28 Training Activities and Games You Can Use to Liven up Your Sessions

Recently updated on April 17th, 2025

At Arlo we love giving our customers, and training instructors ideas to help them deliver more effective training. One easy way to do this is to round-up some of the best training activities and games that ca be used in person and virtually.

Whether you’re teaching a small group or leading a large team, incorporating interactive exercises can boost engagement, improve retention, and make learning more enjoyable.

We start with looking at some icebreakers and team building exercises, then at at some activities you can use to help keep learners engaged, before rounding things up with some reflection exercises you can incorporate at the end of a training session:

Let’s dive straight in 👇

Icebreakers & Team Builders:

1. Two Truths and a Lie

This fun and interactive game is a great way to kick off a training session.

Each participant shares three statements about themselves—two truths and one lie.

The rest of the group then tries to guess which one is the lie. Not only does this help break the ice, but it also encourages active listening and communication skills.

Plus, it sets the tone for a training environment where everyone feels comfortable engaging and sharing.

2. Human Bingo

Human Bingo is an excellent way to get people talking and moving.

You create bingo cards with different characteristics or experiences, such as “Has traveled to more than five countries” or “Knows how to juggle.” Participants mingle, asking each other questions to match the descriptions on their card.

The activity encourages participants to interact and learn more about each other.

3. Desert Island Scenario

This is a creative activity that gets learners collaborating and solving problems together

Each group imagines they’re stranded on a desert island and can bring only 3-5 items. The goal is to prioritize what’s essential, prompting participants to discuss, negotiate, and justify their choices.

This fun training game encourages critical thinking, teamwork, and helps develop problem-solving skills in a light-hearted setting.

4. One Word Goal

At the start of the session, have each participant share one word that represents what they hope to gain from the training program.

This simple activity helps participants focus on their learning objectives and sets a personal goal.

It’s an easy way to align everyone’s expectations and creates a more directed, active learning experience for the training session.

5. Shared Story Chain

The shared story chain game is all about building creativity and cohesion.

The first person starts a story, and each subsequent person adds a sentence. It could relate to the training topic, but it’s often more fun when the story takes a silly or unexpected turn.

This fosters teamwork, encourages active listening, and creates an atmosphere of collaboration, all while engaging everyone in the training process.

Tips for Implementing Ice Breakers:

Keep It Relevant to the Training Topic: Choose ice breakers that align with the goals of the session. For example, if you’re training on teamwork, opt for an activity that gets learners working together.

Be Mindful of Time: Ice breakers should be short and engaging, ideally lasting no more than 10-15 minutes. You want to energize the group without taking too much time away from the core content of the session.

Consider Inclusivity and Comfort: Select activities that allow everyone to participate, regardless of personality type or background. Avoid anything that could make participants feel singled out or uncomfortable.

Read More: Why You Should Care About Accessible and Inclusive Training

Content Exploration & Understanding:

6. Jigsaw Learning

Jigsaw Learning turns your training materials into an exercise of collaboration.

You divide the content into sections and assign each group a topic. Once they’ve studied their section, they regroup with other participants to teach each other.

Jigsaw learning promotes experiential learning, and participants not only absorb key concepts but also practice communication skills and learn from their peers.

It’s an excellent way to reinforce learning while encouraging group discussions.

7. Concept Mapping

Concept Mapping is a visual technique that helps participants connect different ideas and concepts from the training session.

After discussing a topic, participants create a visual map that illustrates how various elements relate to one another.

Its particularly useful for adult learners and helps reinforce understanding, as it transforms abstract ideas into tangible connections.

8. Think-Pair-Share

This activity is a great way to make sure everyone participates without feeling pressured. You pose a question, and everyone first thinks individually.

Then, they pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally, they share their ideas with the entire group.

It encourages active learning, engagement, and ensures everyone’s voice is heard.

Plus, it promotes critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the training topic.

9. Case Study Analysis

Case studies give participants the chance to apply their learning to real-world situations. In this activity, participants analyze a case relevant to the training program and work in small groups to identify issues and propose solutions.

Using case studies in your training, and having participants analyze them is arguably the best way of bridging the gap between theory and practice.

If you do use case studies make sure they are linked to the learning objectives of the session, and closely linked to what you want your learners to achieve.

For example, if you are delivering the training session on first aid skills to a beginner class, make sure you have a relevant case study.

An example could be a story of a previous learner who’s taken the class before using the first aid skills they learnt in a real world situation.

10. Gallery Walk

A gallery walk involves getting participants moving around the room while reflecting on the training content.

Questions, quotes, or images are posted around the room, and participants walk around, responding to each with their thoughts.

It’s a great way to encourage independent thinking and create an interactive learning environment.

Tips on Implementing Activities That Promote Content Exploration

Use Real-World Scenarios: If you’re struggling to come up with any you can ask your learners, or the client for situations they regularly face, or need a deeper understanding of, and design exercises around the feedback.

Get Learners Working Together: Use group-based activities where participants can share insights, debate ideas, or work on solving problems together – particularly problems or situations they are all likely to encounter.

Read More: How to Make Virtual Training More Engaging: 11 Tips for 2025

Skill Practice & Application:

11. Role-Playing

Role-playing is one of the best ways to practice real-world scenarios without the pressure of real consequences.

Participants take on roles and act out situations relevant to the training topic, such as managing an angry customer or dealing with a challenging team dynamic.

Its a training activity that helps reinforce learning and boosts communication skills, as participants gain practical experience in a safe space.

12. Simulations

Simulations mimic real-life scenarios and are particularly useful for corporate training.

These could be software-based or physical mock-ups of real-world situations.

Simulations allow participants to practice skills in a risk-free environment, providing an opportunity for immediate feedback on their decisions.

They are great for testing how learners respond to real-world problems while keeping them engaged.

13. Skills Drills

Skills drills involve breaking down a skill into smaller, manageable components and practicing them repeatedly.

Whether it’s a technical procedure or a soft skill like active listening, drills help participants master each step.

One example of this was explained by expert trainer Scott D’Amico in a recent webinar with Arlo, with his description of the Learn, Practice, Apply, Methodology. Scott recommends asking learners to bring something with them to the training session

For example, if you were delivering a training program on executive presentation skills, you could ask participants to bring an example of a presentation they deliver regularly, as a facilitator you can then use this example as the subject that you use when you’re trying to help the learner improve their skills.

Check out the webinar below for more tips 👇

14. Peer Coaching

Peer coaching is a fantastic way for participants to practice skills while learning from each other.

In this activity, pairs of participants work together to practice a task, giving each other constructive feedback.

It reinforces learning through active listening, helps develop communication skills, and strengthens the relationship between learners.

15. Work Task Application

To connect the training program to real-world tasks, assign participants a small task or project that mirrors what they’ll encounter in their job.

This could be a mock assignment that requires them to apply new skills, such as developing a presentation or solving a complex problem.

You can also use the Lean, Practice, Apply, Methodology that we covered earlier.

Tips on Implementing Activities That Focus on Application

Create Hands-On Exercises: Design activities that let learners practice what they are learning, so they can apply what they are learning in a controlled environment.

Offer Immediate Feedback: Try and give feedback straight away after a skills-based activity so participants can adjust, and improve in real-time.

Use Progressive Challenges: Start with simpler exercises and gradually increase the complexity as participants build their skills.

Review & Reinforcement:

16. Game Show Quiz (e.g., Kahoot!, Jeopardy Style)

Quizzes don’t have to be boring! Using tools like Kahoot! or a Jeopardy-style game, you can turn review time into a fun competition.

Participants answer questions based on the training content, competing in teams to test what they’ve retained.

Fun games helps reinforce key concepts, provides immediate feedback, and helps identify any knowledge gaps among learners, in a lighthearted way.

Read More: 13 Best eLearning Authoring Tools, Platforms and Software for 2025

17. Ball Toss Review

This physical activity adds a fun twist to the usual review process. Participants stand in a circle and toss a soft ball around.

When someone catches it, they answer a review question or share something they learned during the session.

The ball keeps things moving, encouraging participation and making it easier to reflect on key points.

It’s a perfect way to reinforce learning and get people to stay active and focused until the end.

18. Crossword Puzzle/Word Search

Puzzles like crosswords or word searches are a low-pressure way to revisit important training materials.

You can create a custom crossword with terms and concepts from the session. Participants work individually or in small groups to solve the puzzle.

It’s a fun activity that helps solidify knowledge retention while providing a relaxed and enjoyable way to engage with the training content.

19. Summary Stations

Summary stations involves setting up different stations around the room, each focused on summarizing a specific part of the training session.

One station might involve creating a visual summary, another might ask participants to write a headline, and another could ask them to teach it to someone else.

Its a creative exercise that caters to different learning styles and helps participants reinforce the content form the session, and a great way to promote team building.

20. Exit Tickets

Before participants leave, ask them to jot down one key takeaway from the session, something they still have questions about, and one action they plan to take based on what they learned.

Its a quick activity provides valuable insights into the training session and helps solidify what participants have gained.

It’s a great way to see what learners are understanding and what they are not while offering a final chance for feedback and reflection.

Plus, it helps you gauge whether your training goals have been met.

Tips on Implementing Activities That Reinforce Learning

Use Quizzes or Polls: Regularly test participants with short quizzes or polls throughout a training session to reinforce key points, and helps check for understanding.

Use Gamification Where You Can: Use elements of competition, rewards or team based challenges. For example, giving learners time based challenges or tasks to break-up a theory based session.

(PS: You can create these usually create interactive elements like quizzes and polls using Arlo’s new elearning authoring and delivery features!)

Creative & Problem-Solving Activities:

21. Brainstorming Blitz (Round Robin)

A brainstorming blitz is a fast-paced activity that gets participants thinking quickly and creatively. You present a problem or challenge, and each person takes a turn adding one idea to the solution.

It’s a fun way to get everyone involved and ensure that a variety of ideas are considered.

Its fantastic for promoting problem solving, critical thinking, and encouraging participants to contribute without overthinking.

22. Build It Challenge (e.g., Spaghetti Tower, Lego Model)

Give your participants a task that requires creativity and teamwork—build a tower using spaghetti and marshmallows, or design a model using Legos.

The twist? They have a limited amount of time to do it!

23. Skits or Improvisation

Get participants thinking on their feet by having them act out short skits or improvisational scenarios that relate to the training topic.

Its a great way for learners to explore real-world situations in a creative way, whether it’s dealing with an angry customer or managing a team conflict.

Not only does it reinforce learning, but it also boosts presentation skills, public speaking abilities, and helps build confidence in soft skills like active listening and collaboration.

24. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is an excellent visual tool for organizing ideas and concepts. Participants begin with a central idea or problem and then branch out, connecting related thoughts and solutions.

It’s an ideal method for visual learners and anyone who wants to break down complex problems.

There are loads of templates you can use for this – check out Miro’s Mind Mapping Templates for some ideas.

25. Reverse Brainstorming

In this unique twist on traditional brainstorming, participants explore how to make a problem worse instead of solving it.

By identifying all the ways things could go wrong, they can then flip those ideas into solutions.

It’s a great tool for examining potential pitfalls in real world scenarios, as of course in real scenarios outcomes can be unpredictable.

Tips on Incorporating Creative & Problem-Solving Activities

Encourage “What If?” Thinking:  Prompt learners to consider potential implications or alternative scenarios related to the training topic. For example, you can ask them to brainstorm how they would adapt or respond to different possibilities.

Introduce Strategic Limitations: Provide a problem or challenge for learners with specific constraints such as limited time, a restricted set of tools or information.

Feedback & Reflection

26. One-Minute Paper

This quick exercise asks participants to write for one minute on a specific prompt, such as “What was the most important thing you learned today?” or “What’s something you still don’t understand?”

The one-minute paper gives participants a chance to consolidate what they’ve learned and share any lingering questions.

As the instructor, you can then take this feedback and use it to re-emphasize any parts of the training that participants don’t understand, and use the information you gather to iterate upon the content you deliver.

27. Mood Meter Check-In

At various points during the training, check in on how participants are feeling using a simple mood meter.

Participants can mark their mood on a chart or respond using colored dots. This is a fun and effective way to monitor how participants feel within a session, and helps you keep taps on the pace, and flow.

If participants state they’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s a signal to slow down or change the approach. On the other hand, if they say they are happy then you know there’s no need to tweak anything.

Using a mood meter helps keep the training session participant-centered and the learning enjoyable and effective.

28. Rose, Bud, Thorn

A simple but effective reflective activity. Ask each participant to share one “Rose” (something positive they gained from the session), one “Bud” (something they are excited to try or a growth opportunity), and one “Thorn” (a challenge or something they didn’t fully understand).

The structure helps participants assess their learning experience and gives you clear feedback on what worked, what didn’t, and what can be improved in future sessions.

Tips on Using Reflection Activities

Connect Reflection Exercises to Future Application: Try and guide participants to translate their insights into concrete action steps. For example, ask learners to consider “Based on your reflections, what is one specific action you will take within the next week?”, or “How will you measure the impact of applying what you’ve learned”.

Plenty of Training Activities to Mix Up Your Sessions

There you have it! A great variety of different training activities you can use within your training. The right mix of activities can help keep your learners engaged, and ultimately help you deliver more impactful learning!

Training Activities – FAQs