Ice Breakers

1.Three Questions Game

Everyone in the group writes down 3 provoking questions they would like to ask others
in the group. Not
the normal whats you name type questions !ut something like" #$here is the most
interesting place you
have ever traveled# or #Name a topic you %eel a!solutely passionate a!out#.
&ive them time to mingle" and to ask three di%%erent people in the group one o% their
three questions.
&et !ack together and have each person stand and give their name. 's they say their
name" ask the
group to tell what they know a!out this person.
2.The Pocket/Purse Game
Everyone selects one (optionally two) items %rom their pocket or purse that has some
personal signi%icance
to them. *hey introduce themselves and do a show and tell %or the selected item and why
it is important to
them.
3.The Talent Show
Everyone selects one talent or special gi%t that they possess and can demonstrate %or the
group. *hey
introduce themselves" e+plain what their special talent is" and then per%orm their special
talent %or the
group.
4.Toilet Paper Game
,ass around a roll o% toilet paper to the group and ask them to take what they need. No
%urther
e+planation.
$hen done. *ell the group that as they go around the room" each person must tell a %act
or something
a!out themselves %or each square o% *, they took.
5.Birthda Game
-ave the group stand and line up in a straight line.
'%ter they are in line" tell them to re.arrange the line so that they are in line !y their
!irthday. /anuary 0 on
one end and 1ecem!er 30 at the other end. *he catch is that they must do all this without
talking or writing
anything down.
!."ap Game
-ang a large map o% the world. &ive everyone a pushpin. 's they enter" they pin the
location o% their !irth
on the map.
#.Paper $irplane Game
Everyone makes a paper airplane and writes their name" something they like and dislike
on it (2ou may
also want to add additional questions). 3n cue" everyone throws their airplane around the
room. I% you %ind
an airplane" pick it and keep throwing it %or 0.4 minutes. 't the end o% that time"
everyone must have one
paper airplane. *his is the person they must %ind and introduce to the group.
%.The Shoe Game
$hen entering" everyone must take o%% one shoe and leave it in a pile at the door. *hey
keep the other
shoe on. '%ter everyone is in. *he host will distri!ute the shoes to people not wearing
the same shoe.
$hen instructed" everyone must %ind the mi+ and %ind the person who !elongs to the shoe
and get some
in%o a!out them. *hey then introduce their new %riend to the group.
&.The $rtist Game
&ive everyone a piece o% paper and a pencil. In 5 minutes they must draw a picture that
conveys who they
are with out writing any words or num!ers. 't the end o% 5 minutes the host collects the
pictures. 6how the
pictures to the group one at a time and have them try to guess who drew it. '%ter this
allow each o% the
artists to introduce themselves and e+plain how their work clearly conveys who they are.
1'.Three in (ommon Game
Break the group into 3s. *heir o!7ective is %or each group to %ind 3 things they have in
common. But not
normal things like age" se+ or hair color. It must !e three uncommon things. '%ter
letting the groups
converse %or 08 . 05 minutes" they (as a group) must tell the rest o% the groups the 3
things they have in
common.
11.)ream *acation Game
'sk participants to introduce themselves and descri!e details o% the ideal" per%ect dream
vacation.
12. Polaroid Game
's participants arrive" take their picture with a ,olaroid type camera. -and out the
pictures to the group
with each participant getting a picture o% another mem!er o% the group. &ive them 05
minutes to %ind and
talk to the people matching their picture. $hen the group reassem!les" have each
mem!er introduce their
new picture pal to the group and talk a!out what they learned a!out them.
13.+a,orite T-Shirt Game
'sk attendees to !ring (not wear) their %avorite *.shirt to the meeting. 3nce all
participants have arrived" ask each person to show the shirt to the group and e+plain how
the *.shirt !est resem!les their personality.
14.+amous People/(ities Game
's each participant arrives" tape a 3 + 5 inde+ card on their !ack with the name o% a
%amous person or city.
*hey must circulate in the room and ask questions that can 3N92 !e answered with a
2E6 or N3 to identi%y
clues that will help them %ind out the name o% the person or city on their inde+ card.
E:';,9E6< ,aris"
;adonna" 6anta =laus" /ohn $ayne" =asa!lanca
15.+a,orite $nimal Game
's the guests arrive" and !e%ore you write their names on a name card" ask them to tell
you their %avorite animal and three ad7ectives to descri!e the animal. 's they tell you"
write the three ad7ectives on a name tag BE>3?E their name (omit the name o% the
animal). 'sk them to mingle with the crowd" sharing why
these ad7ectives !est descri!e their own personality. E:';,9E6< 9oyal" cuddly" play%ul
1an
1!.(reati,e .ame Ta/s
&ive everyone 05 minutes to make their own name tag.they can list ho!!ies" draw a
picture" give a sel%pro%ile" etc.
1#.(ircle o0 +riends Game
*his is a great greeting and departure %or a large group who will !e attending a seminar
%or more than one day together and the chances o% meeting everyone in the room is
almost impossi!le. >orm two large circles (or simply %orm two lines side !y side)" one
inside the other and have the people in the inside circle %ace the people in the outside
circle. 'sk the circles to take one step in the opposite directions" allowing them to
meet each new person as the circle continues to move very slowly. I% lines are %ormed"
they simply keep the line moving very slowly" as they introduce themselves.
1%."arooned Game
2ou are marooned on a island. $hat %ive (you can use a di%%erent num!er" such as
seven" depending upon the si@e o% each team) items would you have !rought with you i%
you knew there was a chance that you might !e stranded. Note that they are only allowed
%ive items per team" not per person. 2ou can have them write their items on a %lip chart
and discuss and de%end their choices with the whole group. *his activity
helps them to learn a!out otherAs values and pro!lem solving styles and promotes
teamwork
.0B.The 1nter,iew Game
Break the group into two person teams (have them pick a partner that they know the
least a!out). -ave them interview each other %or a!out twenty minutes (2ou can also
prepare questions ahead o% time or provide general guidelines %or the interview). *hey
need to learn a!out what each other likes a!out their 7o!" past 7o!s" %amily li%e" ho!!ies"
%avorite sport" etc. '%ter the interviews" reassem!le the group and have each
team introduce their team mem!er to the group. *his e+ercise helps them to learn a!out
each other.
2'.Stor Time Game
*he %acilitator starts a story !y saying a sentence. It then goes in a circle" each person
adding a sentence onto the story.a%ter repeating each sentence thatAs already !een added.
21.Ball Toss Game
*his is a semi.review and wake.up e+ercise when covering material that requires heavy
concentration.
-ave everyone stand up and %orm a resem!lance o% a circle. It does not have to !e
per%ect" !ut they should all !e %acing in" looking at each other. *oss a ner% !all or !ean
!ag to a person and have tell what they thought was the most important learning concept
was. *hey then toss the !all to someone and that person e+plains what they though was
the most important concept. =ontinue the e+ercise until everyone has caught the !all at
least once and e+plained an important concept o% the material 7ust covered.
22.Positi,e 2ein0orcement (ards Game
$henever a participant arrives to class on time %rom !reaks" lunch" etc. give them one
playing card.
2ou can also hand out cards to people who volunteer %or activities" are help%ul" answers a
di%%icult question" etc.
't the end o% the day" play one hand o% poker. &ive a small pri@e to the !est hand (you
can also pick the top two or three hands i% you want to give away more pri@es).
Note that the more cards a person has" the !etter
the chance o% winning.
23.3uman Bin/o Game
Be%ore the meeting" make a !ingo matri+ and at the top o% each square put something
that someone in the group might have done.%or e+ample" voted %or ?oss ,erot" served in
the ,eace =orps" etc. Everyone gets a copy and is asked to circulate" getting other group
mem!ers to sign one square that is true o% them. *he
%irst person to get #!ingo# wins the pri@e (a candy !ar or some other small thing).
24.4ut on the Town Game
I% you have a two.day meeting and need a quick warm.up %or day two" ask everyone to
pantomime
something they did the night !e%ore. Individuals or groups can act out a movie they went
to" descri!e a meal they ate" or recreate a scene witnessed at a !arC.
25.5uck Penn Game
Each person takes a penny or other coin out o% their pocket and looks at the date. $hen
itAs their turn" they tell the year thatAs on their coin and recall something spectacular that
happened that year.
2!.Straw 6 Paperclip Game
&ive each group a !o+ o% straws not %le+i!le straws) and a !o+ o% paperclips. =heck that
the paperclips can %it snuggly into the end o% the straws. &ive each group a task (you can
use the same one %or each group i% you want) and let them go. 6ample tasks< Build the
structure as a group. tallest strongest longest most creative most %unctional etc.
1e!rie%ing included descri!ing teamwork and situational leadership skills used as well as
how di%%erent models are needed to accomplish di%%erent tasks.
2#.+our +acts Game
Each person writes down %our %acts a!out themselves" one o% which is a lie. Each person
takes turns reading their list aloud and the rest o% the team writes down the one they think
is the lie. $hen all are done reading the lists aloud" the %irst person reads their list again
and identi%ies the lie. *he team sees how well
they did.
2%.$ to 7 +ree8e Game
'sk participants to recite the alpha!et in unison. 9et them go on %or a while until you
yodel 6topD 't that point" identi%y the letter they stopped on and ask everyone to share
something they are looking %orward to at school that !egins with that letter. >or e+ample"
i% the letter is ?" they might say ravioli in the dining hall or rooming with someone
cool. 3nce everyone has shared" have them recite the alpha!et again. 6top them on a
di%%erent letter and ask participants to share a personality trait they possess that !egins
with !egins with that letter. I% the letter is 1 they might say things like diligence or
doo%iness. =ome up with di%%erent questions to ask %or each letter and repeat the
process.
2&.2eception 5ine Game
1ivide everyone into 4 groups. -ave them stand %acing each other. Each person talks to
the person across %rom them until signaled (%lash lights). 't signal" person at end o% one
line moves to other end. =onsequently everyone has a new person to talk to.
3'.$uto/raph Sheets Game
,repare a sheet listing traits or %acts a!out people with a line %or them to sign their name
ne+t to the trait i% it applies to them (i.e.< someone who wears contacts" someone who has
!een to Europe" etc.). ,eople then mingle around the room with their sheets seeking to
%ind people who are eligi!le to sign their sheets. ' person can only sign once on any
sheet. *he process may also !e reversed !y having people seek out the
autograph o% people to which they think the category applies (i.e.< someone who looks
like they en7oy the outdoors" someone who is %rom the east" etc.)
31.Pu88les Game
&ive participants a !lank piece o% pu@@le (cut up a sheet o% inde+ card stock). Each
person writes on the piece one skill which they contri!ute to the group. *he pu@@le is then
assem!led to show that everyone contri!utes to the whole.
32.3uman 9not Game
1ivide into groups o% E.08 people. Each group %orms a tight circle." standing and %acing
each other. Everyone e+tends their hands into the circle and !y intermingling their arms"
grasps hands with other mem!ers o% the group. Instruct people to !e sure that the two
hands you are holding does not !elong to the same person. *he groups goal< untie the
knot which results. ;em!er o% the group physically clim! overF underF through each
others arms to untie the knot o% !odies. Note< Its ?'?E !ut it is possi!le %or a
knot to !e unsolva!le or end in two separate circles.
33.+ind Someone Game
Each person writes on a !lank inde+ card one to three statements" such as %avorite color"
interest" ho!!y" or vacations. ,ass out cards so everyone gets someone elseAs card. -ave
that person %ind the person with their card and introduce themselves.
34.Get in the .ews Game
1ivide your group into teams o% %our or %ive persons each" and make sure each team has
the necessary supplies..scissors" tape" pins" and plenty o% old newspaper. 2ouAll also need
a separate room or corner in which each team can work with privacy (and hilarity). Each
group selects one person to !e the model. '%ter deciding what kind o% costume to make"
the team goes to work..cutting" crumpling" !unching" rolling" piecing" pinning" taping.
'%ter an appropriate amount o% time" call every!ody together %or a costume show.
('nd donAt %orget to recycle your newspaper when youAre %inishedD)
35.9an/aroo (ourt Game
*ry this i% thereAs an incident that irritates mem!ers o% your group. 'nnounce that a
kangaroo court will !e held to properly try and prosecute all guilty parties. '%ter you
make the announcement" everyone will !egin to view the incident in question with a
contagious sense o% humor. Name the de%endants. 6elect a lawyer %or the de%ense" as well
as a prosecuting attorney. $rite up %ormal charges and su!mit them to the 7udge.
'ppoint a !aili%% and court recorder. 6creen and swear in your 7urors.
3!."ake a )ate Game
&ive each participant a paper plate. -ave them draw the %ace o% a clock on their plate
with a line ne+t to each num!er (no digitalsD). *hen have participants walk around a %ind
a #date# %or each hour" writing their name !y the hour. *he catch is" no one can make a
#date# with more than one person per hour. '%ter everyone has made their dates" speed up
time and allow 0.3 minutes %or each hour. *he %acilitator then asks a question %or
discussion on each date. *he pairs will have a chance to get to know one another.
3#.People 9nots Game
Everyone sits on the %loor in a circle with legs e+tended toward the middle. Each person
gra!s two othersA hands and holds them. *he hands cannot !e those o% either person
sitting on your sides and also cannot !e the two hands o% the same person. Now" everyone
stands up and untangles each other into a single circle" without letting go o% the hands
you have.
3%.Quick (han/e $rtist Game
,air o%% into partners %acing each other. Each player is to o!serve his or her partnerAs
appearance. *hen the players turn around !ack.to.!ack and make two or more changes in
their dress" hair accessories" etc. $hen they %ace each other again" each partner must
identi%y the changes made !y his or her partner. *his game can !e repeated several times
!y changing partners and increasing the num!er o% changes made.
3&.The Quiet Game
*he instructor e+plains that this e+ercise will take sel% control. ;em!ers pair !ack to
!ack. 3n the count o% three" everyone must %ace their partner" look each other in the eyes"
and then try to remain solemn and serious. No speakingD *he %irst to smile or laugh must
sit down. 'll who remain standing then take a new partner and the activity continues until
only one person has not smiled or laughed. (6econd round o% playing can involve two
teams competing to outlast each other.) I% you get a pair at the end who are !oth keeping
a straight %ace" the rest o% the group can act ask hecklers to disrupt them.
4'.Sunshine (ards Game
Everyone writes their name in the center o% a piece o% paper and draws a sun around
their name. ,ass your paper around to the person on your right. *hat person will write
something positive a!out you and they do not have to sign their name. =ontinue to pass
your name around until everyone has written something on all the papers.
41.+inish the Sentence Game
$rite the start o% a question on the !oard (i.e. ;y >avorite 7o! was..";y -o!!y is..) and
go around the room with each person %inishing the sentence. $hen the group is %inished"
post another question and start again.
42. Your Worst/First Job
Everyone goes around the room and tells what they did for his/her first
or worst job. You could also do it ahead of time and ask meeting
attendees to fill out a card and the facilitator can read them aloud and
everyone has to guess which employee had that particular job.
Goal: To learn something new about your colleagues. t could also
spark conversation between employees who do not normally work
together often and in some cases it might get a chuckle or two.
!". #aper$Tearing E%ercise
Time &llocation: ' minutes
(aterials: )lank * +$by$,,$inch sheets of paper for each participant
nstructions:
,. Tell the participants the following: -.e are going to play a game that
will show us some important things about communication. #ick up your
sheet of paper and hold it in front of you. /ow0 close your eyes and
follow the directions will give you1and no peeking2 #articipants cannot
ask 3uestions.
4. Give the following directions0 carrying them out yourself with your
own sheet of paper and pausing after each instruction to give the group
time to comply:
-The first thing want you to do is to fold your sheet of paper in half.
/ow tear off the upper right$hand corner.
5old it in half again and tear off the upper left hand corner of the sheet.
5old it in half again. /ow tear off the lower right$hand corner of the
sheet.6
". &fter the tearing is complete0 say something like -/ow open your
eyes0 and let7s see what you have. f did a good job of communicating
and you did a good job of listening0 all of our sheets should look the
same26 8old your sheet up for them to see. t is highly unlikely any sheet
will match yours e%actly.
!. 9bserve the differences. There will probably be much laughter.
'. &sk the group why no one7s paper matched yours. :You will
#robably get responses like -You didn7t let us ask 3uestions26 or
-Your directions could be interpreted in different ways.6;
Then0 lead into a presentation on the need for two$way communication
in the workplace.
44. (heek-(heek
?equired< 9ipstick" small washa!legrease pencil or markers
,layers< 6mall to large groups
&ame o% the ;onth 04FBB
1epending on the num!er o% participants" you may want to pick a %ew helpers %or this ice!reaker game.
*he helpers will all have a small tu!e o% lipstick in their pocket or hidden in their hands !e%ore the game
starts. *hey can pretend at the last minute that they decide to 7oin in the gameG this helps them to %ind
the person that they would like to stand ne+t to. -ave all participants line up in a straight line" side !y
side" instruct them that they have to look %orward and they cant turn their heads. *ell them that youre
playing the =heeky.=heeky game and everyone is to repeat what you do !ut must not move. &ive them
an e+ample !y lightly pinching the persons cheek on the right o% you and say =heeky.=heeky. 2ou
should !e at the !eginning o% the line. Note to them that that person is to do the same and then the ne+t
person all the way down the line until it reaches the end. 3nce demonstrated start out with =heeky.
=heeky !ut this time !ehind your !ack you have lipstick that you put on your %ingertips. '%ter youve
done =heeky.=heeky and the movement has gone down the line then do nosey" nosey. '%ter that do
chiny.chiny" eary.eary" heady.heady and right eary.eary. Each time add more lipstick to your %inger tips
without them noticing. In the process the person ne+t to you should end up with lipstick all over their
%ace. ,ick a person that is a good sport to stand ne+t to. I% youve planted helpers in the line" a %ew other
people should end up with lipstick on their %aces also.
6u!mitted !y 'my 6andison" &o*el ;inistries
45.)ress the "umm
?equired< ?olls o% toilet paper
,layers< 6mall to large groups
&ame o% the ;onth 08F08
6et up teams with 4.H players on each team. 3ne person on each team will !e the mummy and each
team will !e given 4 rolls o% toilet paper. *hey will have 5 minutes to complete the game. *he team
players are to circle around the mummy and pass the toilet paper to each other while wrapping the
mummy in it. *he leader o% the group will !e the 7udge and decide which team has created the !est
mummy design.
4!.+ro8en T:s
?equired< ,lastic storage !ag" %ree@er and large si@e *. shirts
,layers< 6mall to large groups
&ame o% the ;onth 04FBB
>or each team youAll need one *. shirt and one plastic storage !ag. ,lace one nicely
%olded *.shirt in each !ag then pour in a!out 4 cups o% water and %ree@e all o% them
overnight. I% this wasnAt done where the event is taking place !ring the *.shirt in a cooler
%illed with ice to keep them %ro@en. Instruct the teams that theyAll !e playing an Ice
Breaker game. *hen hand out the !agged *.shirts to each team. 3n #&o# the teams will
have to get their *.shirts thawed out so that one person %rom their team can put the *.
shirt on. *eams will get creative in their attempts to win. *hey could run the shirts underwater" put them
in the microwave and even pounded the ice out o% them. *he %irst team to come !ack with one person in
the *.shirt is the winner.
6u!mitted !y 9indsay 6cheel" >un.'ttic" Inc.
4#.Gum $rt
?equired< Bu!!le gum" toothpick and inde+ card
,layers< 6mall to large groups

&ive each participant a piece o% !u!!le gum to chew" toothpick and inde+ card. 'llow them 08 minutes
to chew the gum" place gum on inde+ card and then design something on inde+ card using only the
toothpick as a tool (No -ands). *he person with the !est and most creative design is the winner. I% you
have quite a %ew players you can have several categories o% winners" like most ingenious" most
creative and o% course the $hat is thatI award. ,lease send in your ideas o% award names and even
pictures o% your groups playing these games.
6u!mitted !y 'my 6andison" &o*el ;inistries
4%.Gum Game
?equired< =lean garden gloves" packs o% gum
,layers< 6mall to large groups
&ame o% the ;onth 08F8J
6et up teams o% %ive. Each team will receive one pair o% new garden gloves and one pack o% gum (5
pieces per pack). 3n go" the %irst person in each team is to put on the garden gloves" open the package o%
gum" pull out a piece" unwrap it" chew it" and then pass the gloves to the ne+t person. *he %irst team to
complete the task wins. 2ou can choose to have two packs o% gum per team so that they would have to
go around twice.
Ideal gifts for birthdays or Christmas
4&.3a 3a
,layers< 6mall to large groups
*eams competing lay down side !y side on %loor or ground. *he %irst person lays !ack o% hand on ne+t
persons stomach and that person lays !ack o% hand on the stomach o% the ne+t to him and so on. *he
%irst person in line is to laugh one -'. *he ne+t person in line is to laugh -' -' (two times). *he third
person is -' -' -'. 'nd so on. 'ny person that !reaks out into a giggle is out o% the game and must
get up and the hole is %illed in. *he last one to giggle" wins.
5'.1ce (u;e 3unt
?equired< Ice cu!es" %ood coloring and winter weather
,layers< 6mall to large groups
&ame o% the ;onth HF8B
;ake up several ice cu!es trays with %ood coloring in water. 3nce you have made ice cu!es" distri!ute
into search area. *he person to %ind the most colored ice cu!es is the winner.
51.9in/ Boe Boe:s 2in/
?equired< Kaseline or mayonnaise (or anything mushy)" chair" stool and !lind%olds
,layers< 6mall to medium groups
>rom the group select a num!er o% persons that you would like to play this game. 6end them outside.
-ave some one (pre%era!ly a man) that has a very ugly toe" sit on the chair with his %oot on the stool. ,ut
some mayonnaise or Kaseline on his thum!. 9et him !end the thum! and you put it on the 7ointed area.
2ou also put some on the !ig toe that is on the stool.
2ou then invite one o% the persons that have already !een !lind%olded to come in with hisFher hands
!ehind him. It must stay !ehind him as long as heFshe is approaching the king. *hey are asked to !ow
!e%ore the king in respect (keeping hands !ehind). *ake them very close to the king where they can
actually kneel right in %ront o% the toe that has the mayonnaise or Kaseline on it. *hey !ow as to kiss the
king ring and the king puts his %inger out so that the person kisses the %inger instead o% the toe. *he king
then puts his hand !ehind him leaving the toe as the visi!le o!7ect that has !een kissed.
*he !lind%old is now taken o%% and the person sees the toe and thinks that heFshe has kissed this ugly toe.
(;ake sure that you keep adding more Kaseline to the %inger as it will !e kissed o%%" also make sure that
enough is on the toe) =ontinue with the ne+t person until all have come in. 1o not tell the person what
has happened !ut encourage the person to watch and see what has happened. -eFshe will laugh at
himsel%.
*he other players must !e locked away so that they have no clue as to what is happening" they will hear
the laughs and will !e curious and an+ious to come in. No one in the room is to tell them anything. *he
last person usually does not know what is happening. 2ou may tell him or her i% you choose to.
6u!mitted !y ,at -enry
52."emor Game
?equired< 6u!7ects %or memory" tray" paper and pencil
,layers< 6mall groups
,ick a su!7ect like %oods you would eat or crave. 9ay them all in a tray %or viewers to see and have
participants pass tray around. ?emove tray %rom sight and have participants list what was on tray. *he
person that lists the most o!7ects is the winner. 2ou can give e+tra points or !reak ties !y asking speci%ic
questions like what %lavor sucker and so
53.($T(3 "< 1+ =4> ($.?
,layers should !e paired up. 'll players divide into two lines (%acing in) shoulder to
shoulder" with partners %acing each other. ,articipants should !e given appro+imately 38
seconds to look at their partners" taking in all details a!out the individual. *he leader
then instructs the two lines to turn and %ace away %rom the center. 3ne or !oth lines has
05.48 seconds to change something a!out their appearance (i.e. change a watch to
di%%erent wrist" un!utton a !utton" remove a !elt" etc.). *he change must !e discrete" !ut
visi!le to the partner. *he players again turn in to %ace each other and have 38 seconds to
discover the physical changes that have !een made. ,layers get to interact with each
other and have %unD
54.>.(5< @4<:S S>1T($S<?
*he group %orms a circle. *he %irst person states their name and the reason they picked
this college" group" etc. 2ou continue going around the group" repeating the names o% the
people preceding their name and why they chose to come to LinstitutionM. 2ou also can
su!stitute the why you came here with other things. 'nother version o% the game is to
!egin with" I packed Nncle >reds suitcase with........ and continue around like
that. *he real trick is the last person in the group who has to name all the people and why
they came" what they like" etc.
55.S>P<25$T1*<S?
,articipants are asked to study the composition o% the group quietly and to decide on a
superlative ad7ective that descri!es themselves in re%erence to the others (youngest"
tallest" most uptight" etc.). *hey then tell their ad7ectives" e+plain" and" i% possi!le" test
their accuracy.
5!.ST21.G G$"<?
,articipants select pre.cut lengths o% string %rom the group %acilitator . Each mem!er
holds the string !etween hisFher thum! and %ore%inger. >or each wrap o% the string
around the %inger" participants must share one thing a!out themselves.
5#.ST1.G<2?
-ave the group %orm a circle and close their eyes. >acilitator circles the group and
selects a stinger !y squee@ing an individuals shoulder. *he group then opens their
eyes and spends time introducing themselves to others while shaking hands (and trying to
spot the stinger). *he stinger tries to eliminate everyone without getting caught. *he
stinger strikes !y in7ecting poison with their inde+ %inger" while shaking hands. ' person
stung may not die until at least %ive seconds a%ter they are stung. *he more dramatic the
death" the !etterD $hen someone thinks they have discovered who the stinger is" they
may announce that they know. I% they get a second %rom someone else in the group
within 08 seconds" the two o% them may make an accusation. I% the person does not get a
second" heFshe must wait to challenge again" a%ter another person dies. I% another person
does step %orward to second the challenge" !oth point to who they think it is on a count to
three. I% they do not point to the same person" or they !oth point to the wrong person"
they !oth are automatically dead. I% they select the correct person" the stinger is dead and
the game is over.
5%.S<5+ 1.T24)>(T14. <A<2(1S<? *he o!7ective o% this e+ercise is %or mem!ers
o% the team to !ecome acquainted with one another to work more e%%ectively as a
team. Each individual needs to complete the paragraph !elow and then" i% they %eel
com%orta!le disclosing" may !e asked to share answers with the rest o% the group.
-ello" my name is OOOOOOOOOO. I am OOOO years old and I am ma7oring in
OOOOOOOO. ;y hometown is OOOOOOOOOOOOOO and I really OOOOOOOO it there !ecause
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I always dreamed that someday I would OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" and that
dream has OOOOOO true. I %eel OOOOOOOOOO a!out it nowD 6ome things I like to do include
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO. *here are many things I am good at and one o% them is
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I did a really interesting thing once and that was OOOOOOOOOOOO. ;y
%amily consists o% OOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I% I could change one thing a!out mysel% it would
!e OOOOOOOOOOOOO. 6till" I am really glad to !e here right now !ecause
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I would really like to get together with anyone who !e interested in
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. *he one thing I want to !e remem!ered %or is
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. 's %ar as %uture plans are concerned" I hope to !e
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO someday.
5&.">"B5< @>"B5<?
Be%ore the activity !egins" the leader will cut up a %ew pictures into pu@@le pieces. Each
group mem!er will gra! a piece o% a pu@@le %rom a !ag. *he group mem!ers will keep
their pu@@le piece to themselves until the leader says" &3D 't this point" the group
mem!ers will try to locate the other mem!ers o% the group with the pieces to %orm the
appropriate pictures. $hichever group does it %irst" wins. &ood activity %or !reaking
into retreatFactivity groups.
!'.54551P4P?
,ass out dum.dum lollipops to the group. >or every letter that appears in the %lavor" the
participant has to share something a!out himFher with the group.
!1. 3>" T3$T T>.<?
Each person in the group is given a small piece o% paper with the name o% a nursery
rhyme or other song written on the paper. (i.e. ?ow" row" row your !oat" ?ock.a.!ye
!a!y" etc.) 'll o% the people who are given the song must hum that tune and %ine
everyone else singing the song. *hey then %orm a group.