state how they feel without combative, aggressive, or accusatory language; therefore opportunities to practice with realistic situations is a key problem-solving component. You can create scenario task cards to support students in realistic applications for relatable situations, or use pre-made cards.

Learn More:  Pinterest

2. Empathy Empowered Discussions

In addition to being able to calmly and kindly express one's feelings, empathy is a key problem-solving component. Teens can often struggle to express empathy as they have difficulty recognizing and interpreting due to the teenage brain functioning.

Teenage brains are still developing, so different areas of the brain are controlling different functions than we see in adult brains; furthermore, since teens are still figuring out what they think and feel about a variety of things, it can be difficult for them to recognize and consider the feelings and thoughts of others. You can instigate empathy discussions through relatable content like this short video.

Learn More:  Austin Wideman

3. Model, Model, Model...and then Model Some More!

Students learn more from what they see you do than what they hear you say! This means you have to be an active and purposeful model of what you expect. So make sure you are aware of your actions and words in front of your students!

Learn More:  Education World

4. Get Out of the Way

We need to allow students the time and space to solve problems. We cannot intervene every time they struggle to find the answer right away. Constant intervention hinders critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Make sure to leave some room for students to figure out solutions. Keep safe proximity so students have the comfort to know you are there if they cannot find a solution, but resist the urge to jump in as soon as you see them struggling.

Learn More:  Brookings

5. Plan a Road Trip

Engage problem-solving skills within context while reinforcing math, research, geography, and communication skills, too! Students can plan a road trip from start to finish in small groups. As an added bonus, you can let students travel virtually to the places they planned for their trip using Google Earth.

If time allows, they can even take screenshots and stage selfies for a presentation to share their trip with the class! This is a really great cross-curricular activity for the digital classroom, too!

6. Escape the Room

Escape rooms were made for problem-solving, so what better way to build these skills for students in an exciting way! Create different challenge activities surrounding a variety of subjects and skills to reinforce while lettings students put problem-solving to use finding practical solutions to escape the room!

Divide kids into teams and get on this engaging problem-solving activity!

7. Teach Explicit Strategies for Reflection

Students can build analytical skills by reflecting on their problem-solving process. Teach explicit skills to help students recognize and reflect on how they solve problems to reinforce future use and strengthen overall critical thinking abilities. Check out how Ellie from Cognitive Cardio made it work even in the time constraints of middle school schedules!

Learn More:  Cognitive Cardio With MSMM

8. Daily Practice

Give students short, interesting, and challenging problems to solve during the morning and afternoon transition times. Daily practice solving challenges is important for cognitive development and reinforces academic skills! You can find tons of daily challenges online or create your own.

9. Build Something

Let students work together in teams to build something from simple building materials. Increase the challenge by limiting resources or requiring students to pick their own resources for building blocks from a variety of random items. You can check out the marshmallow toothpick tower-building activity!

Learn more: Wow Sci

10. Blind Drawing Partners

Students can work in partner pairs or small groups to develop a vast array of abilities through this problem-solving activity. Blind team-building activities are excellent, low-prep ways to engage students' critical thinking and communication!

There are different ways you can implement this, but check out this video for an example of one application of the blind drawing game.

Learn more: Philip Barry

11. Laser Maze

Create a laser maze for students to get active in problem-solving. Create and implement different time durations to increase the challenge. Do not have lasers? No budget for lasers? Don't worry, red painter's tape will do the job!

Learn More:  That Phillips Family

12. Shared Story Puzzles

Creating story puzzles that force students to work in groups together to put together, add on, and create a cohesive story that is meaningful is another challenging task to engage in collaborative problem-solving.

Learn More:  Secondary English Coffee Shop

13. Yarn Webs

This social-skill-building collaborative problem-solving activity is fun for any age. Organize students into teams then let them choose a color of yarn, build a team web, and see who can navigate. There are so many ways this activity can be adapted, but you can watch a video of one interpretation here .

Learn More:  KEYSAmeriCorps

14. Scavenger Hunt

Create a series of clues that students must solve to progress through the game. Working in groups can help build conflict resolution and social skills as well. Check out how to create scavenger hunts for the classroom in this video by Learning Life.

Learn more: Learning Life

15. Boom! Math!

An excellent way to build advanced problem-solving skills, as well as mathematical analysis, is to create math Boom Cards with word problems like these from Math in the Middle. Boom cards are a great activity for students to practice and build skills!

Learn more: Boom Learning

16. Wheel of Solutions

Give students practice in exercising a number of different kinds of problem-solving skills by spinning and communicating a solution using the skills on which they land. You can make one in the classroom with a posterboard or create a digital wheel. Such a fun interactive resource! Use this great pre-made digital activity from Resource Haven on Boom Learning or create your own!

Learn More:  Boom Learning

17. Collaborative Math

Another activity for team building that supports mathematical concept reinforcement is students working together to collaboratively solve math problems. Check out how Runde's Room made sure everyone is engaged in working on solving parts of the problem through the sticky-note collaborative math activity.

18. Get Mysterious

Math Mysteries are a fun activity that builds out-of-the-box thinking and creates an inquisitive environment. Problem-solving develops through the process of inquisition! You can create your own or use Lee and Miller's 40 Fabulous Math Mysteries Kid's Can't Resist Scholastic book found here.

19. Logic Puzzles and Games

In addition to logic-building games like Chess, you can provide logic puzzles for morning and afternoon transitions, during downtime, or for early finishers. Logic puzzles help students think critically. You can make your own or get some prefabricated resources like the ones found in this book by Chris King .

Learn More:  Brainzilla

20. Lead Number Talks

Number talks are important to building problem-solving. Number talks allow students to build on one another in a collaborative way, discuss how they have solved problems before, consider how those solutions may be applicable to new skills they are about to learn, and build depth in math concepts.

So instead of getting quiet, get them talking!

Learn More:  North Dakota Teaching Kayla Durkin

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16 Team Building Activities For Middle School (With Video Examples)

Middle school can be a tough time for children.

At this stage in a student’s life, they are more interested in connecting with peers and making friends than anything else.

This is why team-building activities are a great way to start the school year out right or to help reconnect an existing class that needs a little help.

Also, team building allows students to develop stronger relationships and trust among each other.

As well, team building activities are a great way to help students learn how to communicate with each other effectively which is one of the most important skills a middle school student can learn.

In this article, we have found 16 of the best team building activities for middle school students and we have also included video examples so it is much easier for you to implement them at your school.

Feel free to change and mold the activities to what works best for your students.

If you are not a teacher, these activities still work great in any situation where team building is necessary.

Before we get into the more intricate team building games I wanted to remind everyone that just some good ol’ outside time on the court or play area is one of the best ways to get kids to work together.

Whether it is just traditional recess or a more structured game getting kids to work together through physical activities is one of the best ways to create a team both inside and outside the classroom.

Here is some good quality equipment to get you started:

Click on the picture or link below for more information and pricing.

Easy Play Sports and Outdoor Equipment

The effort you put into getting kids to work together, in the beginning, will pay dividends thought the whole school year.

1. Group Paper Tower

In this great team building activity, students will be tasked with building the tallest tower possible with 20 sheets of plain computer paper.

Students are timed but feel free to make a time limit that best fits your students and schedule.

This game is excellent at helping students be creative and really encourages problem-solving.

At the end of the time, each group’s tower is measured to see which one is the tallest.

The activity is also great at helping students learn from their mistakes and learn from how other’s solved a problem.

This activity is not only a great team building activity for middle school but it is a lot of fun.

A very important part of any team building activity is the student’s ability to listen to both peers and teachers alike.

To get more information about how parents and teachers can help children listen go to our article How To Get A Child To Listen In School .

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2. Centipede Ski Challenge

The Centipede or Group Ski Challenge is most likely an outdoor activity.

Although, you could do the activity in the hallway or large space in the school.

In this activity, a group of students will step on the group skis and hold onto the handles.

In order for the students to move, they have to move in un

ison with each step or the ski will not move.

The students will race and move together to see who can get to the finish line first.

The activity does a great job of teaching students about cooperation and how without the help of others it can hard to accomplish a goal.

This activity will not only get the student’s heart racing but it will also be a class favorite.

4 Legged Race Bands is designed to spice up team-building and any outdoor activities as long as 4 players are involved! Work together as a team to walk faster and farther to win the competition.

Click on the picture or link above for pricing and information!

3. Magic Carpet

The Magic Carpet or Tarp Flip is a great way to get kids moving and problem-solving at the same time.

This is a great activity that can be done inside or outside depending on the size of each group.

If you would like to make the number of students smaller in each group you could use a towel rather than a “carpet”.

A group of students stand on a “carpet”, tarp or blanket and try to flip it over while all the students are standing on it.

If a student steps off the “carpet” then the group has to start over.

The students that are able to flip over the “carpet” first (without stepping off of it) are the winners.

This activity does an excellent job of encouraging students to communicate efficiently in order to complete a goal.

Artoflifer Hole Tarp Team Building Game The aim of the challenge is for the tennis ball to travel around the tarp for the longest time possible without falling through the holes or coming off the tarp.

Click on the picture or the link above more more information and pricing

4. Team Pen

Team Pen is a perfect in classroom team building activity.

The teacher will need to tape strings to a large pen before the activity begins.

Students will be placed into teams and each student will hold on to one of the strings connected to the pen.

The teacher will give each group a word to write on a piece of blank paper.

The students within the group will have to navigate the pen together to write the word.

Start out with easy and short words at first but eventually once the kids get better at it this can be a great way to help students practice for their spelling tests or phonics work.

The best part of this activity is seeing what the word ends up looking like once the students are done.

This is such a fun activity I can hear the laughter from here!

Laughter makes everything better! For more laughs please read our article T eacher Jokes (One For Each Day Of The School Year)

Cooperative Stretchy Band 

Made with soft, elastic latex tube and multi-colored fleece fabric that is both strong and stretchy. When children run to different directions, it will not hurt them, making it very safe to use.

Cooperative band adopts soft latex tube that covered with soft multi-colored fabric that encourages group cooperation, interaction and creative movement.

Click on the picture or link above for more information and pricing

5. Pipe Line

Pipe Line can be an indoor or outdoor activity.

Students will each get half of a PVC pipe or long “U” shaped item.

If you do not have a half-pipe piece you can have students create a “U” shape out of a piece of paper or even better a piece of card stock.

This does work well but does increase the difficulty as it is hard to keep the paper stable enough to create the “U” shape and in enough time to let the ball pass through it.

Once you have your “U” shaped item for each of the students they will be put into groups.

The teacher will place a ping pong ball or golf ball at the beginning of their half-pipe and they must tilt it until the ball starts to roll down it.

Once the ball gets to the end another student will have to catch the ball with their half-pipe to continue the ball rolling down the track.

The student who just had a turn and the ball is off their half-pipe will run to the end of the line to help continue the game.

The team that gets to the finish line without their ball falling off the track will win.

6. Knee Relay Race

This is a classic relay race with a twist.

Students will be split into teams and each team will have a medium size ball.

Each team will have to put the ball between their knees and run knock-kneed to a hola-hoop or bucket at the end of the relay.

Once they get to the hula-hoop or bucket they must drop the ball from their knees into the hula-hoop or bucket.

Depending on how difficult you want the game to be you can make a rule that if the student drops the ball outside of the hula-hoop or bucket they have to start over.

Which ever team gets all their balls to their target and back wins.

This game will help create a sense of comradery as it can be a difficult challenge.

7. Cross The Lava Challenge

Cross The Lava is both a great indoor or outdoor team building activity depending on the sizes of the teams.

In this activity, students are put into teams and each student on the team will get a ” Magic Lava Stone” otherwise known as a carpet square, piece of fabric or piece of paper (card stock will work better than regular paper).

The students in each team will stand in a line and the first person will start laying the “Lava Stone” down for them and other students to stand on.

Each student in the team will step forward on the stones until there are no more stones to put down.

At this time the last person in the team will have one empty stone and they will pass the stone up to the front of the line so they can use it to continue the path.

This will continue until one of the teams crosses the finish line or the end of the “Lava”.

This team building activity for middle school students is extremely fun and it fosters critical thinking and teamwork.

This activity really gets kids moving. To learn more about keeping kids healthy please read our article A Complete List Of The Best Exercises For Kids

8. Caterpillar Race

The Caterpillar Race is a fun team building activity for middle school students that promotes teamwork and communication.

Before this activity, the teacher must tape together strong pieces of paper or sew together a long piece of fabric in order to make the “Caterpillar”.

Students will be placed in teams and each team will step into the paper or cloth caterpillar.

They will have to move their feet and their hands to help move it in the direction of the finish line.

Students will have to keep pace with the students in front of them and behind them to be successful.

The students that are able to navigate their caterpillar to the finish line first are the winners.

To make the activity more difficult, use paper to make the caterpillar so that the students have to be very careful not to tear it before they finish which could be quite difficult depending on the materials used.

Learning and having fun is the best way to teach and the Caterpillar Race is a perfect example of that.

Run Mat for Kids is a roll mat race. A racing game that requires team work and coordination, in order to keep tour team running and your mat rolling

For Field Day, Active Play, Balance and Flexibility Team Building & Collaboration, Obstacle Course, Training Tool, Kids Grown-Ups, Group Work, etc.

Group activity for 3-4 adults or 5-7 children

Click on the picture and link above for information and pricing

9. Hula Hoop Pass

One of the best parts about team building is that it helps students understand both their strengths and weaknesses.

It also helps them by seeing how other students handle problems and how they handle the stress associated with those problems.

the Hula Hoop pass seems like an easy task until you try it yourself.

Students will get into teams, make a circle and link hands.

Two people will start the game by putting their hands through the middle of the hula hoop and then linking hands with their partners.

Once the game has started each team will have to move the hula hoop across and over their body to the next student where they will do the same.

The team that is able to move the hula hoop around the entire circle ending with the students who started the game are the winners.

While this game seems simple it does take some coordination.

This game is the perfect opportunity to help teach your students constructive praise techniques.

10. Quadropus Cup Stacking

The Quadropus Cup Stacking game is one of the coolest on our list but it does take a little “crafting” to get started.

Before the game, the teacher or the students will need to make the “cup mover” by fastening a certain number (depending on the size of the teams) of pipe cleaners to a rubber band to create a contraption that will allow the students to pull the pipe cleaners to expand the rubber band and relax the pipe cleaners to contract the rubber band.

The cup mover contraption will allow the students to grasp the cups only if they work cooperatively.

Once the cup mover has been made then students are given different tasks to move and stack the cups in certain patterns.

The best part of this game is that the students must work together in order to move the cup.

If even one student is not working with the team the cup mover will not be effective.

The game is the perfect example of how teamwork is only accomplished when everyone works together.

11. The Human Knot

The Human Knot is similar to the Hula Hoop pass but now there is no hula hoop but you still need to maneuver your body and work together to win the challenge.

The students will be placed into teams and will need to make a circle.

Each student will hold out their right hand and grasp the student’s hand cross from them.

They will do the same with their left hand.

Now it is time for the students to try to maneuver themselves so that they are back in a similar position as they started and “untied”.

This game is a great game to teach direction skills and to help students problem-solve when things don’t go quite right (and they will!).

While this game can get complicated it sets up so many teachable moments that you will have to try it.

12. Marshmellow Tower Challenge

The Marshmallow Tower Challenge is the pinnacle of problem-solving and critical thinking challenges.

Students must use all their team building strategies to complete this task.

Students will be given a certain number of materials and one marshmallow to build a structure the best they can.

While the materials are helpful, there is only a limited amount which makes using them efficiently important and encourages strategy.

Students are encouraged to plan and strategize before making their structure which is a great lesson in itself.

When students are given the opportunity to work together and communicate regardless of how the tower turns out the activity will be successful.

13. Escape Classroom

The Escape Room or Escape Classroom is one of the most engaging and exciting team building activities ever but it takes a lot of planning.

The idea behind this team building activity is that the students are locked in the classroom and have to get out by finding all of the clues left by their capture. ( This is all pretend of course)

The students are split up into teams and must find clues (activities) to move on to the next clue.

The Teacher sets up a group of activities that the students must do in order to get to the next clue which leads them closer to solving the main problem which is escaping from the classroom.

The theme of this team building activity can be anything from a book theme to having students solve certain math problems to escape and win the game.

The first team that can “escape” (by solving all the clues) from the classroom is the winner.

If the teacher can pull off this activity, it will be talked about all school year long.

14. Blind Minefield

The Blind Minefield game is not only a great team-building activity but it is an amazing game for building trust within the teams as the students are blindfolded and they have to rely on their teammates to be successful.

The teacher will set up obstacles either outside or inside the classroom and the students have to navigate through the obstacle course while blindfolded.

Students will be put into teams and each person is selected one at a time to go through the course blindfolded.

The other team members have to call out directions to help the blindfolded person get through the course without touching any of the obstacles.

If the blindfolded person from a team touches an obstacle they lose their turn and another team member gets a turn.

The team with the most people that can get through the obstacle course without touching anything wins.

Everyone will love this one!

15. Pencil Grab

The great part of the team building activity is that it is super simple and it uses one of the most abundant school supplies in the classroom…

The teacher will place pencils on a table or a desk in four or five groups with the number of pencils ranging from smallest to largest. (Group 1- two pencils, Group 2- 4 pencils…)

The students will start the game off with small increments of pencils such as one or two in the first pile.

Students get into teams and they race to see who can grab the most pencils by placing them on the back of their hand.

Once the pencils are placed on the back of the student’s hand they will pop up the pencils in the air and try to grab them with the palm of their hand.

If they can grab all of the first group of pencils they will go to the next group of pencils until they complete all of them or they can not grab them all at the same time and they lose their turn.

The team that can grab the most pencils is the winner!

16. Balloon Pyramid Relay Race

The Balloon Pyramid Relay Race is a great cooperative team building activity.

In this game, each student has to help stack the cups into a pyramid by inflating and deflating a balloon.

Only one student is allowed to work at a time.

Once they are finished with their task they stop and go to the end of the line.

Then it is the next student’s turn to continue the next step of the pyramid.

If a student knocks down a cup they must set the cup up where they found it, go to the end of the line and let another student try. (You can come up with your own rule here that best fits your class).

The team that creates the pyramid first wins.

For more information about why team building is so important please read Michigan State’s article Why is team building so important?

Please Comment Below!

If you have any comments or you have another team building activity that you would like to add to the list, we would love to hear from you!

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10 thoughts on “ 16 team building activities for middle school (with video examples) ”.

This is really a great and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

Awesome games! I’m looking for fun games for our 8th grade retreat and these are great examples.

Thank you so much!

These are great! Thanks for sharing!

Loved these easy and affordable ideas for games!

These are very useful, thanks for sharing. Definitely will use them!

So happy to help! Middle school can be a tough time but with the right activities and help they grown into amazing people!

Fantastic team-building activities! thank you for sharing!

I’m so glad that you found them helpful. Middle school friends need all the help they can get! =)

Thank you for sharing these activities! These will really be enjoyed by students. I think it would be good to try these at the start of the school year and also at the end to see how much they have grown with each other.

We agree wholeheartedly!

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11 Fun and Engaging Team-Building Activities for Middle School Students

August 19, 2022

Are you looking for some fun team-building games for your middle school students? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we will discuss a variety of activities that will help students learn more about each other and work together effectively. These activities are perfect for classrooms, sports teams, or any group of students. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

Activity #11: Pass the Parcel

This is a classic team-building activity that is great for groups of all sizes. To play, all you need is a wrapped present and some music. Students will stand in a circle and pass the present around while the music plays. Every time the music stops, the student holding the present will unwrap one layer of paper. The game continues until the final layer is reached and the prize is revealed! This activity is great for encouraging students to work together and communicate effectively. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!

@iconicmoments That one kid during pass the parcel #passtheparcel #pov #party ♬ original sound – Iconicmoments

Activity #10: Escape Room

An escape room is a fun game for groups of students who are looking for a challenge. In an escape room, team members will have to work together to solve a series of puzzles in order to “escape” the room.

@missmajor_ Escape room checkkk #fyp #escaperoomclassroom #classroomescaperoom #teacherideas #teacher #mathteacher #escaperoom ♬ Scary music like a haunted house – INOSHIN

Activity #09: The Human Knot

This activity is perfect for team building because it requires students to work together to achieve a common goal: untangle themselves! To play, have students stand in a circle and grab the hand of someone across from them. Then, have everyone grab the hand of another person so that everyone is holding two hands. The goal is for the group to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. This activity is great for encouraging teamwork and problem-solving skills.

@nodawayvalleyffa We had a great time at the meeting last night especially with our team building skills #ffa #teambuilding ♬ original sound – NV FFA

Activity #08: Marshmallow Towers

The goal of Marshmallow Towers is for students to construct the tallest tower possible while working together as a team. To play, you will need marshmallows and toothpicks. Students will work in teams of two or three to build the tallest tower they can using only these materials. This activity is great for encouraging teamwork, communication, and creativity.

@ms.baltazar_teaches5th The Marshmallow Tower Challenge! This activity was not only fun, but it encouraged my students to collaborate, practice problem solving, think by design and use their time management skills to strategize their plans! A win! #teacher #teachersoftiktok #tiktok #teacherlife #teambuilding #funactivity #engagi ♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

Activity #07: Balloon Stomp

This game is excellent for group bonding since it requires kids to collaborate in order to squash all of the balloons. To play, you’ll need a bunch of balloons and some string. Tie the string around each balloon in such a way that they are linked. Students should then form a circle and hold on to the rope. The objective of this game is for students to stomp on as many balloons as possible without breaking the string. This is an excellent method for fostering cooperation and collaboration among classmates.

@the_amaya_familia #f #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #familytime #familygames #stomp #balloonchallenge #christmas #christmasgames #gamestiktok ♬ original sound – Iveth Amaya

Activity #06: The Great Egg Drop

This team-building activity is a little more messy but it’s definitely a lot of fun! The objective of The Great Egg Drop game is for teams to design a contraption that will protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height. to play, you will need a bunch of eggs and some materials for building (e.g., cardboard, paper, tape). Students will work in teams of two or three to build a contraption that will protect the eggs when they are dropped. The team with the most intact eggs at the end of the activity wins! This activity is great for encouraging teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.

@teacherulloa As a teacher I always look for creative ways to get my students’ imagination rolling… We did the “egg drop challenge” for my creative writing class, & even though at first I had trouble getting them into it… we all enjoyed it a lot !🥚💥 #fyp #foryou #parati #teacher #BigInkEnergy #teachersoftiktok #classroom #lgbtqteacher #middleschool #middleschoolersbelike #middleschoolteacher #latinoteacher #teacherulloa #maestro #viral #studentlife #california #californiateacher #following ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

Activity #05: Scavenger Hunt

A classic team-building activity, scavenger hunts are great for groups of all sizes. To play, you will need to hide a bunch of items around the room or the school or community (e.g., a pencil, a penny, a piece of paper). Students will then work in teams to find all of the hidden items. he team that finds all of the items first wins! This activity is great for encouraging teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Activity #04: Minute to Win It

This activity requires students to work together to complete a series of challenges within a minute. To play, you will need to set up a series of challenges (e.g., stacking plastic cups, moving ping pong balls from one container to another). Students will then work in teams to complete as many challenges as possible within the time limit.

@weber_orthodontics #minutetowinit #WhenRiftanSays #FFXmasSwitch #merrychristmas #christmasgames #orthodontist #braces #omaha #fyp #foryoupage ♬ Butter – 방탄소년단 (BTS)

Activity #03: The Amazing Race

This team-building activity is perfect for groups of all sizes and ages. Divide your group into teams and give each team a list of tasks to complete around the school or local area. The first team to complete all the tasks wins!

Activity #02: Hot Seat

The object of the game is for students to work together to answer questions about a classmate. To play, have students sit in a circle and choose one student to be the “hot seat” for the round. The hot seat student then chooses another student to be their partner. The hot seat student will then ask the partner a series of questions about themselves (e.g., their favorite food, hobby, etc.). The partner can only answer with one word responses. After the hot seat student has asked all of their questions, the roles will then reversed and the partner will become the hot seat student.

Activity #01: Obstacle Course

An obstacle course is a great way to get students moving and out of their comfort zone. To set up an obstacle course, you will need a variety of objects that can be used as obstacles (e.g., cones, hula hoops, jump ropes, jump over a hurdle, crawl under a table). Students will then work in teams to complete the course as quickly as possible. This activity is great for encouraging teamwork, communication skills, and problem-solving skills.

There you have it! These are just a few fun team building activities that you can use with your middle school students. So get out there and start building those teamwork skills! Your students will thank you for it.

Do you have any favorite team-building activities? Share them with us in the comments below!

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15 Team Building Activities for Middle School Students

by Chad Davis | Team Building Tips

In the exciting world of middle school, every day is an adventure and every classroom is a chance to make a difference. You know better than anyone that these years are crucial for our young learners – it’s when friendships bloom and team spirits soar. That’s where team building activities for middle school students come into play. It’s the best way to add a whole lot of fun and a dash of learning to the mix!

Think of these activities as your secret ingredient for a vibrant school culture. These team-building exercises aren’t just games. They’re opportunities for students of all ages to connect, collaborate, and step out of their comfort zones. Whether it’s solving puzzles together, embarking on team challenges, or simply sharing laughs, each activity is a building block for stronger, more empathetic relationships. So, are you ready to add some extra zing to your middle school with activities that teach, inspire, and entertain? Let’s jump in!

1. Human Knot

Get ready for some twisty fun with the Human Knot! This classic team-building activity is all about getting students literally tangled up in teamwork. Everyone stands in a circle, reaches across to grab a random hand, and then the group works together to untangle themselves – without letting go of each other’s hands. It’s like a game of Twister, but with a teamwork twist!

Objective:  The Human Knot is perfect for teaching communication, problem-solving skills, and the importance of patience and collaboration. Plus, it’s a great icebreaker!

Materials Needed:  Just your students and a space where they can stand in a circle.

Instructions:

• Have students stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder.
• Each student reaches out to grab the hand of someone across the circle – making sure it’s not the person next to them.
• After everyone’s hands are connected, the challenge is to untangle the group back into a circle, without anyone releasing hands.
• Encourage students to communicate and work together to find a solution. There will be twisting, turning, and maybe some giggling!

2. Egg Drop Challenge

Ready to get a little messy and a lot creative? The Egg Drop Challenge is all about protecting a fragile egg from a high fall. Teams will use their wits and a variety of materials to build a structure that keeps their egg safe and sound. It’s part engineering, part art, and totally egg-citing!

Objective:  This activity encourages creativity, engineering skills, teamwork skills, and a bit of healthy competition.

Materials Needed:  Eggs, various building materials (like straws, tape, cotton, cardboard), and a high drop point (like a balcony or stairwell).

• Divide students into small teams and give each team an egg.
• Provide a range of building materials for the teams to use.
• Set a time limit for teams to build their egg-protecting contraption.
• Once time’s up, each team takes turns dropping their egg from the designated height to see if it survives the fall.
• Discuss what worked, what didn’t, and the different approaches each team took.

3. Treasure Hunt

Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned treasure hunt? This fun game turns your school into an adventure land where teams solve clues to find hidden treasures. It’s a fantastic way for the whole class to explore the school, work as a team, and challenge those brain cells!

Objective:  Enhances teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Plus, it’s a great way for students to familiarize themselves with the school environment.

Materials Needed:  Clues (riddles, puzzles, maps), treasures (could be anything from school supplies to a token), hiding spots.

• Hide the treasures around the school and create clues that lead to each one.
• Divide students into teams and give them their first clue.
• Teams follow the clues to find the treasures. Each found treasure leads to the next clue.
• The first team to find all the treasures or the final treasure wins!
• Debrief with the teams about their strategies and experiences during the hunt.

4. Blindfold Maze

Ready for a trust-building adventure? In the Blindfold Maze, one student becomes the navigator, and their partner, blindfolded, becomes the adventurer. The goal is simple but exciting: navigate through a maze using only verbal instructions. It’s like a real-life video game, but with trust as the main controller!

Objective:  This activity strengthens trust, listening skills, and verbal communication. Plus, it’s a great way for fellow students to learn to rely on and support each other.

Materials Needed:  Blindfolds, space to set up a safe maze (like a classroom with desks and chairs), and maybe some soft obstacles like plastic cones.

• Pair up students and decide who will be blindfolded first.
• Set up a maze in the classroom using desks, chairs, and soft obstacles.
• The non-blindfolded student must guide their team mate—the blindfolded students—through the maze using only their words. No touching!
• Once they reach the end, switch roles and go again!
• Encourage teams to reflect on the experience and discuss what strategies worked best.

5. Two Truths and a Lie

Want a super fun way to break the ice? Two Truths and a Lie is a classic get-to-know-you game where everyone gets a turn to share three statements about themselves – two are true, and one’s a fib. The challenge for the rest of the group? Guessing which one is the lie!

Objective:  A great team building activity for improving camaraderie and getting to know each other. This game also encourages creative thinking and a bit of harmless deception.

Materials Needed:  None! Just a group of students ready to share and guess.

• Have each student think of two true statements about themselves and one that’s not true.
• One by one, the next student shares their three statements with the group.
• The rest of the group then discusses and votes on which statement they think is the lie.
• Reveal the truth and enjoy the surprises and laughs that come with it!
• Rotate until everyone has had a turn.

6. Tower Building

It’s time to bring out the inner architects and engineers with the Tower Building Challenge! Teams compete to build the tallest, most stable tower using simple materials. It’s a perfect blend of creativity, strategy, and a bit of friendly competition.

Objective: This activity combines the best of team building activities for middle school students: teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. Students will work together to construct their architectural masterpiece.

Materials Needed:  Straws, tape, paper, and any other lightweight building materials you can find.

• Divide students into small teams and provide each team with the same set of building materials.
• Set a time limit for the tower construction phase.
• Teams work together to build the tallest tower they can within the time limit.
• Once time is up, measure the towers to see which team built the tallest one.
• Discuss the different building strategies and what made some towers more successful than others.

7. Spider Web

Let’s get tangled in some fun with the Spider Web game! This activity turns your classroom into a giant spider’s web made of strings. The challenge? Students must pass through the web without touching the strings. It’s a thrilling mix of strategy, flexibility, and teamwork, as each student finds their unique way to traverse the web.

Objective:  This activity presents fun ways for teaching problem-solving, physical agility, and teamwork. It encourages students to plan, communicate, and support each other in overcoming obstacles.

Materials Needed:  String or yarn to create the web, a frame to attach it to (like a doorway or a freestanding frame), and some classroom space.

• Create a web by attaching strings across a frame or doorway at various heights and angles.
• Divide students into teams.
• The goal for each team is to get all members through the web without touching the strings.
• If a student touches a string, the team must start over or receive a penalty.
• Teams must strategize the best way for each member to pass through, considering different sizes and abilities.
• Once a particular section of the web is used, it can be declared ‘closed,’ increasing the challenge for subsequent team members.
• After the activity, discuss the strategies used, the challenges faced, and the teamwork involved.

8. Photo Scavenger Hunt

It’s time for some photo fun with a twist! In the Photo Scavenger Hunt, teams race against the clock to complete a list of photo challenges. Each challenge requires creativity, teamwork, and a good eye for details. Perfect for capturing memories while hunting for the next great shot! It doubles as a great game to play during the first week of school, when the students are new to the campus.

Objective:  Promotes teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking, as teams must decide how to best capture each challenge within the time limit.

Materials Needed:  A list of photo challenges, cameras or smartphones for taking pictures, and a timer.

• Prepare a list of creative and fun photo challenges. These can range from simple tasks to more complex ones that require some thought.
• Divide students into teams and give each team the list of challenges.
• Set a time limit for the scavenger hunt.
• Teams must complete as many challenges as possible and take photos as evidence during the set amount of time.
• After time’s up, review the photos together and share the fun moments captured.
• You can even award points for creativity and teamwork!

9. Balloon Keep Up

How long can your team keep a balloon in the air? It’s time to find out with Balloon Keep Up! This energetic activity is all about teamwork and coordination, as students work together to keep balloons from touching the ground. It’s simple, fun, and surprisingly challenging. This challenge also works well for younger students, too.

Objective:  Encourages teamwork, coordination, and strategic planning. Plus, it’s a great way to burn off some energy!

Materials Needed:  Balloons – lots of them!

• Divide students into teams and give each team a balloon (or multiple balloons for a bigger challenge).
• On your signal, teams must keep their balloon(s) in the air using any part of their body – no holding allowed!
• If a balloon touches the ground, that team is out or gets a point deducted.
• Keep the game going until only one team remains, or for a set time, and see which team can keep their balloon up the longest.
• This activity is great for some laughs and can be played in rounds to allow for different strategies.

10. Tug of War

Ready to test your team’s strength and strategy? Tug of War is a timeless outdoor game that’s all about pulling together – literally! It’s not just a test of muscle; it’s a lesson in teamwork, strategy, and determination. Whether on grass or sand, this game is sure to bring out the competitive spirit in everyone.

Objective:  Strengthens teamwork, physical endurance, and strategic planning. It’s a great way for students to learn about collective effort and unity.

Materials Needed:  A sturdy rope and a marker (like tape or a flag) to indicate the center of the rope.

• Divide students into two teams, trying to balance the strength and size on each side.
• Mark the center of the rope and lay it on the ground. Each team takes one end of the rope.
• On your signal, both teams pull the rope, attempting to bring the center marker past a predetermined point on their side.
• The game continues until one team successfully pulls the other over the line.
• Encourage teams to strategize and work in unison to maximize their pulling power.

11. Trust Fall

How much do you trust your teammates? The Trust Fall is a classic activity that puts this question to the test. It has been used for years in corporate team building and will work just as well in team building activities for middle school students. One student falls backward, relying solely on their teammates to catch them. It’s a powerful moment of trust and a real adrenaline rush!

Objective:  This activity is all about building trust, learning to rely on others, and understanding the responsibility of being trustworthy.

Materials Needed:  A soft surface like a grassy area or mats for safety.

• Organize students into small groups of about 6-8.
• One student stands up, with their back to the group.
• The group positions themselves to catch the falling student.
• The falling student must keep their body straight and fall backward, trusting their team to catch them.
• Each student in the group gets a turn to fall, and the roles of catcher and faller are rotated.
• Discuss the feelings and lessons learned after everyone has had a turn.

12. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower

Who knew spaghetti and marshmallows could be the ingredients for a towering challenge? In the Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower activity, teams compete to build the tallest tower using only uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows. It’s a sticky, fun-filled, and creative engineering challenge!

Objective:  Encourages creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. It’s a great activity to explore basic engineering principles and collaboration.

Materials Needed:  Uncooked spaghetti, marshmallows, and a flat surface for each team to build on.

• Divide students into small teams and provide each team with equal amounts of spaghetti and marshmallows.
• Teams work together to build the tallest freestanding tower using only the provided materials.
• Discuss the various designs and strategies used by each team, highlighting the importance of planning and collaboration.

13. Human Shapes

Ready for a twist on the classic game of charades? In Human Shapes, teams work together to form letters or shapes using their bodies. This activity is like human puzzle-making – each student becomes a piece of a larger picture. It’s a blend of creativity, physical coordination, and teamwork!

Objective:  Enhances teamwork, communication, and creative thinking. It’s a fun way for students to learn about cooperation and non-verbal communication.

Materials Needed: None! Just a group of students ready to twist and turn into different shapes. This is one of our most resourceful team building activities for middle school students.

• Divide the students into teams.
• Assign each team a letter, number, or shape to create with their bodies.
• Give teams time to plan and practice forming their assigned shape.
• Teams then present their shapes to the rest of the group.
• You can make it more challenging by timing the teams or asking them to interpret more complex shapes or words.

14. Friendship Bracelet Making

Let’s get crafty with Friendship Bracelet Making! This activity is all about creativity, sharing, and, of course, friendship. Students will create colorful bracelets to exchange with their classmates, fostering a sense of camaraderie and artistic expression.

Objective:  Encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and the value of giving. It’s a wonderful way for students to express themselves and create a classroom community with their peers.

Materials Needed:  Embroidery floss or yarn in various colors, scissors, and tape or safety pins to hold the bracelets in place while working.

• Provide each student with different colors of embroidery floss or yarn.
• Teach them basic patterns for making friendship bracelets, such as braiding or simple knotting techniques.
• Allow time for the students to create their bracelets.
• Encourage students to exchange bracelets with their classmates, promoting sharing and appreciation.
• You can also integrate lessons about different cultures and the significance of friendship symbols worldwide.

15. The Floor is Lava

Jump, hop, and balance – but don’t touch the floor, because it’s lava! The Floor is Lava is an energetic game that turns an ordinary room into a lava-filled obstacle course. Students must navigate from one end of the room to the other without touching the floor, using only furniture and objects as safe zones.

Objective:  Promotes physical agility, strategic thinking, and teamwork. It’s an exhilarating way to encourage students to work together and think on their feet.

Materials Needed:  Objects to serve as ‘safe zones’ (like mats, chairs, or cushions).

• Set up a course in the classroom or gym using the safe zone objects.
• Students start at one end of the room.
• On your signal, they must cross to the other side without touching the floor.
• Add variations by making some objects movable, requiring teamwork to navigate.
• Ensure safety by supervising the game closely and using soft, stable objects.

Closing Thoughts on Team Building Activities for Middle School Students

As we bring our exploration of team building activities to a close, remember that the heart of these exercises lies in fostering a sense of community and cooperation among middle school students. To make the most of these activities, here are a couple of overarching strategies to keep in mind:

Firstly, create an atmosphere of inclusivity and safety. This means choosing activities that cater to a variety of abilities and interests, ensuring everyone can participate and feel valued. Make sure to keep the age of your students in mind, for example. Encourage students to embrace each other’s differences and work together, reinforcing the idea that every individual brings something unique to the table. Also, don’t forget the power of reflection. After each activity, a brief discussion about what worked, what didn’t, and how students felt can provide valuable insights and deepen the learning experience.

Secondly, the role of the facilitator – that’s you – is crucial. Lead with enthusiasm and positivity, setting the tone for collaboration and fun. Be adaptive and patient, ready to tweak activities to suit the dynamics of your group. And most importantly, keep the focus on learning and growth. Celebrate successes, provide constructive feedback, and encourage students to recognize not just what they achieved, but how they achieved it.

In the end, the goal is to make team building a fun, engaging, and meaningful part of the middle school experience. By applying these strategies, you’ll help your students develop not just as individuals, but as integral members of a supportive and dynamic community.

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43 Awesome Team-Building Activities for Kids

Build trust and community in your classroom.

Looking for great ways to help students learn to work together, listen carefully, communicate clearly, and think creatively? Try some of these awesome team-building activities for kids. They’re a super way to give your students the chance to get to know one another, build trust as a community, and, best of all, have fun!

1. Seeing Spots

The Teacher Dish: Brain Break Dots via theteacherdish.blogspot.com

For this activity, you’ll place a colored sticker dot (blue, red, green, or yellow) on each student’s forehead without them knowing what color it is. When the game begins, each “team” of students (with the same color) must find each other— without speaking. This is a wonderful team-building activity because it encourages non-verbal communication and cooperation.

2. Elbow Pass

Looking for team-building activities for kindergarten kids? This silly activity helps them make new friends and learn to work together. Not only do they get to work on hand-eye coordination, they are looking each other in the eye and having a laugh together.

3. Common Thread

Fun 365/Team-Building Banner via fun365.orientaltrading.com

Divide students into groups of four and have them sit together in these small groups. Give each group five minutes to chat among themselves and find something they all have in common. It could be that they all play soccer, or pizza is their favorite dinner, or they each have a kitten. Whatever the common thread, the conversation will help them get to know one another better. Check in with the groups after five minutes to see if they need more time. After each group has come up with their common element, have them work together to create a flag that represents it.

4. Fingertip Hula-Hoop

There are quite a few team-building activities for kids that use Hula-Hoops. In this game, your students stand in a circle and raise their arms with only their index fingers extended. Place a Hula-Hoop so that it rests on the tips of the children’s fingers. Tell the students they must maintain a fingertip on the Hula-Hoop at all times, but they are not allowed to hook their finger around it or otherwise hold the hoop; the hoop must simply rest on the tips of their fingers. The challenge is for the children to lower the hoop to the ground without dropping it. To make this more challenging, you can place communication constraints on the children—no talking or limited talking, for example. Watch the video for a demonstration.

5. Four-Way Tug-of-War

This classic outdoor activity is double the fun of the traditional tug-of-war. Tie two long jump ropes together at their center points, creating an X shape. Tie a bandanna around the center point. Next, use cones to form a circle that fits around the X. Form four equal teams, and have each team stand at one of the four ends of the ropes. At your signal, each team begins pulling. The objective is to be the first team to pull the others in their direction far enough for the bandanna to cross to the outside of the circle of cones. Students who feel nervous about participating can serve as referees who make sure everyone is safe.

6. Hot Seat

This fun game is a lot like the game show Password . Split your class into two teams and have them sit together in teams facing the whiteboard or chalkboard. Then take an empty chair—one for each team—and put it at the front of the class, facing the team members. These chairs are the “hot seats.” Choose one representative from each team to come up and sit in the “hot seat,” facing their teammates with their back to the board.

Flash images one at a time on the screen behind the people in the hot seat. Taking turns, each team will offer one clue to their representative. If they guess the image correctly, their team gets one point. If not, it’s the other team’s turn to help their representative. Continue until one of the representatives gets the image correct. Then switch out students in the hot seat and continue.

7. Classification

Inspiration Laboratories/Classification Practice via inspirationlaboratories.com

For this activity, prepare a tray with 20 unrelated items—for instance, a spool of thread, an eraser, a juice box, etc. Alternatively, create a document with 20 images of items to put up on the screen. Divide your class into even groups. Set a timer and have each group divide the 20 items into four categories that make sense to them. For example, they may put an earring, a glove, a headset, a sock, and a smile into the category “things you wear.” Have groups work quietly so that their ideas are kept secret. When each group is finished, give each one time to present their categories and their rationale behind each category.

8. Yes, No, Stand Up

The version of the game above is designed specifically to help English-language learners, but it can also be used as a good “get to know you” game for younger kids. Prepare a list of yes or no questions to ask your students. For example, do you like chocolate? Is your favorite color blue? If their answer is yes, the student stands up. If their answer is no, they sit down. Pause between questions to give students time to look around and find students they have answers in common with.

9. Balloon Battle

Happy Mom Hacks/Balloon Games via happymomhacks.com

This fun game teams students up as they try to bat a balloon over each other’s goal line. Divide students into two teams. Each team will have five players on the field at one time. Periodically blow a whistle to have students substitute in so that everyone gets a chance to play. The first team to score 10 points wins. For more fun balloon games check out Happy Mom Hacks .

10. Move On, Look Back

This hopping game will crack your students up. Start with students in a circle with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. When you say “Move on,” students will take one hop forward together. When you say “Look back,” students will take one hop backward together. And when you say “Forever alone” (or any other phrase you’d like, such as “180” or “Turn around”), students will turn 180 degrees and place their hands on the shoulder of the person who was behind them.

11. Birthday Line-Up

Did you know there are team-building activities for kids that can help teach students how to line up? It may take 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the age of your students, so plan accordingly. The objective is to have students line up in order of their birthdays—January 1 through December 31. To do this, they will need to know the order in which the months fall as well as their own birthday. They will also need to talk with one another in order to figure out who goes in front of whom. To make it super challenging, tell them they must do it without speaking at all, only using hand signals. Other ways to line up include by height, alphabetically, or by foot size.

12. The Perfect Square

This activity requires strong verbal communication and cooperation. All you need is a long rope with the ends tied together and something to serve as blindfolds for students, such as bandannas or fabric strips. Have students stand in a circle holding the rope in front of them. Signal them to put their blindfolds on and set the rope on the ground in front of them. Ask students to turn and walk a short distance away from the circle. Assign a partner to any students who may need help. Finally, have everyone come back to the rope and try to form a perfect square with their blindfolds on. Set a time limit to make it more challenging.

13. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag

If you have a large space for kids to do team-building activities, try this one. Divide students into two teams. Before you begin, stake out the boundaries and position a home base at either end for each team. For each round, each team must confer and decide whether they will be rock, paper, or scissors. Have the two teams line up facing each other, and on your signal, have all players flash Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot! The kids on the losing team must run back to their base before they are tagged by one of the kids on the winning team.

14. Flip-the-Tarp Challenge

Looking for creative-thinking team-building games and activities for kids? Divide students into two teams. One team will do the challenge first while the other team watches, then they will switch places. Have all members of the team stand on a flat bedsheet, tarp, or blanket (kids should fill up all but about a quarter of the space). Challenge the team to flip over the sheet/tarp so that they are standing on the other side of the sheet/tarp without stepping off or touching the ground.

15. “Get To Know You” Balloons

Beth Smith/ABC Scavenger Hunt via darlingtonschool.org

Give each student an empty balloon and a slip of paper. Ask them to write a get-to-know-you question on their paper, such as How many brothers and sisters do you have? Do you have any pets? What’s one fun thing you did this summer? Next, have them put their question inside the balloon, blow it up, and tie the end.

When everyone is ready, have them gather on the rug and, on your signal, toss their balloon up in the air. Give them a couple of minutes to bat the balloons around, then call stop . Have each student grab one balloon and come sit in a circle. Go around the circle and, one at a time, have students pop their balloon, read the question inside, and answer the question. This is one of those team-building activities for kids that they will always remember.

And to help your students remember each others’ names, try these 30 Fun Name Games To Try With Your New Class .

16. Hot and Cold

Form groups of three to five students. One person from each group (the finder) steps out of the classroom. The rest of the group picks an object (for instance, the pencil sharpener) in the classroom for the finder to find. When the finder comes back in, they begin walking around the classroom in search of the object. The others guide the finder by saying “hot” or “cold” to lead them in the right direction. If the finder is far away from the object, the group will say “cold.” When the finder gets close, the group will say “hot” until the finder picks the correct object. Variation: Instead of saying “hot” and “cold,” have students applaud softly for cold and applaud vigorously for hot.

17. Marshmallow-and-Toothpick Challenge

Divide students into groups of equal numbers. Pass out an equal number of marshmallows and wooden toothpicks to each group. Challenge the groups to create the tallest, largest, or most creative structure in a set amount of time, each member taking turns doing the actual building. Afterward, have each group describe what they made.

18. Art Reproduction Puzzle

The Teaching Distillery/Puzzles via theteachingdistillery.com

Divide students into groups of six or eight (or larger if you want to make the task more difficult). Provide each team with an image and blank pieces of white card stock, one per team member. First, each team must cut up the image into the same number of pieces as there are group members. Then, each player will take one of the pieces of the image and reproduce it onto their blank piece of card stock with pencils, colored pencils, or markers. (If the team cuts the image into irregularly shaped pieces, each team member must then cut their blank paper into the same shape.) When every team has created the pieces of their puzzle, they will switch pieces with another team. The team will work together to solve the puzzle.

19. Hula-Hoop Pass

This activity helps kids work on listening, coordinating, and strategizing skills. It works best with smaller students. Have your students stand in a big circle. Place a Hula-Hoop on one student’s arm and have them join hands with the student next to them. Ask all the other students to join hands to close up the circle. The objective of the game is to pass the Hula-Hoop all the way around the circle without unclasping hands. Students will have to figure out how to maneuver their bodies all the way through the hoop to pass it on.

20. Bumpity-ump-bump-bump

Playworks/Bumpity Bump Bump via playworks.org

This is a fun name game that requires quick thinking! Students stand in a large circle. One student comes to the middle. That student walks around the inside of the circle, stops in front of one person, and gives them a direction. There are four choices: Left = say the name of the person to the left; right = say the name of the person on the right; it = say the name of the person who is it; or self = say one’s own name. After you give the student the direction, the designated person says “bumpity-ump-bump-bump!” out loud. The student who was given the direction races to say the name of the correct person before the student finishes the phrase. If they can’t, they’re the next person on the inside of the circle.

In this challenging trust-building activity, blindfolded students line up with their hands on each others’ shoulders. A person without a blindfold takes the end position. The object of the activity is for the sighted person to guide the non-sighted students without verbal communication to collect various soft objects scattered on the floor. Once the lead person finds an object, they must deposit it in a bucket. Extra challenge: Students must keep their hands on each others’ shoulders at all times.

22. No-Hands Cup-Stacking Challenge

Nick Cornwell/Stacking Cup Challenge via nickcornwell.weebly.com

If you’re looking for hands-on team-building games and activities that work for groups of kids, try this challenge. It’s an exercise in patience and perseverance, not to mention a total blast! Decide how many students you want in each group and tie that number of strings to a single rubber band, making one for each group. Each person in the group holds on to one of the strings attached to the rubber band, and, as a group, they use this device to pick up the cups (by expanding and contracting the rubber band) and place them on top of each other in order to build a pyramid. See detailed instructions here .

23. Mini Cup-Stacking Challenge

And for younger students, this simplified version of the game allows kids to partner up one-on-one. Using just a few pipe cleaners and a rubber band, each student can take a hold and work together to create a stack.

24. Body Parts

Karl Bastian/Head, Shoulders, Knees, Cup via kidologist.com

Students face off head-to-head in a squat position with a plastic cup on the ground between them. The leader calls out body parts and the players have to move their hands to that spot—head, knees, toes, eyes, nose, etc. But when they say “Cup!” the pair each tries to grab the cup. If they grab it, they remain in the game. The other player is “out” for the rest of the round.

Also, if a student touches the cup when “Cup!” was not called, they are immediately out! So they need to listen carefully as the leader attempts to trick them into lunging toward to the cup.

25. Human Alphabet

Nadine Silverthornes/Alphabet Game via todaysparent.com

If you have a large open space for your team-building games and activities, try this idea. Have students spread out and guide them through a few rounds of forming letters with their bodies. For instance, “Use your body to make a T. … Now make an O!”

Next, call out a simple short word, such as “so” or “dog.” Students will have to team up to form the word, with each student using their body to form one of the letters. Start with two-letter words, then three, then four. If students want more of a challenge, come up with a phrase that will take the whole class to complete.

26. Caterpillar

Divide students into groups of four. Lay out four Hula-Hoops per group and have one student stand in the center of each one to form teams of “caterpillars.” Line all of the teams up at the end of a field or large open space. Set out four or five objects in front of the lines, such as cones, foam blocks, or balls.

The goal of the game is to collect as many objects as possible by moving the caterpillar forward. To move forward, the last player in line steps into the hoop with the player in front of them, picks up their empty hoop, and passes it overhead to the front of the line. The front player then places the hoop on the ground in front of them and steps into it. Every player then shifts forward, moving the caterpillar. Only the front player may pick up objects, but it is the team’s job to carry the collected objects throughout the game. The game ends when there are no more objects on the ground.

27. Shrinking Vessel

For this activity, you will need a few jump ropes. Divide students into groups of six or eight. Have each group make a circle with their jump rope (their “lifeboat”) on the ground so that the ends are touching. Now have all the members of each group get into their lifeboat. This should be easy the first time. Then have all players get out and reduce the size of their circle by one foot. Again, all players need to get into the boat. Repeat this process, making the lifeboat smaller and smaller while you watch your students come up with creative solutions for making sure that everyone fits safely inside their boat.

28. Pretzel, Unpretzel

Susan Box Mann/The Human Knot Game via icebreakerideas.com

This is one of the all-time favorite team-building activities for kids. Divide your class in half and have each group choose one pretzel maker and two unpretzelers. Direct the unpretzelers to turn their backs. Have the rest of the students in each group form a circle and hold hands. Now, have the pretzel maker direct the students (with words only) to twist around, step over, and duck under each others’ arms to form a human pretzel. Once they are sufficiently twisted, call the unpretzelers over and have them try to direct the students (with words only) in order to untangle them. Students cannot drop their hands at any time. The first team that successfully unpretzels their group wins.

29. Zip, Zap, Boing!

This super-lively circle game involves three actions—zip, zap, and boing. Zip directs play in one direction around the circle. Boing reverses the direction of play. And zap passes play to the opposite side of the circle. See the video above for a full demonstration. A couple of rules: Boing cannot be performed when someone passes the signal using zap. And zap cannot be passed to the person standing right next to you.

30. Spiderweb

Heather Lynne/Would You Rather Web at raisingmemories.com

This team-building game will teach your students that even though they may be different in many ways, they are still connected to one another. Gather in a circle, standing or sitting. The game begins when the first person, holding a large ball of twine, tells the group a funny or embarrassing story about themselves.

Once they finish, they hold on to the end of the twine and throw the ball to someone else in the circle. Play continues until the twine has been passed to each person. The end result will produce a “spiderweb” out of the twine, connecting each student to all of the others.

31. Team Tic-Tac-Toe

This fun and active version of the old-fashioned game gets kids revved up about working as a team. Hula-Hoops are placed in the shape of a tic-tac-toe frame. Then students divide into teams and the race begins! One student from each team runs to the frame and drops a bean bag in a spot. They return and tag the next runner, who does the same thing. Play continues until one team achieves a tic-tac-toe!

32. Newspaper Fashion Show

Andrea and Rachel/Newspaper Fashion via mommylessons101.com

This is a great way to incorporate upcycling into your team-building games and activities. Divide students into groups of five or six, then give them a stack of newspapers, tape, and scissors. Set a timer and ask them to create the most fashionable outfit using only the supplies given. When time is up, have each group designate a model for the outfit, and have the group share information about the outfit. Once everyone shares, put on some rocking music and have a mini fashion show.

33. Back-to-Back Drawing

https://youtu.be/EqsL64uk1Q4

Need team-building games and activities that build communication skills? Ask students to pair up and sit back-to-back with their partner. Give one student a blank piece of paper and a pen or a marker. Give the other student a piece of paper with a simple drawing on it. The kid who receives the illustration will verbally describe the drawing to their partner. The other kid must draw the illustration by listening to the verbal instructions alone.

34. Changing Tableau

Ask for five or six volunteers to come up to the front of the class. Divide the rest of the students into two teams and have them sit together. Have the students up front arrange themselves into a tableau. Give the two teams a short time to observe the tableau, trying to memorize their physical arrangement.

After a couple of minutes, ask every person on both teams to face away from the team up front. The tableau team will decide on one thing to change about the tableau. When they are rearranged, the teams can turn around and try to figure out what changed. The first team to spot the difference gets a point. Continue play until one team receives 10 points.

35. Straw Challenge

Georgia Teen Institute/Straw Challenge via https://guidegti.wordpress.com

If you’re looking for team-building games and activities for kids that require coordination and cooperation, try this one. Have your students form a large circle and give each one a plastic straw. The objective of the challenge is to balance each straw between one person’s right pointer finger with the left pointer finger of the person next to them. Try making some movements such as rotating the circle to the left or right, raising one foot, etc. The challenge is to keep the connection of straws intact.

36. Group Juggle

Have students circle up and make sure you have a supply of small plastic balls at the ready. Start by tossing one ball from person to person in the circle. After a minute, add in another ball. Instruct students to mindfully toss the ball, avoiding a collision. After another minute, add in another ball. Continue adding balls each minute to see how many balls your students can successfully juggle.

37. Hula-Hoop Ring Toss

Team members take turns tossing a Hula-Hoop over colored cones. Each color has a different point value. This game also incorporates math practice when adding your team’s score.

38. Great Chain Race

Jennifer/Paper Chain STEM Challenge via themathchick.net

For this team-building activity, students split up into groups of three or four. Each group gets one sheet of paper (a different color for each group), one pair of scissors, and one glue stick. The teams then cut their paper to make a paper chain that’s as long as possible—they might choose to make many skinny rings or cut up small rings to get as many rings from their paper as possible. In the end, lay out the paper chains the kids created and see whose is the longest.

39. Team Pen

Working together, students try to create a drawing. Attach strings to a marker, however many you’d like. Have students each take one end and gather around a table. Together, they will need to communicate in order to manipulate the pen and draw the required image.

40. Knee Relay

This raucous activity will have your students rolling on the floor with laughter. Using only their knees, players must take turns picking up oranges one at a time from the ground and transfer them to a hoop across the room. The team to transfer the most oranges in 60 seconds wins. Plus, you’ll have a juicy snack for everyone when you’re done.

41. Human Caterpillar Activity

Students will work together to move a circle made of newspapers across the room. Before you begin, use strong tape to connect the sections of newspaper into a loop. To begin, students will step inside and move their feet and hands to help move the loop in the direction of the finish line, as shown in the video. The challenge is keeping pace with the students in front of them. The first team that is able to navigate their caterpillar to the finish line first is the winner.

42. Blind Minefield

Looking for obstacle course team-building activities for kids? This fun and challenging activity requires communication, listening skills, and trust. Students will navigate through an obstacle course while blindfolded with the help of a partner who will call out directions. If the blindfolded student touches any of the objects in the minefield, their turn is over and another pair gives it a try. The team with the most players to make it through without touching any hazards wins.

43. Paper Tower

Using creative problem-solving skills, each team of students must build the tallest tower possible with 20 sheets of plain computer paper. The tower must be stable enough to be measured. This activity is not only a great team-building activity, it’s a lot of fun!

Do you have favorite go-to team-building activities for kids? Come share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

For more great ideas, check out  45 of the best cooperative games to promote camaraderie and healthy competition ..

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Home » Blog » General » Solve It: A Problem-Solving Game for Middle School Students

Solve It: A Problem-Solving Game for Middle School Students

Welcome to Solve It, a game where we solve problems by going through them step by step. At each step, we’ll talk about the problem, and how we can solve it. The steps we’ll go through are: Identify the problem – what’s wrong? Figure out how big the problem is. Think of possible solutions to the problem. Pick a solution. Try that solution and then reassess it. How did it work? If our solution works, our problem is solved! If our solution doesn’t work, we can try again. Problem solving is a process. We won’t always go straight to the solution. This video is all about problems we might have in our day to day lives. Whenever we see this icon in the corner, we can stop and talk about how everyone is feeling. Let’s get started!

Introduction

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is a crucial aspect of education that helps students develop essential life skills, such as problem-solving, empathy, and effective communication. In this blog post, we introduce an engaging activity called “Solve It,” designed to help middle school students improve their problem-solving abilities. This game encourages students to think critically, collaborate with their peers, and reflect on their emotions while navigating everyday challenges.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s a simple, no-prep activity you can use in your classroom to help students practice problem-solving skills:

• Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.
• Present a common, age-appropriate problem to the class. For example: “Your group has a big project due next week, but one of your teammates is not contributing. How will you handle this situation?”
• Give each group a few minutes to discuss the problem and come up with a step-by-step solution using the Solve It process.
• Have each group present their solution to the class, explaining their reasoning for each step.
• Encourage the class to provide feedback and alternative solutions to the presented problem.

This activity not only helps students practice problem-solving skills but also promotes teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to encourage further discussion and reflection on problem-solving skills:

• Why is it important to identify the problem before trying to solve it?
• How can understanding the size of a problem help you find the best solution?
• Why is it important to consider multiple solutions before choosing one?
• How can working with others help improve your problem-solving abilities?
• What is an example of a problem you faced recently, and how did you solve it using the Solve It process?

Related Skills

Problem-solving is just one of the many skills that students can develop through Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills include:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Active listening: Paying full attention to the speaker, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements and finding solutions that satisfy all parties involved.
• Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and adversity.

If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help your students develop valuable Social-Emotional Learning skills, consider signing up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources can provide you with additional tools to support your students’ growth and success in and outside the classroom.

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Small Group Math Activities

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• Math Stations

Discover small group math activities that promote student engagement and foster a love for math. This blog post explores 10 activities, including math games, hands-on manipulatives, real-world investigations, technology tools, problem solving activities, and more to help you transform your math stations into a dynamic learning environment.

I have a secret confession to make. 

Teaching reading has never been my cup of tea. 

Don’t get me wrong, I adore immersing my students in captivating books and opening their minds to new worlds. 

But when it comes to reading workshop, let’s just say it didn’t exactly light a fire in my soul. 

The never-ending cycle of reading from the textbook series and completing author’s purpose, inference, and comprehension worksheets felt mundane and, dare I say it, a bit dull. #yawn 🥱 

Despite my best efforts, I struggled to make it truly exciting. 

So, when the opportunity to introduce math workshop came knocking, I must admit, I wasn’t exactly jumping for joy.

It’s All About Engagement

Math stations are a powerful tool for promoting student engagement and deepening our students’ mathematical understanding. 

By incorporating engaging activities into your math station rotations, you can create a dynamic learning environment that sparks excitement and curiosity in your students. 

In this blog post, we will explore 10 engaging small group math activities that will captivate your students and inspire them to develop a love for math.

10 Small Group Math Activities for Any Math Station Rotation

Activity 1: Math Games Galore

Math games are a fantastic way to make learning fun and interactive. These small group math activities provide opportunities for students to practice math skills while communicating mathematically with their peers. Here are a few examples of card and dice games that can be incorporated into your math station rotations:

• War Games: This classic math game requires only a deck of cards. Partners each turn over a card and use their math skills to compare the numbers, such as whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or even simple expressions. The player with the higher value wins the round. Players continue playing until no cards are remaining. 
• Cover-Up Games: This simple board game requires two dice. In turn, each student rolls the dice and completes the problem associated with the dice sum. Then, they cover the solution with a marker in a grid trying to get four in a row, column, or diagonal. 
• Traditional Board Games: Pair a set of task cards with a traditional board game to create this math station activity. After correctly answering a question, students can roll a die or toss a coin to move along the path.

Activity 2: Hands-On Manipulatives

Hands-on manipulatives bring abstract math concepts to life, making them more concrete and tangible. These activities provide students with a visual and kinesthetic experience, enhancing their understanding of mathematical concepts. Consider incorporating the following manipulative-based activities into your math stations:

• Pattern Block Puzzles: Provide students with pattern blocks and challenge them to create different shapes and designs, exploring concepts like symmetry, fractions, and geometry.
• Base Ten Blocks: Use base ten blocks to reinforce place value concepts. Students can build and represent numbers and explore operations with whole numbers and decimals.
• Data Analysis with Spinners: Use spinners with different sections labeled with numbers or categories. Students spin the spinner multiple times, record the results, and represent the data they collected by creating a frequency table, bar graph, or dot plot.

Want to use math manipulatives but need more resources? Try virtual manipulatives !

Activity 3: Puzzle Power

Puzzles are not only engaging but also promote critical thinking and problem solving skills. They challenge students to think creatively and persevere through complex tasks. Here are a few puzzle-based activities to include in your math stations:

• Number Crossword: Create a crossword puzzle where students respond to math-related clues and fill in the corresponding numbers in the grid.
• Logic Grids: Challenge students with logic puzzles that require them to use deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills to solve.
• Sudoku: Provide students with Sudoku puzzles focusing on numbers, shapes, or mathematical operations, encouraging them to apply logical reasoning to complete the puzzles.

Activity 4: Real-World Math Investigations

Real-world math investigations allow students to apply their mathematical knowledge and skills to authentic situations. These activities promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and the ability to connect math and the real world. Consider the following examples for your math station rotations:

• Recipe Conversions: Provide students with recipes that need to be converted to serve a different number of people. Students must adjust ingredient quantities using proportional reasoning and fractions.
• Budgeting and Shopping: Give students a budget and a list of items with prices, such as a local grocery ad or restaurant menu. They must plan a shopping trip, choose items based on their budget, and calculate the total cost.
• Measurement Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of objects in the classroom or nearby hallway students need to measure using various units of measurement. Students will use rulers, measuring tapes, or scales to gather the data and record their measurements.

Activity 5: Technology Tools

Incorporating technology into math stations can engage students and provide interactive learning experiences. Consider utilizing the following online resources and educational apps:

• Online Math Games and Activities: Websites such as IXL Learning, Prodigy, and Math Playground provide opportunities to gamify the learning experience. Students can earn points and virtual rewards while building math skills. 
• Digital Activities: Activities designed for Google Classroom and Seesaw provide engaging opportunities for students to use digital tools to review math concepts and skills .
• Digital Task Cards: Take task cards to the next level with digital task cards . Task cards created for use at Boom Learning or even with Google Forms can increase student engagement while students practice essential math skills.

Activity 6: Ready-Made Math Activities

In addition to creating your small group math activities, incorporating ready-made resources can provide a valuable and time-saving option for engaging your students. These pre-made activities offer an interactive and hands-on way to reinforce math skills and concepts. 

• Electronic Flashcard Games: Electronic flashcard games provide an exciting and interactive way for students to practice and reinforce math facts. These games often offer various difficulty levels and customizable options to cater to students’ needs. Math Whiz and Math Shark are two of my favorites!
• VersaTiles: VersaTiles is a hands-on, puzzle-inspired activity with an interactive workbook system designed to reinforce math skills. Students use a unique answer case and answer tiles to complete activities and self-check their answers. It’s a favorite of my elementary and middle school students alike!
• Marcy Cook Tiling Tasks: Marcy Cook Tiling Tasks are critical thinking activities that require students to use a set of tiles labeled 0-9 to complete math puzzles. These tasks promote problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and mathematical thinking. Students arrange the tiles to fill in the blanks and create equations and solutions that satisfy the given conditions. 

Activity 7: Math Task Cards

Math task cards offer various practice opportunities and allow students to work independently. They are also easy to make and readily available on teacher marketplaces across the web. Here are some examples of task card activities: 

• Showdown: Partners select one card and complete it individually. Then, students “showdown” and share their responses using math talk and supporting each other as necessary. 
• Math Game: Pair a set of task cards with a game board to gamify the learning experience! Students place their game markers at the start line. To move down the path, students must correctly respond to a task card, toss a die (or flip a coin), and move the number of spaces indicated on the die or based on the side of the coin visible after the coin toss (heads = 2 spaces, tails = one space).
• Cover Up: To create a Cover Up game, program a 4 x 4 grid with the solutions to a set of task cards. Then, when students respond correctly, they can cover the answer with a board marker, such as centimeter cubes, color tiles, Bingo chips, or beans. The goal is to get four markers in a row, column, or diagonal. Note: This activity works best with multiple-choice questions, true or false questions, or questions with numerical answers.  

Activity 8: Math Picture Books

Integrating math and literature activities enhances students’ mathematical understanding and develops their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical skills. Consider incorporating the following math and literacy activities into your math stations:

• Math Investigations: Use the storyline in a book to practice a skill. For example, use the Pigs Will Be Pigs book by Amy Axelrod to practice adding and subtracting decimals as the pigs find money hidden around their home and then spend it at a restaurant. 
• Story-based Problems: Use the book as a springboard to reinforce a specific skill. Either re-create scenarios from the book or create new problems based on the problems the characters faced in the story such as comparing the amounts in two different groups after reading Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream by Cindy Neuschwander.
• Famous Mathematicians Book Study: Create a set of questions to help students learn more about famous mathematicians, such as Katherine Johnson , and provide students with access to a physical or digital biography to read and use to respond to the questions.

Activity 9: Calculator Challenges

Incorporating calculator challenges into your math stations can allow upper elementary students to deepen their understanding of math concepts while developing their computational skills. Calculator activities engage students in hands-on exploration, problem-solving, and critical thinking while building their technology proficiency skillset. 

These activities encourage students to use calculators to investigate, solve problems, and make connections. Consider incorporating the following calculator challenges into your math stations:

• The Broken Calculator Challenge: In this challenge, students are shown an image of a calculator with only three or four working buttons. Students then determine how to use the remaining keys on the broken calculator to create specific values, such as using +, x, 2, and 3 to achieve a value of 8.
• Calculator Corrections: This task requires students to determine how to correct a calculator mistake without clearing the calculator. Using the calculator, students determine how to fix a mistake, check the answer, and make adjustments as necessary. After completing the task, students can justify the changes they made. For example, Brandi wanted to enter the number 4265 into her calculator. By mistake, she typed 4165. Without clearing her calculator, how can she fix her mistake? 
• Target Number: For this task, students represent place value in numbers, determine what number to add or subtract to reach the target number, and use the calculator to check their process. For example, students are given the following directions: Start with 7,254. Find a number to subtract that will result in a 0 in the hundreds column.

Activity 10: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential life skills for students to develop. Engage your students in meaningful and challenging math experiences by incorporating problem solving and critical thinking activities into your small group math activities. Click here for a list of problem solving activities ; that encourage students to think critically, analyze situations, and apply their mathematical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

A Shift in Thinking

While I never found a way to make reading workshop exciting, math workshop was my students’ favorite part of the day. 

Integrating various small group math activities into the rotation was the key to keeping students engaged in learning and wanting more. 

If you’re new to math stations, the best way to get started is to choose 1-2 new activities to implement. Consider adding another activity after students are comfortable with the previous activities and staying engaged with minimal support.

Adding new small group math activities gradually will help maintain order during the rotation and save your sanity! If you’d like more tips and tools for managing math stations, download the Math Station Management Toolbox using the form at the bottom of this post. 

Math station rotation boards are an excellent organizational tool for implementing the small group math activities above. This visual display helps students understand the structure of the math station rotation and enhances their independence and accountability. 

The small group math activities shared above can be assigned to specific stations on the rotation board. Then, teachers can use the math station rotation board to effectively monitor student progress as they rotate through various math stations. 

Experiment with these small group math activities and adapt them to meet the needs and interests of your students, ensuring math station time is an exciting and transformative experience for all.

What are your favorite small group math activities? Respond in the comments below. 

Shametria Routt Banks

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21 Team Building Activities for Middle School

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As a middle school teacher, you may think that team building activities for your students can take up a lot of time and may not be effective. However, incorporating these activities into your curriculum can greatly impact your students’ social and emotional development.

By promoting teamwork and cooperation, these activities can create a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

So, if you want to improve your students’ interpersonal skills and foster a stronger sense of community, continue reading to discover 21 engaging and educational team building activities for middle school.

Effective team building activities for middle school students

As a middle school teacher, I’ve found that team building activities are important for creating a positive and collaborative classroom environment.

Icebreaker Games

Icebreaker games are effective for building teamwork among middle school students. These activities, also known as getting to know you games, are designed to break the ice and create a sense of camaraderie among students. Icebreaker games serve as team bonding exercises and help foster a positive classroom environment. These group icebreakers encourage students to interact, communicate, and collaborate with one another.

One popular icebreaker game is the Human Knot. In this activity, students stand in a circle and reach out to hold hands with two different people across the circle. Working together, they must untangle themselves without releasing their hands. This game requires students to problem-solve, communicate, and rely on each other’s cooperation.

Another fun icebreaker game is Two Truths and a Lie. Each student takes turns sharing two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The rest of the group then tries to guess which statement is the lie, encouraging active listening and getting to know each other on a deeper level.

Icebreaker games are a great way to promote teamwork, build trust, and create a positive learning environment for middle school students.

Trust-Building Exercises

Building trust among middle school students is crucial for fostering collaboration and a positive environment. Trust-building activities play a vital role in creating connections and relationships.

One highly recommended activity is the Trust Walk. In this exercise, students are paired up, with one student blindfolded and the other guiding them. The blindfolded student must trust their partner to navigate safely through an obstacle course. This activity promotes trust, communication, teamwork, and empathy.

Another effective trust exercise is the Trust Fall, where students take turns falling backward and trusting their classmates to catch them. These activities encourage cooperation, respect, and reliance, fostering a supportive atmosphere within the group.

Trust-building exercises are essential for middle school students. These activities help students build relationships and connections, creating a positive and inclusive environment.

One recommended activity is the Trust Walk. In this exercise, students are paired up, with one student blindfolded and the other acting as their guide. The blindfolded student must trust their partner to navigate through an obstacle course or around the school safely. This activity builds trust, communication, teamwork, and empathy.

Another effective trust exercise is the Trust Fall, where students take turns falling backward and trusting their classmates to catch them. These activities promote cooperation, respect, and reliance on one another, fostering an atmosphere of trust and support within the group.

Communication Activities

Middle school students need to enhance their communication skills through team building activities. These exercises help students improve their listening skills, understand nonverbal communication, and become better public speakers.

By participating in these activities, students can express their thoughts and ideas clearly and confidently. Conflict resolution is also an important aspect of communication, and team building activities provide opportunities for students to practice resolving conflicts respectfully.

Developing strong communication skills at this stage will benefit students in their personal and professional lives.

Problem-Solving Challenges

To develop problem-solving skills in middle school students, it’s crucial to engage them in team-building activities that promote critical thinking and collaboration. Problem-solving games and challenges that require critical thinking are excellent tools for fostering these skills while also encouraging teamwork and communication. Incorporating logic puzzles, problem-solving activities, and exercises into these challenges creates a fun and interactive learning experience. By working together to solve complex problems, students not only enhance their problem-solving abilities but also gain an understanding of the importance of cooperation and effective communication.

These activities can be designed to address real-life situations or hypothetical scenarios, allowing students to apply their critical thinking skills in practical and meaningful ways. Through these problem-solving challenges, students can develop the confidence and skills necessary to overcome obstacles and find innovative solutions.

Here are some examples of problem-solving games and critical thinking challenges:

• Escape rooms
• Mystery-solving
• Puzzle-solving
• Team scavenger hunts
• Code-breaking games

These activities provide opportunities for students to engage in analytical thinking tasks and lateral thinking exercises. By avoiding overused phrases and simplifying language, we can create a clear and straightforward explanation of the benefits of problem-solving challenges for middle school students.

Collaboration Projects

Continuing our exploration of team-building activities for middle school students, let’s now focus on collaboration projects.

These projects provide an opportunity for students to work together towards a common goal, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie. Collaboration exercises encourage problem-solving tasks, allowing students to tackle challenges collectively and develop effective leadership skills.

Through these projects, students also face communication challenges, learning to listen to others’ ideas, express their own thoughts, and find common ground. Creative brainstorming is a key component of collaboration projects, as students come up with innovative solutions and explore different perspectives.

Leadership Development Tasks

Developing leadership skills in middle school students can be achieved through engaging them in various tasks that promote leadership growth. Here are three activities that can help students build their leadership skills:

• Engaging in Community Service Projects : Encouraging students to participate in community service not only benefits others but also teaches them important leadership skills. By organizing and leading a community service project, students learn how to motivate and inspire others to work towards a common goal.
• Participating in Team Building Exercises : Team building activities provide opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills by taking charge of a group and guiding them through challenges. These exercises help students practice communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, which are essential for effective leadership.
• Attending Leadership Workshops : Leadership workshops offer structured training sessions where students can learn different aspects of leadership, such as goal setting, effective communication, and conflict resolution. These workshops provide students with valuable insights and strategies to enhance their leadership abilities.

Conflict Resolution Strategies

Engaging middle school students in conflict resolution strategies can help them develop essential leadership skills. Teaching mediation techniques and conflict resolution skills allows students to learn problem-solving strategies and effective communication.

By practicing these skills in a safe and supportive environment, students can build empathy and understanding towards others, fostering a sense of unity within the team. One activity that promotes conflict resolution is a role-playing exercise where students act out different scenarios and work together to find peaceful resolutions.

Another activity is a group discussion where students take turns sharing their perspectives and actively listening to others. These activities provide opportunities for students to practice effective communication, learn problem-solving techniques, and develop the skills necessary for resolving conflicts peacefully.

Teamwork Simulations

After teaching conflict resolution strategies, it’s important to apply these skills in team building activities for middle school students, such as teamwork simulations. Teamwork exercises allow students to work together and practice problem-solving simulations in a controlled environment. These activities provide an opportunity for leadership development and allow students to take on different roles within the team.

Through conflict resolution strategies, students learn to communicate effectively and find creative solutions to challenges. Leadership development activities help students build confidence and learn to lead with empathy and understanding.

Creative Brainstorming Sessions

Middle school students can participate in creative brainstorming sessions to enhance their creativity and foster collaboration. These sessions are designed to promote innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective brainstorming techniques.

By using strategies to generate ideas and engaging in collaborative brainstorming, students can learn to think creatively and develop unique solutions to challenges. During these sessions, students are encouraged to freely share their ideas and build upon each other’s thoughts, fostering teamwork and teaching the importance of listening and valuing different perspectives.

Creative brainstorming sessions not only help students develop their creative thinking skills but also empower them to work together towards a common goal, making them valuable team-building activities for middle school students.

Outdoor Adventure Activities

Middle school students can enhance their teamwork and problem-solving abilities through outdoor adventure activities. These activities allow students to explore nature while also developing a sense of responsibility and empathy towards others.

Here are three key outdoor adventure activities that can help middle school students build their teamwork skills:

• Adventure Races : Students work together, communicate effectively, and support each other while navigating challenging terrains and obstacles in friendly competition.
• Nature Exploration : Encouraging students to explore their surroundings and learn about the natural world inspires teamwork as they collaborate to identify and understand different plants, animals, and ecosystems.
• Wilderness Challenges : Engaging in outdoor survival skills like building shelters or starting fires pushes students out of their comfort zones. They learn the importance of teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience in challenging situations.

Sports and Games

Engaging in sports and games promotes teamwork and camaraderie among middle school students.

Fitness challenges, recreational tournaments, active team games, sporting events, and physical skill-building activities are all excellent ways to encourage collaboration and inspire students to work together towards a common goal.

Fitness challenges like relay races or obstacle courses improve physical health while enhancing communication and cooperation.

Recreational tournaments, such as soccer or basketball, offer opportunities for students to strategize and coordinate their efforts.

Active team games like capture the flag or dodgeball foster a supportive and interdependent environment among students.

Sporting events, whether cheering on the school team or participating in inter-school competitions, create a sense of unity and school spirit.

Artistic Group Projects

Middle school students can engage in artistic group projects to enhance their teamwork skills.

Group painting sessions allow students to express their creativity while collaborating towards a shared objective.

Collaborative sculpture projects teach students the value of communication and compromise as they combine their ideas into a unified piece of art.

Creative writing projects encourage students to work together on storytelling, fostering teamwork and imagination.

Musical performances and theater productions require coordination, cooperation, and support from students.

These artistic endeavors not only promote creativity and self-expression but also foster a sense of unity and collaboration among students.

Technology-Based Team Challenges

During my time in middle school, I had the opportunity to participate in some fantastic technology-based team challenges. These activities involved virtual teamwork and online exercises aimed at enhancing our collaboration skills while also providing an enjoyable experience.

One particular digital team challenge that stood out to me was a remote collaboration game where we worked together to solve puzzles using an online platform. It was truly thrilling to collaborate with my classmates, even though we weren’t physically in the same room.

These technology-based challenges played a crucial role in teaching us effective communication through digital tools and how to overcome obstacles as a team. This experience was invaluable in preparing us for the digital world we live in today.

I strongly believe that incorporating more of these remote collaboration games into middle school curricula would greatly enhance students’ ability to work as a team and adapt to technology-based challenges.

Role-Playing Scenarios

Middle school students can benefit from engaging activities like role-playing scenarios. These scenarios provide an interactive and immersive way for students to develop important skills while serving others.

Here are three reasons why role-playing scenarios are valuable team building activities for middle school students:

• Problem solving scenarios : Role-playing allows students to encounter different challenges and work together to find solutions. They learn to think critically and creatively, developing their problem-solving skills.
• Character development : Through role-playing, students can step into the shoes of different characters, building empathy and understanding for others. They learn to appreciate diverse perspectives and develop a sense of compassion.
• Conflict resolution : Role-playing scenarios often involve conflicts that students must navigate and resolve. They learn effective communication skills, compromise, and negotiation, fostering conflict resolution abilities.

Community Service Initiatives

Engaging in community service initiatives is a great way for middle school students to work together and make a positive impact in their community.

By volunteering and getting involved in their community, students not only learn the importance of giving back but also develop a sense of social responsibility.

These activities give students the opportunity to collaborate and work towards a common goal, improving their teamwork and collaboration skills.

Additionally, participating in community service initiatives allows students to see firsthand the difference they can make in others’ lives, empowering and inspiring them to continue making a positive impact.

Through community service, middle school students can develop empathy, compassion, and a deep understanding of the needs of others, becoming well-rounded individuals dedicated to making the world a better place.

Cultural Appreciation Exercises

Cultural appreciation exercises can be a fun and educational way for middle school students to build teamwork and understanding. They help students develop cultural immersion and diversity appreciation skills while fostering cross-cultural communication. These activities promote global awareness and intercultural understanding, which are essential in today’s interconnected world.

Here are three examples of cultural appreciation exercises for middle school students:

• Cultural Exchange Fair : Organize a fair where students can showcase and learn about different cultures. Each student can represent a specific country or culture, sharing traditional food, music, and customs. This exercise encourages students to embrace diversity and appreciate other cultures.
• Language Exchange Program : Pair up students who speak different languages and have them teach each other basic phrases and greetings. This activity promotes language learning, cultural exchange, and understanding.
• Cultural Art Projects : Assign students to create art pieces inspired by different cultures. They can research and incorporate elements from various artistic traditions, promoting creativity and appreciation for diverse artistic expressions.

Group Reflection Activities

Group reflection activities can help middle school students improve their teamwork skills and create a sense of camaraderie. These activities give students the chance to assess themselves and grow personally.

Journaling prompts can encourage students to reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement, while discussion prompts can facilitate open conversations about team dynamics and collaboration.

By participating in these activities, students can better understand their roles in the team and appreciate different perspectives. These activities also promote empathy and encourage students to listen and support each other.

Decision-Making Exercises

Promoting teamwork and critical thinking skills in middle school students can be effectively done through decision-making exercises. These activities provide problem-solving scenarios and ethical dilemmas that encourage students to think critically and make decisions as a team. Here are three examples of decision-making exercises that can be used in middle school classrooms:

• Ethical Dilemma Discussions : Present students with real-life scenarios that require them to make difficult ethical decisions. Encourage them to analyze the situation from different perspectives and discuss the potential consequences of their decisions.
• Decision-Making Simulations : Create simulations where students are faced with challenging decisions and must work together to come up with the best solution. For example, they could plan a field trip on a limited budget or solve a community problem.
• Analytical Exercises : Provide students with complex problems that require critical thinking and analysis. Ask them to evaluate different options, weigh the pros and cons, and justify their decisions based on evidence and reasoning.

Time Management Tasks

Middle school students can enhance their decision-making skills by participating in engaging time management tasks. Time management is essential for students as it helps them stay organized, reduce stress, and improve productivity. Here are some effective techniques and strategies that can be incorporated into team building activities for middle school students:

• Create a to-do list: Make a list of tasks that need to be completed.
• Break tasks into smaller manageable chunks: Divide larger tasks into smaller, more manageable parts.
• Use a planner or digital calendar: Utilize a planner or digital calendar to keep track of deadlines and appointments.

In addition to these techniques, students can also learn task scheduling tips, time tracking methods, and effective deadline setting. By integrating these time management skills into team building activities, students will develop valuable life skills that will benefit them academically and personally.

Goal-Setting Workshops

Goal-setting workshops are a great way to promote collaboration and personal growth among middle school students. These workshops equip students with the necessary tools and strategies to set goals, plan effectively, and track their progress towards achieving their targets. Here are three key components that make goal-setting workshops impactful:

• Goal Setting Strategies : Students learn different techniques for setting SMART goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. They’re encouraged to think about their aspirations and break them down into smaller, manageable steps.
• Effective Planning : Middle school students are taught the importance of creating action plans and timelines to ensure they stay on track. They learn how to prioritize tasks, manage their time, and overcome any obstacles that may arise.
• Tracking Progress : Regular check-ins and reflection sessions allow students to monitor their progress and make any necessary adjustments. They develop the habit of self-assessment and learn to celebrate their achievements, regardless of how small they may be.

Celebrating Team Achievements

To promote a sense of camaraderie and recognition, middle school students can participate in team building activities that celebrate their collective accomplishments. It’s important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of each team member, as well as the success of the group as a whole.

One way to achieve this is by organizing a team celebration or party, where students can come together to reflect on their achievements and share their stories of success as a team. Additionally, individuals who’ve made significant contributions to the group’s accomplishments can be recognized with awards. This not only boosts morale but also encourages students to continue collaborating towards common goals.

Celebrating team achievements is a meaningful way to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of each individual, while fostering a strong sense of unity within the team.

Middle school students can benefit greatly from participating in these 21 team building activities. Not only will they form strong relationships with their peers, but they’ll also enhance their communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

Collaborating towards common goals will foster trust and create a supportive environment, promoting a sense of belonging and unity among students.

These experiences will have a lasting impact on their personal and academic growth, preparing them for future challenges.

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10 Best Problem Solving Activities For Middle School

Published on april 24, 2017 at 8:43 am by amber hewitt in lists , news.

If you’re a teacher or a parent looking to engage young students in a more interesting way, you might like this list of the best problem solving activities for middle school .

I wonder if middle schoolers could solve my life problems. Can they file my taxes or pay my rent? Those are some real problems that I have and I think they could be somewhat fun activities for middle schoolers. It’s interesting how problem-solving scenarios change as we age because I genuinely can’t identify with the struggle of theoretical problems involving trains or the alphabet, but I’m sure I enjoyed them when I was younger. I think my friends and I really used to love finding these things and solving them together, which is kind of a cute group activity.

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Problem solving is a great way to strengthen and train the brain for more difficult things as we age. They teach you teamwork, logic, and skill, which are all extremely important for developing minds. Even into adulthood you should continue solving theoretical problems like these because they’ll keep your brain strong and focused so your other issues like “how late can I sleep while still getting to work on time?” or “how much money will I have in my bank account if I order dinner every single night this week?” Those are obviously much more challenging than the fun problem-solving activities for preschoolers , or even this list with activities for kids in middle school.

In order to create this list, we used Concordia University and IceBreaker as some primary sources. We took the suggestions that were the highest ranked on both sources and averaged their rankings. If they were on both lists, they’re at a higher position on ours. Overall, each of these activities is well suited for middle school-aged children who need a little mental exercise.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best problem solving activities for middle school.

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Career Readiness | Middle School | Critical Thinking

Problem Solving Lesson Plans Your Middle School Students Will Love

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July 11th, 2022 | 5 min. read

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Need resources for teaching problem solving in your middle school career readiness classes?

As a career readiness curriculum developer, middle school teachers often ask if we have resources to help teach problem solving.

While our digital curriculum includes content on critical thinking, decision making, and other 21st Century skills, our solution may not be the best fit for everyone.

Our Middle School Digital Literacy & Career Exploration curriculum is designed to teach dozens of skills such as professionalism, communication, digital literacy, and more.

However, some teachers are only looking for supplemental problem solving lessons and activities to add to their existing curriculum.

To help you teach these skills, we've found four popular providers of problem solving lessons and activities for middle school:

• TeacherVision
• Ed Creative

All of these resources have both pros and cons, so looking at each one individually is key when planning your problem solving lessons!

1. TeacherVision's Problem Solving Lesson

TeacherVision is a digital resource that offers free online lesson plans, including a problem solving lesson.

This problem solving lesson has two key objectives:

• Students will be introduced to a problem-solving procedure
• Students will participate in a structured practice of resolving conflict

Along with the lesson objectives, you'll find the materials list and the procedure for completing the lesson.

That makes TeacherVision a robust resource with an easy-to-follow lesson plan for introducing students to problem solving .

On the downside, the lesson is listed as appropriate for students between first and eighth grade.

That means you may want to bulk it up a bit in order to really be relevant and engaging to your middle school students .

2. Ed Creative's Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Lesson Plans

Ed Creative is a subdivision of Education.com that collects lesson plans from other online resources.

That makes Ed Creative one of the best lesson plan databases online.

It includes a variety of lesson plans and activities to teach creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

Many of these lessons are intended for children up to eighth grade. That means you'll likely find resources that fit perfectly in your middle school classes.

In addition, some lessons overlap with other subjects you may need to teach in your career readiness classes . For example, one resource is entitled Thinking Critically About Advertising and would tie in well with lessons on media literacy .

The lesson encourages students to consider behind-the-scenes angles when presented with ads, encouraging them to think critically and logically about why the ad is what it is.

Still, these resources are a little disorganized which means it will take you time to review each option and decide if it's a good fit.

3. BrainPOP's Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Activities

BrainPOP is an educational resource provider with many teaching resources for every grade level.

In this case, their critical thinking and problem solving lesson plan is intended for any sixth to 12th grade student.

In this lesson, students will:

• Apply critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills to online gameplay and writing tasks
• Analyze situations from multiple perspectives and viewpoints
• Distinguish between facts, opinions, and solutions
• Demonstrate 21st Century skills such as global awareness, information literacy, communication, and collaboration

BrainPOP lays out the procedure, materials, and everything else you’ll need for the lesson — even time approximations!

That thorough approach to detail makes it easier to plan different tasks you’ll carry out throughout the lesson each day.

Even if the lesson takes a full week, you can still plan appropriately and stay on task.

Unfortunately, BrainPOP doesn’t have many downloadable resources you can print and use in the classroom.

4. TEDEd's Resources for Teaching Problem Solving Skills

TEDEd is an active advocate of education and learning materials. That’s why they have an enormous section of their website dedicated to problem solving skills .

In this section, you’ll find videos and interactive tasks that walk students through riddles, problems, and complications to find desirable results.

Every riddle and problem has an answer, so you don’t have to worry about figuring it out yourself. Even better, you can be sure there’s a practical solution to every issue.

Best of all, you leave students with the freedom to innovate their own solutions, potentially creating a new solution that a riddle maker hadn’t considered.

The varying complexity and length of these lessons make them ideal for various grade levels. However, you can choose to filter specifically for middle school.

On the downside, these aren’t literal “lesson plans.” TEDEd provides many resources, but they’re not contextualized for a classroom.

Instead, you’ll have to build your lessons around these resources to get the best results.

This makes TEDEd an excellent catchall whenever you need problem solving materials.

You’ll just have to do a little extra work to make it classroom ready.

Which Problem Solving Lessons Are Best?

Overall, there isn't a simple "best" option for teaching problem solving in middle school. It all depends on the needs of you, your course, and your students.

Each resource we've shared could be a great addition to your career readiness curriculum.

However, if you need a curriculum that includes problem solving skills among other career readiness topics, consider looking into iCEV’s career readiness and digital literacy curriculum.

Thousands of teachers like you use the curriculum to teach career exploration , personal financial literacy , communication skills and more.

Overall, it helps you save time with planning, assessing, and grading student work all while maximizing student understanding and information retention.

Wondering if iCEV could work for your middle school classroom? Check out our Middle School digital Literacy & Career Exploration curriculum :

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20 Critical Thinking Activities for Middle Schoolers

• Middle School Education

Introduction:

  Critical thinking is vital for middle school students, as it helps them develop problem-solving skills, make informed decisions, and understand different perspectives. Integrating critical thinking activities into classroom learning experiences can greatly enhance students’ cognitive abilities. The following are 20 engaging critical thinking activities designed for middle school students.

1. Brain Teasers: Use age-appropriate puzzles to challenge students’ cognitive abilities and encourage them to find creative solutions.

2. Socratic Circles: Divide the class into groups and encourage them to participate in a philosophical discussion on a given topic, asking questions that stimulate critical thinking and deeper understanding.

3. Compare and Contrast: Assign two similar but different texts for students to compare and contrast, analyzing similarities and differences between each author’s perspective.

4. What-If Questions: Encourage children to think critically about hypothetical scenarios by asking what-if questions, such as “What if the internet didn’t exist?”

5. Debate Club: Organize a debate club where students are encouraged to research and defend differing viewpoints on a topic.

6. Mind Mapping: Teach students how to create a mind map – a visual representation of their thoughts – to help them brainstorm complex issues effectively.

7. Mystery Bag: In small groups, give students a bag containing several random objects and ask them to invent an innovative product or story using all items in the bag.

8. Critical Thinking Journal: Have students maintain journals where they analyze their thought processes after completing activities, promoting self-reflection and metacognition.

9. Moral Dilemmas: Present students with moral dilemmas, requiring them to weigh pros and cons before making ethical decisions.

10. Fact or Opinion?: Give students various statements and ask them to differentiate between fact or opinion, helping them build critical thinking skills when handling information.

11. Research Projects: Assign project topics that require deep research from multiple sources, developing students’ abilities to sift through information and synthesize their findings.

12. Think-Pair-Share: Have students think individually about a complex question, then pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally share with the class.

13. Art Interpretation: Display an artwork and ask students to interpret its meaning, theme, or message, pushing them to look beyond the surface.

14. Reverse Role Play: Assign roles for a scenario where students exchange positions (e.g., teacher-student, parent-child), fostering empathetic understanding and critical thinking skills.

15. Critical Evaluation of Media: Analyze news articles, commercials, or social media posts by asking questions about their purpose, target audience, and accuracy.

16. Six Thinking Hats: Teach students Edward de Bono’s “Six Thinking Hats” technique to improve critical thinking by exploring diverse perspectives when solving problems.

17. Analogy Building: Encourage students to create analogies from one concept to another, enhancing abstract thinking and problem-solving abilities.

18. Current Events Analysis: Keep track of current events and have students critically evaluate news stories or blog posts to encourage informed decision-making in real-world contexts.

19. Brainstorming Sessions: Hold group brainstorming sessions where students invent solutions for complex problems while practicing active listening and critical thinking.

20. Reflection Activities: Use reflective writing prompts at the end of lessons or activities to foster metacognition, self-awareness, and the development of critical thinking skills.

Conclusion:

Critical thinking activities are vital for middle schoolers as they foster intellectual growth and prepare them for future learning experiences. By incorporating these 20 activities into your classroom curriculum, you can help students develop essential critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their academic careers and beyond.

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Science Activities for Middle Schoolers

Technology activities for middle schoolers, engineering activities for middle schoolers, math activities for middle schoolers.

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STEM projects for middle school are an excellent way to engage young minds and spark their curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math. Research supports that STEM activities positively impact the scientific creativity of middle school students. These exercises give students an enjoyable learning experience and promote critical thinking and problem-solving abilities .

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

Additionally, middle school STEM programs help foster interest in these subjects, develop skills, improve future job prospects, encourage creativity and innovation, and promote diversity and inclusivity. However, before delving into the exciting projects, it’s essential to understand why STEM programs in middle school are crucial for a student’s academic journey.

5 Essentials Of Middle School STEM Programs

In the modern work market, STEM education has increased. Students in middle school are at a pivotal point in their development, and exposure to STEM education can greatly impact how they grow academically and professionally. The following justifies the necessity of STEM programs in middle schools.

1. Fostering Interest in STEM

Middle school STEM programs offer an interactive and immersive approach to STEM education by providing hands-on opportunities for students to engage in projects and experiments, which can lead to deeper comprehension and enthusiasm for these subjects. The Journal of Pedagogical Research suggests that a STEM-focused learning environment can positively influence academic achievement in science. Moreover, STEM education provides students with practical applications of these topics in the real world, which fosters a heightened curiosity and drive for learning. 

2. Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities are emphasized in STEM education. Students’ minds are still developing throughout middle school. Thus, STEM education can aid in the development of the abilities necessary for success in the real world. 

3. Improving Future Job Prospects

Middle school STEM education can provide students with the essential abilities and skills necessary to pursue high-paying professions in the rapidly-growing STEM sectors of the contemporary economy. 

4. Encouraging Creativity and Innovation

Middle school STEM programs have been known to be a catalyst for fostering creativity and innovation among students. This is because these programs equip students with the necessary skills to design, build, and test their projects, which can be quite perplexing. By undertaking middle school STEM programs, children can develop the courage and aptitude to take risks, think outside the box, and solve problems in novel and unexpected ways.

5. Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity

The benefits of STEM education extend beyond just individual development, as it can also promote diversity and inclusivity among students. Regardless of background, all students have equal opportunities to learn and succeed in STEM. By introducing students to a wide range of STEM occupations and showcasing the achievements of underrepresented groups in these industries, middle school STEM programs can inspire kids from diverse backgrounds to pursue their interests in these disciplines.

What Does STEM Education for Middle Schoolers Look Like?

Middle school STEM education is a way of teaching that focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math. It’s exciting and interactive, aiming to help students become skilled in these subjects. The main goal is to give students the knowledge and abilities they need to handle the many challenges of our ever-changing technology-driven world.

“STEM education is not just about learning scientific concepts and principles; it’s about developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that will benefit students throughout their lives.” – Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education.

Students are introduced to the fundamentals of STEM disciplines in middle school through practical, project-based learning . They investigate the scientific method, study the fundamentals of engineering and design, and become aware of the wonders of math and technology.

Middle schoolers can develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity through STEM education. Research suggest that STEM activities effectively develop positive views toward interdisciplinary education and 21st-century skills such as creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. By engaging in STEM activities , students can also improve their science process skills, STEM career interests, motivation, and views about STEM education. 

50 Best STEM Activities for Middle School Kids

Engaging in STEM activities for middle school kids, students can gain valuable skills and knowledge that will assist them in success in high school, college, and beyond. So, without further ado, let’s explore these best STEM activities for kids!

“STEM learning is vital for the future success of our students and our country. By engaging students in hands-on projects and encouraging their curiosity, we can inspire the next generation of innovators.” – Mae Jemison, former NASA astronaut and founder of the Jemison Group.

Science is essential to STEM education and can be incredibly engaging and exciting for middle schoolers. Here are some science-related STEM activities for middle school kids that can inspire young minds to discover the world around them.

• Chemical Reactions: Mix baking soda and vinegar to observe the fizzy reaction. Try other combinations like lemon juice and baking soda.
• Solar Oven: Cut a flap in a cardboard box and line it with foil. Place food inside and keep it in the sun to cook.
• Egg Drop Challenge: Gather materials like straws, paper, and tape. Create a protective structure around an egg and drop it from a height.
• Rock Candy Experiment: Dissolve sugar in hot water and grow crystals on a string suspended in the solution.
• Volcano Eruption:  Build a clay volcano around a small bottle. Mix baking soda and vinegar inside the bottle for an eruption.

• Hovercraft: Glue a balloon to a CD, then inflate the balloon and place the CD on a smooth surface to create a hovercraft.
• Slime Making: Mix glue, water, and borax solution to create slime. Explore different ratios for varying consistencies.
• Bottle Rocket Launch: Fill a plastic bottle partially with water, then quickly attach a cork and pump air inside to launch the rocket.
• Sundial Crafting: Place a stick vertically in the ground, and mark the shadow cast by the sun at different times of the day.
• Plant Growth Study:  Plant seeds in pots with varying amounts of sunlight, water, and soil to observe their growth over time.

• Static Electricity: Rub balloons against clothing to create static charge. Test its effect on objects like paper and hair.
• Dissecting Owl Pellets: Purchase owl pellets and use tweezers to carefully dissect them, identifying the bones of small animals.
• Microscope Adventures:  Collect samples from ponds or leaves, place them on slides, and observe under a microscope to discover tiny organisms.

Now that we’ve explored some exciting science-related STEM ideas for middle school kids, let’s look at engaging technology activities to help students develop important coding, programing and digital literacy skills.

Technology activities for middle schoolers are designed to introduce students to coding, programing, and digital design basics. These hands-on activities are a great way to build technical skills while fostering creativity and innovation. Here are a few technology-related STEM activities for middle school kids.

• Coding Basics: Use online platforms like Scratch or Code.org to start learning coding concepts through interactive tutorials and projects.
• Robotics Challenge:  Provide robot kits with instructions and coding software. Students follow the instructions to assemble the robot and write code to make it perform tasks.

• App Design: Utilize app development tools or platforms like MIT App Inventor to design and prototype mobile apps. Students can create simple apps and explore different features.
• 3D Printing: Teach students how to use 3D modeling software to design objects. Then, print the designs using a 3D printer.
• Website Creation: Introduce HTML and CSS coding languages to build a basic website. Students can experiment with customizing their site.
• Video Game Design: Use game development software like GameMaker or Unity to design and create simple video games with characters, levels, and gameplay.
• Augmented Reality (AR) Exploration:  Explore AR technology using AR apps or platforms. Students can create interactive experiences by overlaying virtual objects on the real world.

• Green Screen Projects: Provide a green screen and video editing software. Students can record themselves against the green screen and use the software to replace the background with any image or video.
• Electronic Circuits: Use a circuit kit with components like LEDs, resistors, and wires. Students follow diagrams to build circuits and learn about electronics.
• Digital Storytelling: Use digital tools like PowerPoint or video editing software to create multimedia stories with text, images, and audio narration.
• Internet Research Challenge: Assign specific research topics, and guide students on using search engines and reputable websites to find relevant information.
• Cybersecurity Awareness: Conduct discussions and workshops on online safety, creating strong passwords, and protecting personal information from online threats.
• Virtual Field Trips: Utilize virtual reality headsets or online platforms with virtual tours to take students on immersive journeys to museums, historical sites, or outer space.

Now that we’ve explored some exciting technology-related STEM projects for middle school kids, let’s shift our focus to engineering. These activities are designed to introduce students to engineering and design principles and provide hands-on opportunities to create and build.

Engineering activities are a great way for middle schoolers to explore design principles, problem-solving, and creativity. These activities help develop important skills that benefit students in all aspects of life. Here are a few engineering-related STEM projects for middle school kids that are both fun and educational.

• Popsicle Stick Bridges: Provide popsicle sticks and glue. Instruct students to design and build bridges using the sticks, aiming to make them sturdy enough to hold weight.
• Hydraulic Lifts: Provide syringes, plastic tubes, and water. Students build a hydraulic lift system using syringes and water to lift objects.
• Spaghetti Towers: Offer uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows as building materials. Challenge students to construct tall and stable towers using the two items.
• Water Filtration:  Teach students about water filtration concepts. Provide various materials like sand, gravel, and cotton balls for them to build their filtration systems and test their effectiveness.

• Egg Parachute Drop: Provide materials like plastic bags, strings, and cushioning materials. Have students construct a parachute to safely drop an egg from a height.
• Catapult Challenge: Gather materials like popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons. Instruct students to build a working catapult and launch small objects towards targets.
• Mini Wind Turbines: Provide students with materials like cardboard, straws, and small motors. Guide them in creating miniature wind turbines to generate electricity from wind energy.
• Simple Machines Exploration: Set up stations with different simple machines like pulleys, levers, and inclined planes. Allow students to experiment and learn how these machines work.
• Sustainable Building Designs: Introduce sustainable building practices to students. Let them design and sketch eco-friendly and energy-efficient buildings or houses on paper.
• Bristlebot Robots: Provide toothbrush heads, small vibrating motors, and batteries. Show students how to assemble these components into tiny robots called Bristlebots that move around.
• DIY Waterwheel: Provide materials like popsicle sticks, cups, and a small water source. Students design and build a waterwheel to harness water energy.

While engineering activities focus on design and problem-solving, math activities for middle schoolers aim to build a strong foundation in mathematical concepts and practical applications. Let’s look at some engaging and hands-on math activities that middle schoolers can enjoy and learn from.

Middle school math activities are made to help kids develop a solid mathematical foundation while also exposing them to real-world applications of mathematics. Through these exercises, students can improve their ability to think logically, solve problems, and appreciate the beauty of mathematics. A few math projects and activities are listed below for middle school students to try out.

• Math Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of math-related items or problems for students to find and solve around the school or outdoors.
• Fraction Pizza: Use construction paper to create “pizza slices,” and have students color in fractions to represent different toppings.
• Math Board Games:  Introduce math-based board games like “Math Bingo” or “Math Jeopardy” to reinforce skills in a fun way.

• Math Art: Have students create geometric art using shapes, angles, and symmetry.
• Math Puzzles: Provide various math puzzles like Sudoku, logic puzzles, or tangrams to challenge problem-solving abilities.
• Real-World Budgeting: Assign students a hypothetical budgeting project to plan for expenses like groceries, entertainment, and savings.
• Data Analysis with Graphs: Present students with real data sets and guide them in creating different types of graphs to analyze the information.
• Math Escape Room: Design a math-themed escape room with puzzles and problems that students must solve to “escape.”
• Geometry Construction: Teach students how to use a compass and straightedge to construct geometric shapes and angles.
• Math Relay Race:  Divide students into teams and create a relay race with math problems they must solve to pass the baton.

• Mathematical Storytelling: Have students write stories or scenarios that involve math concepts and solve problems within the narrative.
• Measurement Olympics: Set up a measurement-based competition, like seeing who can estimate and measure the length of various objects most accurately.
• Math in Nature: Take students outside to explore the environment and find examples of math concepts like patterns , symmetry, and angles in nature.

Engaging in hands-on learning through math activities and projects can help middle school students develop a deep understanding and appreciation for mathematics. Having explored a variety of fun STEM activities for middle school, it’s worth considering how we can integrate STEM learning into other aspects of a student’s daily experience, including during recess or on the playground.

4 Ways To Integrate STEM Activities Into Middle School Playgrounds

Middle school is a pivotal developmental period for students, marked by a strong desire for knowledge acquisition and exploration. In this phase, students indulge in both physical activity and cognitive stimulation, and incorporating STEM projects for middle school can substantially enhance their educational experience. Thus, it is imperative to investigate why STEM activities should be included in the middle school playground, and one promising answer is through interactive learning stations.

1. Interactive Learning Stations

These learning stations offer a unique opportunity for students to learn while simultaneously enjoying themselves via experiential education. Specifically, students can engage in hands-on activities such as building miniature wind turbines or constructing solar-powered vehicles, which can enhance their problem-solving skills and deepen their understanding of STEM concepts.

2. Outdoor Laboratories

Students may conduct experiments and gather data in outdoor laboratories because they are situated in a natural setting. Weather stations, gardens, and animal habitats can all be included as part of these laboratories. Kids can develop a passion for science and receive real-world experience by participating in these events.

3. Technology Enhanced Playgrounds

The utilization of technology-enhanced playgrounds represents a novel opportunity to combine fitness and STEM activities, thereby improving student engagement in the form of augmented reality activities, interactive displays, and sensory tools. The resultant learning experience is distinctive and enriching. By integrating technology into gardening , students can augment their digital literacy in a enjoyable and educationally valuable manner.

4. Innovative Equipment

Innovative tools can be utilized to design fun STEM projects for middle school that pushes kids to think creatively. Programable robots, 3D printers, and virtual reality headsets are a few examples of this equipment. With the use of this equipment, kids can enhance their creativity and problem-solving abilities while learning more about STEM principles.

The academic achievement, physical health, and general well-being of children can all be dramatically impacted by including STEM activities in middle school playgrounds. By giving children the chance to participate in practical STEM activities, we can help them acquire crucial abilities that will set them up for future success.

Middle school completion is an indispensable prerequisite for reinforcing students’ aptitude and mastery in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). STEM challenges for middle school students are boundless and varied. We must encourage them to face challenges and in order to ensure that students are equipped for future prosperity, we must proffer them with diverting, interactive, and engaging STEM-related activities. Integration of STEM education within the middle school curricula can be accomplished through various methods such as interactive learning stations, avant-garde tools, and outdoor laboratories.

By providing middle schoolers with the best STEM activities, we can encourage and kindle their passion, empowering them to create a better future. Let us, therefore, take the initiative and encourage our schools to allocate sufficient funding toward STEM education. This will help our children realize their full potential and have a transformative impact on the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can middle school stem instruction aid pupils with learning disabilities.

STEM instruction can be modified to meet the needs of children with varying learning preferences and aptitudes. All pupils can benefit from the promotion of problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.

At what age can you start STEM?

STEM education can start as early as preschool and continues through elementary, middle, and high school. Introducing STEM concepts early helps foster curiosity and lays the foundation for future learning and exploration in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Does incorporating STEM activities into middle school playgrounds come with any risks?

When incorporating STEM activities into playgrounds, safety should always come first. It’s critical to correctly identify risks, train staff members and teachers, and maintain equipment.

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Cooperative learning in middle school math classes can be an effective way to engage reluctant learners, accommodate students with learning disabilities, and help advanced learners build communication and cooperation skills. The key to making this work is to implement cooperative learning activities at the right time to maximize student learning potential.

What is math cooperative learning?

Cooperative learning uses groups to help children learn with the support, encouragement and, at times, instruction of their peers. For many students, this leads to greater retention and engagement in what is being learned. Cooperative learning is often employed in middle school subjects like history and science, where group projects and lab assignments are logical. In math class, cooperative learning is also effective when employed properly.

Challenges of cooperative learning in the math classroom

There are some challenges for cooperative learning that are specific to the math classroom. First, according to Mara Sapon-Shevin, it reduces control and predictability. It can be challenging to know if an individual student is truly grasping a concept in a group setting. The lack of understanding does not present itself until test time rolls around, which creates a problem for both students and teachers.

Also, on the middle school level, math teachers are often forced to follow a very specific curriculum and structure in order to meet state standards and testing expectations. This does not always allow for the easy addition of cooperative learning. Still, it is possible, and the benefits of helping students learn in a more democratic way may make it worthwhile to seek out these options.

Using cooperative learning in math class

Math cooperative learning builds on the fact that middle school students are at a stage where they are influenced by peers. The key is timing the use of cooperative learning. During math instruction, it must be balanced with an adequate amount of direct instruction.

Cooperative learning works well after material has been presented by the teacher. This can come into play during practice, with students working together to solve a problem. It can work well as a review technique prior to testing. The excitement created by cooperative learning activities can also help engage learners as the time for testing approaches.

Cooperative learning activities for math students

One way to do this is to have a quiz show. In a quiz show format, students are divided into heterogeneous groups, with students of varying ability levels in each group. Throughout the unit, the groups will be asked to write down quiz show questions at different points in the instructional process. At the end of the unit, but before the test, the groups present their questions to the teacher, who then presents them to all of the groups. The groups compete as a team against the others in a quiz show using those questions.

This activity encourages the students to interact on a deeper level with the unit material. It also fosters excitement about learning. Finally, it does not detract from the need to help students comprehend topics on an individual basis, as the instruction still happens in the traditional way.

Group problem-solving

Group problem-solving is another way to implement cooperative learning in the math classroom. In this structure, the teacher will assign buddies or groups, and give the students a fairly complex problem to solve. The students will need to agree, as a group, on the steps, process and final answer. If all students are engaged in the process, then all will learn some of the steps involved, even if some students are more advanced than others.

When implemented correctly, math cooperative learning can be highly effective at helping middle school students retain concepts that have been taught while increasing student excitement about the subject. This should be used in conjunction with instructional design methods to help students learn math skills while also learning to work together with fellow students.

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Categorized as: Tips for Teachers and Classroom Resources

Tagged as: Assessment Tools ,  Math and Science ,  Middle School (Grades: 6-8)

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