Mascot Pass
A weekly recognition tradition that keeps appreciation moving all year long.
5 min
Back-to-School Team Building Bingo
A fun staff meeting icebreaker your team will love. This bingo activity gets staff moving, talking, and connecting in just 10 minutes.
Alissa Christensen
Start the year with a little laughter, a few conversations, and stronger team connections.
Why try it
The first staff meeting of the year sets the tone for everything that follows. When people feel connected to their colleagues, they collaborate more easily, ask for help sooner, and show up for one another through the hard stretches of the school year.
This quick bingo activity gives staff a low-stakes reason to move around the room, swap stories, and discover what they have in common. It takes about 10 minutes and leaves people energized rather than exhausted.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Instructions
1
Print and distribute
Print one bingo card per staff member. There are three versions to choose from, so you can mix and match to keep things interesting.
2
Explain the rules
Staff walk around the room and find a colleague who fits each prompt on their card. When they find a match, that person signs their name in the box. One person per box.
3
Start the clock
Set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes and let staff mingle. Encourage them to talk to people they do not usually work with.
4
Call out the bingos
When the timer goes off, ask who got a bingo. You can also invite staff to shout out their bingos during the activity to keep the energy up.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
All week challenge
Post the bingo card in the staff lounge at the start of the week and give everyone until Friday to collect signatures. It keeps the energy going beyond a single meeting.
Department kick-off
Run this at a grade-level or department meeting early in the year, not just at the all-staff gathering.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Model the energy
Grab a card and play alongside your staff. You might learn something new about the people you work with every day.
Leader Tip #2
Add a prize
A small treat or gift card for the first bingo (or the most signatures) gives people a little extra motivation to move around the room.
Leader Tip #3
Leave space to share
If time allows, ask a few people to share something surprising they learned about a colleague. It extends the connection beyond the activity.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
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