The Lava Pit
The entire team must cross a marked area ("lava") using only a limited number of stepping stones. If anyone touches the lava, the team starts over.
What You'll Need
Paper plates, cardboard squares, or carpet tiles
How to Play
Mark a start line and a finish line with a "lava" zone in between.
Give the team a set of "stepping stones" (paper plates, etc.) — fewer than the number of people.
The entire team must cross the lava using only the stepping stones.
A stepping stone must always have someone touching it, or it "sinks" and is removed.
If anyone touches the lava, the whole team starts over.
The team succeeds when everyone has crossed.
Facilitator Tips
Give fewer stepping stones than people for a real challenge.
Don't give the solution — let the team figure out that they need to share stones and move them forward.
Watch for natural leaders emerging and how the team self-organizes.
Variations & Twists
Timed Version: Add a countdown for extra pressure.
Silent Version: No verbal communication allowed.
Mystery Rule: Secretly remove a stone each time they start over.
More Team Building & Problem Solving Games
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Lego Replication
One team member views a hidden Lego structure and must describe it to their team so they can replicate it — without seeing it.