Title: Building Stronger Together: Team Building Activities for 12-Year-Olds

Objective: To foster a positive and inclusive classroom environment by engaging students in team building activities on their first day back at school.

Duration: 60 minutes

Materials Needed: 1. Paper and pencils for each student 2. Sticky notes 3. Small prizes or rewards (optional)

Procedure:

1. Introduction (5 minutes) a. Greet the students and welcome them back to school. b. Explain the importance of teamwork and how it can help create a supportive and enjoyable learning environment. c. Share the objectives of the lesson plan.

2. Icebreaker Activity: “Find Someone Who” (10 minutes) a. Distribute a sheet of paper and a pencil to each student. b. Explain the rules of the game: Students must find someone in the class who matches the description in each box and have them sign their name. c. Examples of descriptions: “Find someone who has a pet,” “Find someone who has traveled to another country,” etc. d. Encourage students to interact with their classmates and get to know each other better. e. After the activity, ask a few students to share interesting facts they learned about their classmates.

3. Team Building Activity: “Human Knot” (15 minutes) a. Divide the students into groups of 6-8. b. Instruct each group to stand in a circle and extend their hands towards the center. c. Ask the students to grab the hands of two different people across the circle, ensuring that no one is holding hands with someone standing directly beside them. d. Challenge the groups to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands. e. Encourage communication, problem-solving, and cooperation within the groups. f. Once a group successfully untangles, congratulate them and ask them to share their strategies.

4. Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes) a. Gather the students in a circle and provide each student with a sticky note. b. Ask them to write down one thing they appreciate about their classmates or something they enjoyed during the team building activities. c. Collect the sticky notes and read a few aloud, emphasizing the positive aspects of working together. d. Facilitate a discussion on the importance of teamwork, trust, and respect in a classroom setting.

5. Team Building Game: “Marshmallow Tower” (20 minutes) a. Divide the students into small groups of 3-4. b. Provide each group with a packet of marshmallows and a handful of toothpicks. c. Explain the challenge: Each group must work together to build the tallest freestanding tower using only marshmallows and toothpicks. d. Encourage creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication within the groups. e. Set a time limit (e.g., 15 minutes) and allow the groups to construct their towers. f. Once the time is up, have each group present their towers and measure their height. g. Congratulate all the groups for their efforts and discuss the strategies they used.

6. Conclusion (5 minutes) a. Recap the importance of teamwork and how it contributes to a positive classroom environment. b. Thank the students for their active participation and enthusiasm. c. Express excitement for the upcoming school year and the opportunities for growth and learning as a team.

Note: Adapt the activities and duration as per the specific needs and dynamics of your classroom.