A 45-minute virtual holiday party agenda
Give your remote team a gentle end-of-year pause: a little conversation, a browser game and time to appreciate the year together. This free host guide works for a winter holiday gathering or a neutral year-end social. No decorations, gifts, costumes or shared celebration are needed.
For the drawing game, we suggest a small group of 3–8 people, including the host, so there is room to join and talk. This is an agenda recommendation, not a product limit. Keep your usual voice or video call open alongside Teambridge. The welcome, reflection and appreciation prompts happen on that call or in its chat.
Prepare before the invitation goes out
- Choose a time that works across your team’s time zones, state the 45-minute finish time and make attendance optional. Avoid assuming that everyone observes the same holiday.
- Open the Scribble rules and setup page. Check the host’s current credits or paid access, sign in and prepare a lobby before the meeting. Existing access may be enough; reading or using this agenda does not require a purchase.
- Share your normal call link in the invitation. Have the game lobby link ready to paste into the meeting chat. Participants need a browser tab for the game; leave time for the joining prompts.
- Ask whether the proposed format works for everyone. Drawing, timed guessing and word prompts may not suit every participant. Offer watching, chat, passing or the conversation-only backup below without asking anyone to explain why.
- Copy the six host prompts below into your notes. You can shorten them; the aim is a relaxed gathering, not completing a script.
Your 45-minute running order
These are suggested meeting timeboxes, not guaranteed game lengths or in-app timers. Joining, turns and conversation can take longer. Agree a comfortable stopping point and shorten the later discussion if needed.
- Minutes 0–5: Welcome and settle in.
Welcome to our year-end get-together. You can play, watch, use chat or pass. Cameras and holiday traditions are optional.
Check that everyone can hear or read the instructions. Explain the finish time and leave a moment for questions.
- Minutes 5–12: Start with a small year-end highlight.
What is one small thing you enjoyed this year: a discovery, a shared moment or a useful tip? A word in chat is enough.
Invite volunteers, without going around the room or calling on anyone. A neutral alternative is choosing a cozy drink or a favorite kind of weather. Keep any personal or religious celebrations optional.
- Minutes 12–17: Join and explain the game.
We will try drawing and guessing. Simple shapes are welcome; this is not an art contest. Read the rules with me before we start.
Share the Teambridge lobby link in your usual meeting chat. Allow time to join and read the rules below. If drawing does not suit the group, choose the word-game alternative or the no-game backup.
- Minutes 17–32: Play Scribble together.
When it is your turn, choose a word and draw it. Everyone else guesses in the game. Let us enjoy the surprising guesses as much as the scores.
Use the regular word selection. This agenda does not need a holiday mode or custom prompts. Watch the meeting clock and leave room for results; avoid starting another game near the end of this block.
- Minutes 32–40: Make room for appreciation.
What made working together a little easier this year? You could mention a helpful habit, a shared project moment or a kind action, without naming anyone.
Accept spoken answers, chat messages or a quiet pause. Do not turn this into a performance review, awards vote or a requirement to praise a colleague. If play ran long, keep one short invitation to share.
- Minutes 40–45: Close on time.
Thank you for spending this time together. Share a word for what you would like more of next year, or simply wave goodbye. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Thank both players and observers. Finish at the announced time; do not make plans for another session on anyone’s behalf.
Explain Scribble in a few sentences
On your turn, choose one of three words and draw it. The other players try to guess the word; guessing sooner earns more points. Use simple shapes and give everyone room to learn the controls. The game needs at least three players. Check the host’s available settings before starting; this plan works with the regular words and does not promise a fixed number of turns in 15 minutes.
Read the Scribble rules before hosting.
A word-game alternative
If the group prefers words, use Starts With J in the same game block. It needs at least two players. Answer category prompts with words beginning with the round’s specified letter—it is not always J. After answering, players vote on whether responses are valid; duplicate answers do not count. Allow time for that review and use regular categories. Timed word play is optional too.
Read the Starts With J rules and setup.
If the game is not a fit, keep the gathering
No game access, a joining problem or a group that would rather talk? Use minutes 12–32 for a conversation-only swap on your existing call. Give people a moment to think, then invite a small discovery from the year: a book, a recipe, a tool or an everyday habit. Chat replies and passing count as participation. Ask one follow-up—“What made that useful or enjoyable?”—and leave silence if nobody wants to answer. Then move to appreciation and the closing prompt at the same times.
An invitation you can copy
Optional year-end get-together · 45 minutes. We’ll meet on our usual call, share a small highlight from the year and try a drawing or word game. No gifts, costumes or camera needed. Playing, watching, chatting and passing are all welcome. We’ll finish at the stated time.
Optional hosting access
Check any credits or team access you already have before buying more. If you need paid hosting, current pricing includes Team Monthly for monthly billing and Event as a one-time purchase. Review the current access details and terms for your group. An organizer from your team leads this agenda; it does not include a facilitator.