Employ icebreaker activities to introduce students to one another and help them get better acquainted. For one icebreaker activity, have each person tell the group one lie and two truths about himself; then everyone else has to guess which one is the lie and they all get to know more about each other. Alternatively, hand out candies in various colors and assign each color a question the player getting that color has to answer about himself; a red candy could mean he has to name something he loves about himself and a blue something he'd like to change. Give each student four different colors, so he has to tell everyone four things about himself.
Problem-solving activities force team members to think critically together. Write a survival scenario and offer a list of 10 items that the team members may need. Provide an explanation of each item and its usefulness without emphasizing one being more useful than another. Have the group discuss the items and how they would use them to survive, and rate each item according to how imperative it is that they have it with them. Another problem-solving activity develops communication skills and trust in others. Scatter items all over the ground and blindfold one of the participants. Have the other team members give the blindfolded participant instructions on how to get from one side of the room or field to the other without stepping on any of the items.
Working together on a concrete project helps people forget about individual differences and connect on their abilities to create something together. Give each team a deck of cards and have them build a card tower. For another project, gather many newspapers and tape. Split up teams into four to six participants each. Have the groups use the newspapers and tape to construct shelters that can fit at least two people. As a team, students can build a float for a parade, create a patchwork quilt, a set for a performance or a ramp for access over a staircase.
Fundraising can spark a team effort to serve a cause or sell products, such as holding a car wash, bake sale, or community yard sale. A group can volunteer to paint park benches, perform gardening or yard work, take care of or entertain younger children, elderly people or hospital patients. Performing these services together as a group can be a bonding event for students, offering shared experiences and memories of doing something good for others.
A sense of pride and belonging can come from branding -- creating a group identity or image. Have the group brainstorm to complete the sentence, "If we could be anything we wanted, we would be...." Alternatively, have each team choose an animal mascot or come up with a catchy name that holds some significance for them as a group. Have them make artwork representing the team or write a mission statement.