STAFF BONDING IDEAS

Say goodbye to summer and hello to yearbook! As we head back to the classroom, this is an opportune time to get to know each other and start bonding as a staff. Connect with these fun, simple activities:

For yearbook bliss, have staffers say "I do." The ceremony provides a chance for students to confirm their commitment to yearbook, have a little fun, and of course, eat cake.

Ice breaker & starter ideas

Write questions all over a beach ball. Have staffers throw to each other, answering the question they see.

Meet everyone on staff quickly with this fun BTS Bingo card. Consider a small prize for the winner.

Get yerds to interact with each other while also taking cute action shots for the colophon and end of the year party.

It's BINGO time...yearbook style. As your staff works, check off squares as they're matched. First to complete a horizontal, diagonal or vertical row WINS.


There are 10 different bingo cards to use with your staff. This is a fun activity to complete while working on the yearbook!

This personality test, developed in the 1970s, will help students learn their strengths and work together. The Black & Gold staff at Rock Canyon High School shared their materials for conducting the test as part of their Jumpstart session. The link above includes the quiz in a PDF form; the links below are the supplemental materials.

True Colors test materials

Teenagers are great at many things. They know the internet lingo, they have a quick remark for any situation, and they can tell you the exact location of every Kardashian at any given moment. Undoubtedly useful stuff. But they don’t have many skills in the art of self-care.

Here’s how to teach teenagers some self-care (and maybe yourself in the process):

As we move into deadline mode, it’s important still to find time for staff bonding. Creating a yearbook is tough work and no one will stick around if it’s not fun. Volunteering is a one way to build an empathetic staff that enjoys spending time together.

IN-PERSON BONDING IDEAS

Yearbook Mascot

Have a stuffed animal mascot join your yearbook class, marketing promotions and school events.

Tie Dye T-shirts

Make DIY staff shirts or just a fun extra tee with tie dye.

Deadline awards

Recognize staffers and celebrate meeting deadlines with fun awards and sweets.

Cookie decorating

Regardless of the holiday, cookies make everything better!

Use this questionnaire to help your students pick great gifts for a Secret Santa party.

Balfour Blog post with multiple ways to celebrate Feb. 14 with your staff.

Share the {yearbook} love with a fun candy game that showcases personality traits.

Reward the staff's deadline efforts with fun and festivities, and celebrate finishing the first semester.

Bueller? Bueller? Online learning is reminiscent of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Where’s Waldo books. Your typically chatty staffers have gone silent in the era of Zoom calls. To bring back the discussion and classroom connections, we’re highlighting seven starter activities. Let the virtual bonding begin.

VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON IDEAS

Rate How You Feel

Using PhotoGrid or Canva, create a compilation of adviser photos with different emotions. Students use the numbers to rate how they feel.

Show & Tell

Have each staffer hold something dear to them and share why it’s important.

Theme Days

Pick one day a week for a theme day, letting the staff dress up accordingly.

Get to Know You

Using index cards, have your students write down some helpful information. Great first day and check-in activity.

A YouTube video from Teach Smart with Fay on getting to know students ice breaker activities. Also included is a Google presentation template.

From the Quick Team Building Activities channel, this YouTube features five different activities that can be used virtually.