Ice-Breaker Exchange
Simple, non-threatening game to get people interacting and sharing.
At A Glance
Starting with a question card each, partners ask each other the question on their card, before swapping cards and then seeking a new partner to ask their new question.
What You Need
- Set of Ice-Breaker Question cards
What To Do
In advance, prepare a set of ‘ice-breaker’ type questions on a series of index cards – one question per card. There are hundreds of questions you could use, but to save time, click here for a set of 24 great ice-breaker questions ready to print onto index cards. As you develop more questions, make them as open, non-threatening and interesting as possible.
Next, randomly distribute one card per person. Then, ask each person to find a partner who has similar length of hair to them (or any other fun, random way of splitting your group into pairs).
The action starts with each person asking their partner the question on their card. After this person has responded, the partner asks the question on their card. Upon completing this exchange, they swap cards, and then each seek a new partner. Repeat over and over.
Variations
- Form groups of three or more, inviting each person in the group to respond to each question, before swapping cards and forming a new group.
- For more energetic groups, replace the questions with actions. For example, ‘Perform ten star-jumps in a row,’ ‘Shake the hand of five different people within 30 seconds,’ and ‘Run around the outside of the group as quickly as possible.’
If you know of a fun variation to this game, please add a comment here …
Fill The Gap Debrief
Simple & creative technique to invite your group to share.
At A Glance
Participants are asked to complete a sentence started by the leader to explore a particular topic.
What You Need
- Form one large or several small groups.
- All kids standing or sitting in a circle.
What To Do
Here’s a simple debriefing technique that is easy to understand and will help you direct the focus of your group’s conversation.
It may sound like… “I would like each person to complete the rest of this sentence, to describe their own experience. Today, the most challenging thing I did was dot, dot, dot (or enter topic or question) …”
Variation
- To be sure every person has an opportunity to share, use the ‘Whip Around’ strategy as well.
Click here to make a comment, or share a variation of this exercise…
Whip Around Debrief
Quick and simple technique to debrief a group’s experience.
At A Glance
Situated in a circle, each person in turn is asked to briefly respond to a question.
What You Need
- Everyone standing or sitting in a circle.
What To Do
This is one of my favourite ways to process a group’s experience – it’s quick, simple to understand and allows everyone to speak.
It may sound like … “Starting with whoever answers first, and then we’ll work our way around the circle in a clockwise direction, (enter question…) ”
Variations
- Whip around the circle the first time asking for only one word or phrase answers. Then, whip around a second time asking for each kid to use the word or phrase they chose in a sentence so that it helps the group understand what they chose it.
- Can be usefully integrated with other techniques discussed in the Debriefing Strategies section.
Click here to make a comment, or share a variation of this exercise…
Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Folks, please find time today – not tomorrow – to view this video of an address Sir Ken Robinson made some years ago for TED – I’ve been an avid viewer of TED presentations for some years now (it’s free), and it is nothing if not revolutionary.
Click here to view Sir Ken’s address entitled: Do Schools Kill Creativity?
I urge every educator to watch this video. It’s funny, moving and tells the truth about what’s wrong with our schools.
By all means, share this video with others (click link below). Or leave a comment here.
Have a great day!
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Who am I?
Hi, I'm Mark Collard.
This blog shares some of the most successful group games, team-building activities & programming tips I know.
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