TheWORST-CASE SCENARIOIcebreaker Handbook

H O W T O : I m i t a t e a c o y o t e L e a r n a n o t h e r p e r s o n ’ s n a m e S t a r e s o m e o n e t o d e a t h G e t a g r o u p t o b r e a k d o w n b a r r i e r s….

By your Orientation Coordinators

ALWAYS REMEMBER….

SAFETY FIRST!!!!

Warm Ups

Warm Ups are a fun and easy way to get people moving and achieve basicintroductions. They may also be used to stretch people out if they've beensitting around for a long period of time.MY FAVORITE STRETCHEach person says their name and talks about themselves (you may add spe-cific things as needed). Meanwhile, the person does a stretch. Everyonethen says, “Hi _____,” while doing the stretch. No stretch should be re- peated twice.SEARS CATALOGEach person chooses an item that they believe would be in a departmentstore catalog. The item must start with the same first letter as their first nameand should be something that describes something about the person. Thesecond person repeats what the first said and gives their own name andobject. The third person repeats the first two, and so on.TOILET PAPER/M&Ms or SKITTLES GAMEFor toilet paper, take one roll of toilet paper and pass it around and tell each person to take as much as they need. For M&M’s or Skittles pass a bagaround and tell people that they can have as many as they want, but NOT toeat them yet. For each sheet of toilet paper or each M&M/Skittle, have each person tell something about himself or herself. It the individual has taken aHUGE number, you can set a limit for how many things they have to say.TWO TRUTHS AND A LIEHave everyone think of three sentences about themselves, 2 being true and 1 being false. As they go around the circle, one person says their sentencesand the person next to them tries to guess which one is the lie.FAVORITE CARDSDivide an index card into four sections. Into one section draw a picture of your favorite TV show; in another, draw your favorite state; favorite book or magazine; favorite food, etc. then tape your card to your front and walk around trying to guess what others put on their card. Let others guess atyours, but don’t tell them right or wrong; just listen. After everyone haswalked around and seen each other’s, go around the circle and tell what your favorites are.ALPHABETIC INTRODUCTIONSEach participant is asked to choose a letter of the alphabet. Duplicate lettersare permitted. They are then given five minutes in which to describe them-selves using single words beginning only with that letter. You could award asmall prize for the person with the most number of words.WHAT’S YOUR SIGN?Gather in a circle. Each person must create a gesture or sound to present tothe group. As each person makes their introduction, the group them imitatesthe gesture and sound back at them. Go around the circle at least twice. Thenone person will make his or her sign followed by someone else’s. Then that person will make his or her sign followed by someone else’s, and so on until

BALLOON GAMEHave everyone put one piece of Information about themselves in a balloon, then blow up the balloon and throw the balloon In the middleof the circle of participants. Then one by one pop the balloons andguess to whom that piece of information belongs.

NUTS AND BOLTSHave group members pair up. They spend five minutes learning abouteach other and will then be asked to introduce the other to the group,giving three pieces of information.CONCENTRIC CIRCLESHave the group form two circles, an inner and outer. The inner circleshould face the outer circle. Should be an even number, so each personhas a “partner” to look at that is a part of the other circle. Once thecircles have formed, have each “partner” introduce themselves, then ask a question that one of the partners will respond to, like “Why did youchoose SU?” or “What are you most afraid of, being new here?” onlygive them 30-60 seconds to respond. Then, have one of the circles movetwo or three people to the right or left, and do the same thing again witha different question.

Fun exercises (popping the personal bubble)

INCH WORMSit on the turf facing your partner. Inch toward one another until youand he or she are close enough to sit on each other's feet. Big feet offer an advantage, or at least a certain comfort factor. Grasp your partner'selbows or upper arms with each hand. Staying on each other’s feet, youmust travel from point A to point B. You may want to have a goal setup which the participants will attempt to reach first.PYTHON PENTATHLONFirst, have one person sit on the ground. Ask them to move forward (or backward) using only their butts. At this point, they'll either hop or move forward one cheek at a time. Encourage them to do the latter. Next, ask for 4 more volunteers to do the same. Line them up and havethem place their feet on the lap of the person in front of them. The person in front is the captain and is the only person allowed to have both feet and hand contact with the ground. Evenly split up the groupand have them race to a finish line you've set.EVERYBODY UPIn pairs, have participants sit back to back with arms linked and thenhave them stand up at the same time. Watch and try to get students to perfect the activity. When 2 pairs are finished, have them combineforces to stand up at the same time together. Continue to pair groupsuntil the entire group stands up together.