Ubuntu Cards
One of the most exciting NEW props you can use to invite interaction and fun
At A Glance
A set of unique double-sided picture cards which present an endless array of conversation starters and opportunities to interact within a group.
What You Need
- 1 x set of Ubuntu cards
What To Do
These cards are my latest #1 favourite prop – here’s just one of a zillion of ways to use them…
Distribute one card (there’s 54 in the pack) to each person in your group. Describe that that there are two sides to each card, every one of them different.
On one side, there is a large picture of a unique object such as a hammer, a rubber chook or a model train. On the other side, there are 8 smaller images selected from the 54 larger items. Somehow (and I’m not a mathematician) any two cards will have one item in common among these 8 images. Crazy, I know! But it works every time.
Ask everyone to mingle and find a partner. On the count of “1, 2, 3″ each person flashes the 8-image side of their card to their partner. The first person to identify the common image / object, earns a brownie point!
From this point, you can take one of many routes. For example, once the match is identified, ask each partnership to have a quick chat to discover at least one thing that they have in common – but – encourage them to look beyond the obvious. Then, each person swaps Ubuntu cards, and returns to mingling and seeks out a new partner. And repeat many times.
Variations
- As above, but this time, partners stand back to back. One person starts by describing one of the 8 smaller objects on his/her Ubuntu card – but, without using the object’s name. They can describe its use, colour, shape, where it may be found, etc. Once a match is discovered, partners turn around and continue to share as above.
- Click here to read several more Ubuntu Card variations posted on the official Ubuntu Collaborative Resource page (as moderated by my good friends Ryan McCormick & High-5 Learning Adventure Center, USA).
If you are already using Ubuntu cards, why not post your favourite variation by clicking here…
Click here if you want to get your own Ubuntu card set?
Copy Claps
Wonderfully engaging non-verbal opener for large groups.
At A Glance
Without saying a word, a leader initiates a series of claps – each one slightly more complex than the one before – inviting the group to copy their moves.
What You Need
- 1 minute
- A large group, the bigger the better
What To Do
Start by saying nothing. Simply get people’s attention (look at video for a good example) and initiate your first simple, single clap. Make it loud and proud. Most folks will follow suit.
Then, respond with two claps (the group copies) and then three claps. By now, the group will have caught on to what’s going on.
You whole object now is to continue to present a series of increasingly complex (yet still fun) claps and slaps until the group reaches the point of utter bemusement. End with a courteous series of claps that morph into applause.
You will now have your group’s attention, they will be smiling, and are ready to hear what you have to say.
Variations
- The sky’s the limit – introduce a variety of sounds from whistles, thigh-slaps, hoots and hollering! Just make it fun.
- See Clapping Game in Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work (p 86) for another excellent energiser that is guaranteed to raise the energy of your group and make ‘em laugh!
Thanks Nate for sharing this little gem.
Want to make a comment? Please let me and the world know by clicking here…
Train Station Greetings
An hilarious, silly exercise to energise your group.
At A Glance
Two people spy each other on opposite sides of the group and approach one another in ‘slow-motion’ until they are within a metre of each other, and then suddenly they each turn away and look for a new person to start the process over again.
What You Need
- Large group, of say 30+ people
- 5 mins
What To Do
Your sequence and framing of this exercise are very important, so approach with care. If you present when the group is not ready to ‘play’ and act a little silly, it could bomb.
With your group huddled around you (or standing in a circle, doesn’t matter), suggest that you would like everyone to imagine that they are waiting on a train platform in the good old days to meet a long lost friend.
By demonstration, you see them (on the other side of the group to where you are standing) and start waving madly and moving towards them – BUT, in slow-motion. All movements, gestures and sounds are in slo-mo.
By way of a volunteer, ask someone (you have spied) to adopt a similar slo-mo approach to you. Then, suddenly when the two of you are about a metre apart, you discover to your mutual horror that this person is not who you thought it was, and quickly look away.
Eah person then randomly spies a new ‘long lost friend’ (on the other side of the group to them) and they resume the same slo-mo approach toward one another, etc, etc.
Variation
- As above, but perform all of the slo-mo greetings without sounds.
Want to make a comment? Please let me and the world know by clicking here…
Sticky Beak
Filed under: De-inhibitizers, FUNN Games, Ice-Breakers
A quick elimination exercise that is totally FUNN
At A Glance
With a small roll of masking tape sitting on the end of their noses, inviduals attempt to ‘steal’ other people’s tape by gently pushing against the latter’s nose.
What You Need
- Roll of masking tape
What To Do
Just had to share with you this really simple, but totally hilarious activity I tried out for the first time last week with a group of students…
To save time, prepare a bunch of pre-cut/torn pieces of masking tape in advance, one peice for each person in your group. Cut each piece to approx 10cm in length.
Ask each person in your group to grab a piece and then roll it into a circle where the two ends meet, whereby the sticky side is facing out. Then, invite each person to place this sticky apparatus onto the very end of their nose. For longer staying power and strength, people may clamp down the tape (using the inside of the sticky tube) onto their nose.
Finally, on “GO,” invite each person to engage with another, face off, and move gently towards the other in an attempt to have their sticky beak touch their partner’s sticky beak, then quickly pull back. In 9 out of 10 cases, one person will lose the tape from their nose, because it now sticks precariously to the end of their partner’s taped nose.
The game continues with those who still posses a sticky beak attempting to eliminate all other competitors, until at last, one person remains – the winner! Keep your camera handy, because (evidently) the elongated masking-taped nose of the winner is worth a shot.
To get a sense of what you could end up with (thanks to Daryl, David, and er, .. me), I’ve added a couple of photos!
PS: It’s OK for people to occasionally tamp down on their original masking tape circle, to help it to remain stuck to one’s nose. But… mashing all of the accumulated tapes into one big sticky mess is not kosher!
Variations
This is still new to me, but… do you know of any variations? If so, please share in the comments…
Jump In Jump Out
A crazy, energetic group exercise that will trigger tons of laughter
At A Glance
Holding hands in a circle, facing the centre, a group jumps in, out, left or right of the circle in synch with their leader’s instructions.
What You Need
- Open, flat space to form a circle
- 5 mins
What To Do
This exercise is almost impossible not to stuff-up – which is the whole point. I promise you, Jump In Jump Out WILL cause your group to laugh out loud.
Ask your group to form a circle, holding hands facing the centre. You then explain that you want them to …“SAYwhat I say, and DO as I say.” Next, you practice a few rounds, by calling one of four commands – Jump In, Jump Out, Jump Left or Jump Right.
The aim is for each person (the group) to repeat exactly what the leader says, at the same time they are copying what he/she does. Pretty simple, you’d think. Not! There is always a few people who move to their “other left” (or right) or just simply get confused, causing the circle to crinkle.
After 20-30 seconds, re-form the circle, and announce that you now want the group to “SAY THE OPPOSITE of what I say, and DO as I say.” Get it? For example, if I say “Jump In,” the group says “Jump Out” as they literally jump in. Whoooahh… just typing this out is doing my head in!
OK, give it a go. Expect tons of mistakes, confusion and laughter galore – and that’s exactly what you want.
But wait, there’s more…
Try one of these fun variations.
Variations
- Re-form the circle, and announce that you want the group to “SAY what I say, and DO THE OPPOSITE of what I say.” For example, if I say “Jump Left” the group is invited to say “Jump Left” as they jump to the right.
- Add extra commands, such as “Jump Twice” or “Jump High” or “Jump Two the Left/Right”.
Thanks to Paul Radcliffe, who passed on this gem to me during an Project Advenutre workshop in Boston, MA July 2010.
If you know of a cool variation to this ice-breaker, please add a comment…
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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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