Every adult who grew up with snow loves a snowball fight, no matter how old or young they are. Well, almost every one of them. This snowball fight doesn’t send icy shivers down the neck of your jacket or sting your face. It’s just fun, memorable, and effective. And you don’t need mittens. One, two, three…fight!
Ideal Size
This game would work with any size.
Use For
Introductions, recapping learning, quiz prep, or any time you need to “test” retention.
Time Needed
As long as you can stand it. 20-30 minutes is ideal.
Materials Needed
Paper from your recycle bin would be perfect if one side is blank.
Instructions
If used for introductions, give each student a piece of paper and ask them to write their name and three fun things about themselves. Have them crumple the paper into a snowball. Divide the group into two teams on opposite sides of the room and let the snowball fight begin!
When you call stop, each student is to pick up the nearest snowball and find the person whose name is inside. Once everyone has found their snowman or snowwoman, have them introduce him or her to the rest of the group.
If used for recapping or test prep , ask students to write a question regarding the topic you want to review. Provide each student with several pieces of paper so there is abundant snow. If you want to make sure certain issues are covered, add some snowballs of your own.
When the snowball fight is over, each student will pick up a snowball and answer the question in it.
If your room accommodates this, it can be nice to keep students on their feet during this exercise since they’ll be picking up snowballs throughout it. Moving around also helps people retain learning, and it’s a great way to energize a classroom.
Debriefing
Debriefing is necessary only if you’re recapping or prepping for a test. Were all topics covered? Which questions were the hardest to answer? Were there any that were too easy? Why is that? Were they gimmes or was it because everybody has a thorough understanding?
Bingo is one of the most popular ice breakers because it’s so easy to customize for your particular group and situation, and almost everyone knows how to play it.
Ideal Size
Up to 30. Divide larger groups.
Use For
Introductions in the classroom or at a meeting.
Time Needed
30 minutes, depending on the size of the group.
Materials Needed
Bingo cards. See instructions below.
Instructions
If you know your participants, make a list of 25 interesting traits that describe different aspects of them, things like, “plays the bongos,” “once lived in Sweden,” “has a karate trophy,” “has twins,” “collects children’s art,” “has a tattoo.”
If you don’t know your participants, make a list of more general traits like “drinks tea instead of coffee”, “loves the color orange,” “has two cats,” “drives a hybrid,” “went on a cruise in the last year.” You can make these easy or difficult depending on how much time you want the game to take.
There are lots of places online where you can type in your traits and print your own customized cards. Some are free; some are not.
- Teachnology has a card maker that allows you to shuffle the phrases on each card.
- Print-Bingo.com allows you to customize with your own words or use their suggestions.
If you’re making your own, bingo cards have five boxes across and five boxes down. B-I-N-G-O! A simple table in Word does the trick. Fill in the boxes on a master and make copies. Leave room for signatures.
When you’re ready to play, give each participant a bingo card and a pen. Explain that the group has 30 minutes to mingle, introducing themselves, and finding people who match the traits on the card. They must put the person’s name in the corresponding box or have the person sign the appropriate square.
The first person to fill five boxes across or down yells BINGO! and the game is over.
Ask participants to introduce themselves and share one of the interesting traits they learned about someone else.
Sample Bingo Card
The image shown here may be difficult to read, but it gives you an idea of the layout of the card.
Debriefing
Debrief by asking for volunteers to share how they feel differently about the others in the group now that they know a few things about them. When we take the time to get to know each other, barriers dissolve, people open up, and learning can take place.
3. Marooned - Who Would You Take With You?
This ice breaker is a great introduction when people don’t know each other, and it fosters team building in groups that already work together. I have always found people’s answers to be very revealing about who they are as a person.
Ideal Size
Up to 30. Divide larger groups.
Use for
Introductions in the classroom or at a meeting, and as a team building exercise.
Time Needed
30 minutes, depending on the size of the group.
Materials Needed
None.
Instructions
Give people a minute or two to think about this question: If you were marooned on a deserted island, which three people would you want with you? They can be dead, alive, or imaginary. Ask participants to introduce themselves and share their choices with the group. Start with yourself so they have an example.
Example
Hi, my name is Deb. If I were marooned on a deserted island, I would want Tim with me because he’s smart, strong, and fun, and I love him. He would know how to make a shelter and find food, and we’d have wonderful conversations. My second choice would be someone who tells great stories, like Garrison Keillor or Eoin Colfer. And my third would be Solomon Burke, the blues singer, so we’d have soulful music.
Debriefing
Debrief by asking if there were any surprises in the group and if anybody has a question for another participant. You will have listened carefully to the introductions. If somebody has chosen a person related in any way to your topic, use that person as a transition to your first lecture or activity.
You may have heard of 8-minute dating, where 100 people meet for an evening full of 8-minute dates. They talk to one person for 8 minutes and then move on to the next person. Eight minutes is a long time in the classroom, so we’ll call this ice breaker a 2-minute mixer.
A 2-Minute Mixer is also a great way to prep for a test.
Ready? Go!
Ideal Size
This is a great mixer for large groups, especially if you don't require that everyone talks to everyone.
Use For
Introductions in the classroom or at a meeting, especially when you have space enough to move around.
Time Needed
30 minutes or more, depending on the size of the group.
Materials Needed
A clock or watch and a whistle or some other noise maker. You can also provide canned questions if you want, but it’s not necessary. Adults don’t have any trouble making conversation on their own.
Instructions
Ask people to get up, pair up, and chat for 2 minutes with each other about whatever interests them. You’ll be the timer. When 2 minutes are up, you’ll blow your whistle or make some other sound loud enough for everyone to hear. When they hear your signal, everyone is to find a new partner and chat for the next 2 minutes.
If you have flexibility, allow enough time for everyone to have 2 minutes with every other person.
If using this at the beginning of a course or meeting, combine it with introductions. After the mixer, ask each person to give his or her name, and share something interesting they learned from someone else during the mixer.
For Test Prep
To use for test prep, prepare note cards with a test question written on each card. Distribute to students. While mixing, students ask each other their questions, and then move on when time is up.
One of the benefits of this exercise is that research shows studying in various locations helps students remember better. Chances are good that students will remember who they discussed a question with during the 2-Minute Mixer and recall the correct answer during the test.
Debriefing
This mixer doesn’t require debriefing unless you hear surprising anecdotes that relate to your topic.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Almost everyone has a photo or two in their wallet or on their phone, especially when you’ve got a room full of adults, or even better, baby boomers with grandchildren. The photo hunt is on!
_____ Blonde toddler
_____ Family portrait
_____ Senior portrait
_____ Graduate in cap and gown
_____ Child on a bike
_____ Family or lovers at the beach
_____ Baby’s first photo
_____ Family dog
_____ Family cat
_____ Twins
_____ Child laughing
_____ Child crying
_____ Grandparents
_____ Girlfriends
_____ Bride and groom
Ideal Size
Any size works.
Use For
Introductions in the classroom or at a meeting.
Time Needed
30 minutes; longer if you make a longer scavenger list.
Materials Needed
Scavenger hunt lists. Make your own and print the number of copies you need. Your list will look something like this:
_____ Blonde toddler
_____ Family portrait
_____ Senior portrait
_____ Graduate in cap and gown
_____ Child on a bike
_____ Family or lovers at the beach
_____ Baby’s first photo
_____ Family dog
_____ Family cat
_____ Twins
_____ Child laughing
_____ Child crying
_____ Grandparents
_____ Girlfriends
_____ Bride and groom
Instructions
Hand out your scavenger checklists. Give the group 30 minutes to find someone with one of the photos on the list. Encourage them to find a new person for each item.
If using for introductions, ask each person to give his or her name and share which photo they liked best and why.