Team building activities for teachers and school staff

The best team building activities for teachers fit the hour after dismissal or a PD day, run about 60 minutes and ask nothing of tired people except to show up. A host can run a painting workshop at your school in 30 US cities or a hosted game in 17, or one virtual event can bring a whole district onto one call.

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Teachers painting small canvases together around library tables after school

Staff team building for schools, three ways

Pick the shape that fits your building and your budget. Every activity runs about an hour with a live host or instructor, and prices are live from our catalog.

In person at your school, after the bell

A host comes to your library, cafeteria or staff room with everything the activity needs, then cleans up. Painting workshops run in 30 US cities and hosted games in 17. Book about 2 weeks ahead.

One virtual event for a whole district

Every school joins the same video call from its own room or from home. Zoom by default, or Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request. Nothing ships, so book about 2 weeks ahead.

A kit at every teacher's home

A box goes to each person's home address, then a live instructor leads the session on video. Continental US shipping is included. Book about 3 weeks ahead.

See every city on in-person team events, or every boxed workshop on team building kits.

When school staff can actually meet: the 2026 to 2027 year

Teachers can't step out at 2 pm on a Tuesday. These are the windows that work, with the dates to book by.

  1. Any week

    The hour after dismissal

    The slot most staffs can make is right after the buses leave, often around 3:30 pm. Keep it to 60 minutes and end on time, because people have pickups, grading and second jobs.

  2. December 2026

    The last week before winter break

    If your last day is Friday, December 18, 2026, book an in-person or hosted game by Friday, December 4 and a kit workshop by Friday, November 20, before Thanksgiving break. Ideas on virtual holiday parties.

  3. January 2027

    The staff day when you come back

    A teacher workday or PD day in early January 2027 is a good time for a session on stress. The front office closes over break, so book it by Friday, December 18, 2026.

  4. May 3 to 7, 2027

    Teacher Appreciation Week

    National Teacher Day is Tuesday, May 4, 2027. Book a hosted game by Monday, April 19 and a kit workshop by Monday, April 12, before spring break gets in the way.

  5. June 2027

    The last staff day of the year

    A relaxed hour to close the year and send off retirees. Book it in early May, when the year-end calendar fills up.

  6. August 2027

    Back-to-school week, before students arrive

    In-service days are when new staff meet everyone. A short game helps them learn names. More on new hire onboarding activities.

Teacher appreciation week ideas for May 2027

Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 runs Monday, May 3 to Friday, May 7. A week of thanks that adds no work for the people you are thanking.

  • Monday, May 3

    Start with a gift on every desk

    A box of chocolates says thank you before the first bell. See employee appreciation gifts.

  • Tuesday, May 4

    National Teacher Day: an hour of play

    Turn the weekly staff meeting into a hosted game. The host runs it, so no teacher plans anything.

  • Wednesday, May 5

    A painting workshop after school

    A host sets up in the library at 3:30 pm and everyone takes a canvas home.

  • Thursday, May 6

    Something to do at home

    A kit workshop on a weekday evening, for staff who would rather unwind at home. More on employee appreciation events.

National PTA has marked the first full week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week since 1984, and National Teacher Day falls on the Tuesday. Check your own district calendar for testing dates that week.

What it costs for a grade team, a school or a whole staff

Fifteen is a grade-level team, fifty a mid-size school staff, and 120 a big high school with paraprofessionals and office staff. Hosted games are one price for the group; kits are priced per person.

Total price for the whole group, by headcount
Canvas PaintingIn person at your school15 people$1,57550 people$3,500120 people$7,350
Quiz Showdown!Hosted virtual game15 people$97550 people$1,195120 people$1,855
PaintingKit workshop, shipped to each home15 people$1,18950 people$3,079120 people$6,859

Totals for the whole group from our live catalog prices. Kits to Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, Canada and other countries cost extra. Need an exact number for the PTA? Get a free quote.

Who pays: the PTA, the principal or the district

School money comes from a few places, and each one pays a little differently. All of them work.

  • The PTA or PTO

    The treasurer pays by card and a 50% deposit holds the date. Ask for a free quote first: it gives the board a written price to vote on.

  • The principal's budget

    Pay by card, or ask for an invoice. The quote shows the full price for your headcount before anything is charged.

  • A district purchase order

    Book on a purchase order and you get an invoice instead of a card charge, ready for the business office.

  • Many schools on one account

    A district office booking for several schools can use monthly invoicing and a budget per school. See the enterprise program.

Team building for teachers: questions

What are good team building activities for teachers?

Ones that fit the hour after dismissal, need no planning from teachers and leave people with energy. A host-led painting workshop at school, a hosted game the whole staff plays at once, or a kit workshop at home all work. Skip anything that feels like another PD session.

How much does staff team building for a school cost?

It depends on the format and your headcount. Quiz Showdown! for 50 staff is $1,195, and a Painting kit workshop for a 15-person grade team is $1,189, with continental US shipping included. You see the full price before you book.

When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2027?

Monday, May 3 to Friday, May 7, 2027. National PTA marks the first full week of May, and National Teacher Day is the Tuesday, May 4, 2027. Book a hosted game by April 19 and a kit workshop by April 12.

Can you run an event at our school?

Yes. Painting workshops run at schools and offices in 30 US cities, and hosted games like Feud Night, Team Trivia and Music Bingo in 17 (see in-person events). The host brings everything and cleans up; you provide the room, tables and chairs, and a screen for the games.

Can our PTA pay, or can we use a district purchase order?

Both. A PTA or principal can pay by card with a 50% deposit to hold the date. A district can book on a purchase order and get an invoice instead of a card charge.

Can every school in our district join one event?

Yes. A hosted virtual game runs on one video call that every school joins. For a very large district, a multi-event program runs several activities at once for up to 1,000 people.

How long does it take, and does it fit after school?

Most games and workshops run about 60 minutes with a live host, so a 3:30 pm start ends by 4:30 pm. Book hosted games and in-person events about 2 weeks ahead and kits about 3 weeks ahead.

Keep planning

Plan your staff event

Send us your date, headcount and school. You get a plan and a price within 24 hours, ready for the PTA or the principal.

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