Deadlines, design and details can sometimes take the joy out of yearbook production, but your staff doesn’t have to slog through the school year with nothing but stress. Making yearbook fun is one of the best ways to strengthen staff bonds, relieve tension and keep motivation high, especially as the holidays and final deadlines approach.
You probably did some team-building activities at the beginning of the school year to help the staff bond. Don’t stop there. Weekly activities give students a chance to laugh, recharge and connect, and those positive moments can pay off with stronger teamwork when the pressure is on.
Here are some activities to try out this fall to keep your staff motivated and optimistic through the final stretch of 2025.
Class Activity: Mummy Wrap
Deadline stress starting to spike? Take a five-minute break to play this high-energy game.
- Divide into groups of three to five.
- Each group gets one roll of toilet paper.
- One student is the “mummy” and the rest are wrappers.
- Wrap the mummy as completely as possible without breaking the paper. If the paper is broken, you have to start over.
The first to finish as well as the most creative wrap win bragging rights (and a much-needed laugh).
Class Activity: Thankful Turkey Craft
Perfect for fall, this activity lets students reflect and share what they’re grateful for.
- Each student traces their hand on brown construction paper and cuts it out.
- Cut additional feathers from orange, red and yellow paper.
- On each feather, write something or someone you’re thankful for.
- Glue the feathers to the handprint “turkey.”
Display the turkeys on a classroom wall to brighten the room and give everyone a reason to smile amidst the business and stress of yearbook. And while it’s especially fitting for October and November, it’s never too late to plan and prep for your thankful turkeys – gratitude is always in season.
Class Activity: Self-Portrait Guessing Game
This one sparks creativity while encouraging staff members to see each other in a new light.
- Give each student five minutes to draw a self-portrait (no words or symbols allowed).
- Collect and shuffle the drawings.
- Hold them up one at a time and let the staff guess who each portrait belongs to.
The results will likely be hilarious and revealing.
Keep Yearbook Fun All Year Long
Whether it’s a quick craft, an active game or a moment of self-reflection, these activities build bonds and remind students why they love being on staff. The Yearbook Suite: Staff Management Through Team Building unit offers even more activities, along with our free 30 Days of Icebreakers PDF.
So when the room gets tense or the deadlines loom, give yourself permission to take a break. It might be just the boost your staff needs to get back to work with energy and focus.
Celebrate With Us – Take the Quiz!
We’re making National Yearbook Week even more fun. Take our Yearbook Personality Quiz between Oct. 6-10 and you’ll be entered to win one of ten $200 Visa® gift cards.
✨ 10 total winners
☑️ 5 advisers
☑️ 5 students
✅ $200 each
