My website: http://www.krisbordessa.com
My weblog: http://greatsolutions.blogspot.com
I believe that hands-on learning is the best kind of learning, whether for adults or children - and certainly for myself! Long before I imagined Team Challenges as a book, I was scrawling challenges on lined paper for my creative problem solving groups to use during their meetings. Those sheets of paper - never tidy - and the kids' love of tackling these problems led me to compile the activities in one place, resulting in Team Challenges. Shortly after I completed Team Challenges, I had the opportunity to pen two new books: Tools of the Ancient Greeks and Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself. Though a bit different in nature - history is a far cry from creative problem solving - both of these had that element I consider crucial for learning: hands-on activities.
I live on the Big Island of Hawai'i with my family, where I also write about family fun and travel for publications like Parents, Parenting, Islands, Disney's FamilyFun, and more.
Team Challenges
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Editorial Reviews
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"I’ve seen lots of activity books for kids, but few are so all-encompassing." —LiveFreeLearnFree.com
"A rare gift." —Deepfun.com
"Great for teachers, and also fun for families." —Ashland Daily Tidings
"Helps group leaders effortlessly guide a team through fun activities." —Family Magazine
"Great activities that can be done with as few as two people." —Lansing State Journal
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Wow. Kris Bordessa has all the bases covered here. I've had this book for a couple years now, and I've used some of the activities from time to time. Last week I held an "indoor beach day" for my students and used the physical activities from the book--we all had so much fun! The students, all high school juniors, explored these challenges and honed their communication and collaboration skills at the same time.
Bordessa divides the tasks up to make it easy to find something appropriate for the situation. Small ice-breaker activities, building competitions, and more offer a wide range of possibilities so that students never have to face the same challenge twice.
The only request I would make would be for a sequel!
Bordessa divides the tasks up to make it easy to find something appropriate for the situation. Small ice-breaker activities, building competitions, and more offer a wide range of possibilities so that students never have to face the same challenge twice.
The only request I would make would be for a sequel!
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Jody Mace
Format:Paperback
I'm a school librarian, and I lent a copy of this book to a couple of teachers at the school, and they are both going nuts for it. The book has a wide variety of activities - some are "thinking" activities like word games, and one teacher is planning to use them when she needs to keep her students occupied for a few minutes. She is so excited to have a bunch of resources other than Mad-Libs! Then there are team challenges that involve solving some sort of problem together using materials. And also there are challenges that are perfect large-motor-skills activities for when kids need to burn off some energy.
The activities can be used (or modified) for a wide range of ages. I can see this book becoming a favorite resource for teachers, scout leaders, homeschooling parents, pretty much anyone who works with kids. Some of the activities would even be perfect for birthday parties.
The author has worked with kids for years and it really shows. This is a perfect gift for a teacher.
The activities can be used (or modified) for a wide range of ages. I can see this book becoming a favorite resource for teachers, scout leaders, homeschooling parents, pretty much anyone who works with kids. Some of the activities would even be perfect for birthday parties.
The author has worked with kids for years and it really shows. This is a perfect gift for a teacher.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Planning church youth group activities can be a real challenge. Especially if you want to keep games fun and fresh week after week.
There are a lot of helpful gaming books on the market and even some good websites, but I've been frustrated by weaknesses many of these resources seem to share: many activities do not work well for small groups; many games involve embarrassing or inappropriate physical contact between genders; many games lack creativity and seem to just repackage the same concept into a thousand different variations; and some games breed an overly-competitive spirit which stifles godly, edifying relationships.
In Team Challenges, the author pools her years of experience in 4-H and other youth programs into a helpful book of "easy-to-implement activities that will keep kids laughing, having fun, and learning the benefits of teamwork, all at the same time."
Could you create a bridge that spans 18 inches using only 3 sticky notes and 10 cotton balls? Could you think of 20 things that come in pairs? Could you suspend a beach ball at least 3 feet high in less than five minutes using only a sheet of mailing labels and 25 sheets of newspaper? Could you and your friends completely flip a table cloth using only your feet? Could you plan a skit in only one minute about a loud guest visiting a library? These are only a sampling of great ideas in the book.
Team Challenges fills an important gap in game-planning that many other books miss. It emphasizes cooperation rather than competition. It focuses on problem-solving rather than sheer physical prowess. It fosters creativity rather than repackaging the same old relay races. And I believe it would be a great addition for any teacher, youth pastor, game leader, or children's resource room.
There are a lot of helpful gaming books on the market and even some good websites, but I've been frustrated by weaknesses many of these resources seem to share: many activities do not work well for small groups; many games involve embarrassing or inappropriate physical contact between genders; many games lack creativity and seem to just repackage the same concept into a thousand different variations; and some games breed an overly-competitive spirit which stifles godly, edifying relationships.
In Team Challenges, the author pools her years of experience in 4-H and other youth programs into a helpful book of "easy-to-implement activities that will keep kids laughing, having fun, and learning the benefits of teamwork, all at the same time."
Could you create a bridge that spans 18 inches using only 3 sticky notes and 10 cotton balls? Could you think of 20 things that come in pairs? Could you suspend a beach ball at least 3 feet high in less than five minutes using only a sheet of mailing labels and 25 sheets of newspaper? Could you and your friends completely flip a table cloth using only your feet? Could you plan a skit in only one minute about a loud guest visiting a library? These are only a sampling of great ideas in the book.
Team Challenges fills an important gap in game-planning that many other books miss. It emphasizes cooperation rather than competition. It focuses on problem-solving rather than sheer physical prowess. It fosters creativity rather than repackaging the same old relay races. And I believe it would be a great addition for any teacher, youth pastor, game leader, or children's resource room.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for Teachers
Our school is using this book with children from aged 6 to aged 10, they love the challenges which are easy to do and it is well set out to understand how the communication,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lynley Hyslop
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Helpful
I am using this book for my creative thinking group and it has come in really handy. I can see this being used in corporations and with all groups really.
Published 3 months ago by MJC
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some good ideas
Some good ideas but this book didn't exactly fit my needs. Too many props and materials to carry about for participant use. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Archie Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for middle school groups
This book is full of great activities from simple (getting to know each other, story telling, etc.) to complex (construction and engineering, etc. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Emily G Dodd
3.0 out of 5 stars
Team activities
The suggested materials in many of the activities seem to be from several years ago when they weren't so expensive.
Published 9 months ago by Avid teacher
4.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE Team Challenges
As a Destination ImagiNation team manager and school coordinator as well as the person responsible for team building at our school's back-to-school staff week, I can't say enough... Read more
Published 12 months ago by MR. Tickle
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful resource!
My school has found this book to be very useful in helping our K-4 students build collaboration, teamwork, and cooperative skills. Read more
Published 19 months ago by OutdoorGirl
4.0 out of 5 stars
great team building ideas!
I have been doing Team Building activities with my special education high school students for two years now. I am always looking for new and "fresh" ideas. Read more
Published 19 months ago by luv2teachsped
3.0 out of 5 stars
Team Challenges: 170+ Group Activities to Build Cooperation,...
The activities in the book are good and could easily be adapted for many age groups, but the instructions do not include enough detail and no mention of debriefing the activities.
Published 23 months ago by Kimberly Yarbray
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice variety of ideas
I love this book. I have used it for family reunion activities, children's birthday parties, and homeschool ice-breakers. Read more
Published on July 8, 2010 by Anoni Mouse
