Love them or hate them, ice breakers are the ideal way for new groups to get to know each other and feel comfortable in their presence.
For groups who have known each other for a while ice breaker can also be a good way to get them to expand their comfort zones and get to know people better.
Check out this range of ice breaker and maybe try them on your group.
If you have any icebreaker you would like to add please feel free to send them on to us. Click here to go to contact page
People Bingo 'Line Up In' Communication Game
Spinning Partners
Truths and Lies
Each participant should write down or tell (quietly!), the facilitator an obscure fact about themselves.
The facilitator puts these facts on separate pieces of paper or card.
The 'facts' are then put out in front of the group and as a whole a decision is made as to whom the fact belongs to giving reasons as to why they think the fact and person go together.
This is a particularly good ice-breaker if the subsequent session is about stereotyping or first impressions.
BALLOON RUN back to top
This is a very lively ice-breaker, best used with a group who know each other and where there is a large enough space!
Each participant ties a balloon around their ankle.
When the facilitator shouts 'go' all participants have to attempt to burst each others' balloon whilst avoiding their own been burst.
Prepare Bingo Cards that are divided into 25 squares 5 across and 5 down.
In each square write a phrase that could apply to someone in the group.
Examples: has travelled in another country; likes to play chess; enjoys dancing, etc.
Give each person a card and have them mingle to get a signature from someone who fits the phrase.
No one can sign a card a second time until all names are on the card at least once.
When someone has completed a straight line or all spaces on the card, they call Bingo and the game ends.
SPINNING PARTNERS back to top
Get into pairs and face each other.
The goal is to reconnect palms after spinning while keeping your eyes closed.
Place your palms on other's palms between you a little above shoulder height.
Both partners close their eyes and pull their palms apart (approx. 12 inches) while keeping their palms at that height.
Both then turn around on their respective spots 3 times at the same time.
Then try to touch palms after the third turn.
Pass around a tube of smarties and have each person take as many as they want.
For each colour of the smarties have a question that they have to answer e.g. red can be, "Describe your first memory."
You can play this with Skittles or other coloured sweets
I NEVER back to top
Another good game for finding things out about others.... -
Have everyone sit in a circle except one person.
The person in the middle says something that they have never done (i.e. I have never drunk, or I have never worn a dress).
All the people who have never done that have to get up and find an empty seat (from someone else who just got up).
The person stuck without a seat is now in the middle.
This game has no time limit.
COMMUNICATING CHALLENGE "Line up in" game
Give everyone a number.
They have to arrange themselves in numerical order communicating with each other without speaking.
They make up their own sub-language or sign-language and it often is pretty amusing.
Round two.- Have people arrange themselves in order of birth or in calendar months.
TRUTHS & A LIE back to top
Have each person write 2 truths and a lie about themselves.
They then pass the paper to the group and have the others guess which is the lie.