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), 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 …“LISTEN to what I say, 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 “LISTEN to what I say, 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 “LISTEN to what I say, SAY what I say, and DO THE OPPOSITE of what I say.” For example, if is 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…
Elevator Air
Filed under: De-inhibitizers, Ice-Breakers, Warm-Ups & Stretches
A gentle, yet experiential way to introduce the desired tone of your program.
At A Glance
People cross to the other side of the circle in which they are standing in the manner of various ‘mind-states.’
What You Need
- A flat, open area to accommodate a wide circle.
- Minimum of 10 people.
- 5 – 10 minutes.
What To Do
Everyone knows what it means to be in an elevator. You step in, no one looks at you, you press the button for your floor. Doors close, and you instinctively glance up at the numbers blinking above the doors as if it holds the answer to the meaning of life. Moments pass, and you glance up again and can’t believe that you still have 10 floors to go. You can’t wait to get out… you know how it goes.
Share a little of this with your group, to get them ready for the what’s next. It will often spark a chortle or two, perhaps even a few comments about how dumb this all seems. Which, if this happens, is just perfect, and I recommend you allow it to occur.
Starting with a large circle, invite every person to simply walk to the other side of the circle from where they are standing as if they had just entered an elevator. No talking, barely any eye contact, and certainly no interaction. Take note of what happens, how it feels, etc. This is ‘Elevator Air.’ Ask your group to comment on how it felt for them.
Okay, ask everyone now to return to their original spots in the circle, but this time as if they were entering a room full of people they knew and had not seen in a long time. This is ‘Long Lost Air.’ Again, observe what happens. Without even saying it, I can guarantee they will instinctively go out of their way to interact with one another.
Now, put it to the group, which atmosphere felt the most comfortable? Which atmosphere do you believe would be the most productive? You can probably see where this is heading, right?
Take just a few moments to establish what caused the difference, and to connect this to your program. Typically comments such as “it was safer”, “I felt trusted”, “I knew everyone better”, “I was able to take risks” will be offered. Fantastic! Suggest that this is exactly what you hope to achieve with your program, and importantly, you invite every member of your group to take responsibility for creating this atmosphere right here, right now. You’re ready to move on.
Variations
- If your group needs a little warming up between ‘Elevator’ and ‘Long Lost’ Air, try ‘Highway Air’ – you know, that generally friendly, safe and more curious way we are with others when we are driving our cars as we acknowledge others in the vehicles. But of course, avoid any ‘road rage’ suggestions.
- Add a further (final?) crossing in the manner of walking into a wild party. Discussion can still follow which looks at the impact of “being” this way with people. For some, this will be very positive / fun, but for others, perhaps scary.
Taken and adapted from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this ice-breaker, please add a comment…
2010 Workshop Calendar Announced
Hi folks,
Good News – my 2010 Public Enrolment Workshops dates are now out!
NEW for this year is the Advanced Facilitation Skills workshop – two awesome days designed for a maximum of 12 people to try out their stuff and receive feedback on their programming, processing and facilitation skills. I promise you, this will be THE MOST significant learning experience that you’ll ever be a part of that WILL enhance your leadership skills. Space is limited, so sign up now.
See you soon, Mark
Mintie Game
An awesome mixer that is as effective as it is delicious
At A Glance
Starting with 10 treats each, people aim to earn more treats by causing as many people as possible to say the word “YES” in their ensuing conversations.
What You Need
- 10 ‘Minties’ or other sweet treats (preferably wrapped), per person
- 5 – 10 mins
What To Do
Ohhhh, this seems so easy to do, but I swear the simple exercise of not saying “YES” is so hard.
I first played this game with ‘Minties’ (refreshingly chewy mint lolly), but it works just as well with any sweet treat. Distribute an exact number, say 10, to everyone in your group, and then just as quickly, tell them not to eat them – just yet!
Now, invite your group to mix and mingle with each other, engaging in conversation as often as possible. Encourage them to introduce themselves, exchange pleasantries etc, etc, and then engage in the fine art of conversation. But this is not just any form of conversation; your goal is to cause the other to say the word “YES.” Every time your partner utters this pleasantly uncomplicated word, you gain a Mintie. The person with the most Minties at the end ‘wins.’
My favourite line to gain a quick Mintie? I spy anyone on their own, approach them and calmly ask “Do you have any Minties left? “Yes I do, er…arghhhhhh..” Works like a charm.
Variation
- Substitute the word “YES” with other colloquially popular words such as “LIKE,” and if you want to make it really difficult – the word “AND.” It’s near impossible!
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work!
If you know of a cool variation to this activity, please add a comment…
Clumps
Zany, fast-paced energiser designed to mix people frequently
At A Glance
People quickly form a series of temporary groups matching the number called by the leader.
What You Need
- 5 – 10 mins
What To Do
This is so simple, yet so good. Gather your group around you, and explain that, in a moment, you will shout out a number – any number from, say one to ten (the bigger your group, the bigger you can make the top end). Immediately, everyone must form a group consisting of that number of people. In my experience, groups get very huggy at this point, and form little fortresses with their bodies to prevent others from joining their little huddle.
Naturally, you will often get a few poor souls left over, the so-called remainder, if we speak in the language of long division. At this moment, you have several options. You can eliminate these folks, move them to the side, and continue with the next shouted number, and so on until you get the lucky ‘winners.’ This is fine; however, I think it’s best to simply shout another number. It keeps the energy up, is much less competitive, and more fun for everyone. And the look on the faces of the ‘dejected’ when they hear the next number called (‘I’m saved’) is priceless.
Move from five to three, then up to nine and back down to four so that a high degree of mixing occurs. Shout “ONE!” just to see what happens.
Variations
- Add the proviso that when a new number is called, a person cannot form a group with anyone who was in their previous group (as much as is possible). This tweaking of the rules will spoil the plans of those crafty individuals who prefer to stick together, simply opting to ebb and flow in terms of their membership number at any point in time.
- Form a group according to a simple, easily-accessible category, such as dark-coloured tops, brand of running shoes, gender, colour of eyes, etc. Similar to Categories.
- Once formed, instruct the newly-created groups to use their collective bodies to make the shape of a letter of the alphabet, or numeral, or object, e.g., table, house, car, etc.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Do You Have Something To Share?
Hi folks,
This space is reserved especially for people like YOU to give and receive feedback about my books and PD workshops. If you like them, great – tell everyone about the value you’ve gained. If you don’t, say that too!
So, if you’re thinking of purchasing No Props or Count Me In, or attending one of my Public Enrolment Workshops, this space would be an awesome spot to learn what others have been saying before you make a decision.
Or, if you already have my books or have been to one of my workshops, keep it short and simple, and write what you think other people oughta know.
<< TO ADD A COMMENT >> Click the ‘Comments’ link located directly above. The most recent comments appear at the bottom.
Thanks for sharing,
Mark
Let Me Introduce
An exercise where you introduce everyone else but yourself
At A Glance
Each person approaches as many people as possible within a specified time limit, introducing each of them to another person in the group.
What You Need
- 2 – 5 mins
What To Do
I’ve found this simple re-working of the traditional form of introductions a brilliant way to rid my group of a lot of that tension that most people experience when they first get together. It won’t evaporate all of the awkward feelings, but it is fun and is guaranteed to create a ton of energy.
With your group milling about, ask them to casually approach any other person in the group – whether they know their name or not – greet them, and ask for their name. Embodied with a lively demonstration, it will sound something like this. “Hi, what’s your name?” The doe-eyed person you have just approached says “Simon,” and you reply with “Hi Simon, come with me, I’d like to you to meet somebody.” At which point you lead Simon with you over to another unsuspecting group member, and say “Hi, what’s your name?” and it might be Vijay this time. “Hi Vijay. I’d like you to meet Simon. Simon this is Vijay.”
Having done the job of the Introducer, explain that each person now moves on to either seek a new person to greet, or submit to another person’s invitation to be part of their introduction, and so on. Get the idea?
In principle, the person arranging the introductions need not say their name, but we are so accustomed to doing so in our culture, it often happens anyway!
To give the exercise a little vivacity, announce that your group has three (or whatever) minutes to introduce everyone to everybody else. Won’t happen, but that’s not the point.
Variation
- Following on from the basic set-up, one of the two people who have just been introduced to each other, now leads the other to a new person. For example, Simon leads Vijay over to meet and greet with Rachel.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment …
Categories
The perfect ice-breaker – ideal for mixing people in a fun and non-threatening manner
At A Glance
Your group splits into a variety of smaller groupings, according to a series of categories you announce.
What You Need
- 10 – 20 mins
What To Do
Ask your group to separate according to the categories or groupings you are about to announce. For example, if the category is “Colour of your pants,” everyone wearing blue jeans will group together. Sometimes, individuals may find themselves alone, but in most cases, small groupings of commonality will develop. Upon identifying each of the groups, announce the next split. You can keep splitting folks for as long as they are having fun, or you run out of ideas.
For mixing purposes, alternate between two-group splits and multi-group splits. The idea is to invite your group to meet as many new people as possible. To this end, if you have the time and the inclination, as soon as the groups have formed, give the participants a few moments to say hello to one another, or perhaps share something of relevance to the category, e.g., “What was so cool about being the oldest / youngest / in-between child in your family?”
Here are just a few sample and fun group categories. There are simply hundreds of them out there, so please, don’t hesitate to make up your own, or tempt them from your group.
Simple half-half splits:
- Arm that ends up crossed over the top of the other, when folded on your chest.
- Leg you put into your pants, shorts, underwear, etc. first when dressing.
- Preference for cooking or cleaning up.
- Preference for washing or drying dishes.
- Position of your thumbs, that is left or right on top, when you clasp your hands together so that your fingers interlock.
- Last digit of your home telephone number. All the odd numbers – 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 – get together, and the even numbers do the same.
- When presented with a ‘good news / bad news story,’ which do you prefer to hear first?
- Preference for the way toilet paper spills off the roll – like a waterfall, over the top and forward, or against the back towards the wall.
- Number of street you live at – odds and evens.
Simple multi-group splits:
- Month / zodiac sign in which you were born.
- Number of continents you have visited.
- Number of siblings in your family, including yourself.
- Colour of your eyes, hair, socks, etc.
- Type of shoes you are wearing (not necessarily their brand).
- Which shoulder(s) you hold a carry-bag – right, left or both shoulders.
- How often you shave each week?
- Distance you have travelled to get here (use clumps of distances, such as 0-5 km, 5-10 km, etc.
- Number of items you recycle at home, e.g., plastic, glass, tin, paper, etc.
Variation
Use to divide a large group into roughly random and even teams. If you are looking for an even split, and just don’t seem to find a category that fits, simply use the old scientific method of indiscriminately moving a few people (“Hey, you and you, move over here.”) to even out the groupings.
Taken from ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Count Off
Looking for a fun two-minute filler – this is it.
At A Glance
A group attempts to count from 1 to 20 in one shot, where people at random say one number at a time, without establishing a pattern or speaking over another person.
What You Need
- A comfortable, open space.
- Minimum of 5 people.
- 2 – 5 minutes.
What To Do
Invite your group to get comfortable wherever they are, and explain that you would like them to count to twenty. Sounds simple enough, but there are a few catches.
In an effort to count from one to twenty, an individual can only call out one number at a time, ie they can’t call out two numbers in succession, but they can call another number later. Also, any time one or more people call out a number at the same time, the count goes back to zero. The biggest catch is that the group is not permitted to establish a pattern, nor is anyone allowed to indicate / gesture / motion to another that they should call the next number. The sequence of calls is purely determined by chance. That’s what makes this game so contagiously fun.
The glee that strikes a group when two (or more) people speak at the same time after a long silence is what the game is all about. Within a few minutes, you group may not have reached twenty, but some spontaneous fun was had, and you successfully filled in a few moments.
Variations
- Ask your group to close their eyes during the activity.
- Choose any list to recite, such as the alphabet, the chemical tables, months of the year, and numbers of seven (eg 7, 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, etc).
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Cocktail Party
A quick name reinforcer, and welcome segue to a drink’s break.
At A Glance
People mingle about shaking hands and greeting people by name as quickly as possible.
What You Need
- A flat, open space for mingling.
- As many party-goers as you can muster.
- 2 minutes.
What To Do
Looking for a quick way to wrap up a session, perhaps reinforce a few names people may have just learned, and throw to a drinks break? This is it.
Invite people to bunch around you, capturing the image of palatial surroundings, evening gowns, black ties and cocktails. Suggest that each person holds in their left hand an imaginary drink, or cocktail if they choose. Then, on your signal, everyone is encouraged to meet, shake the hands of and greet as many people at the party as possible, in say, 43.5 seconds (this is not a magic number!).
On “go”, it will sound something like, “Oooohh, darling, so good to see you Peter. I’m having a frightfully good time…..”. Chat for a few moments, discuss drinks, recent holidays to the Swiss alps, and then in typical cocktail party fashion, interrupt the conversation with a “O, petal, must keep moving”. Air kiss, kiss (these are not mandatory), and “…bye bye” off you go to greet another party guest.
Suggest to your group that they should use the other person’s name as often as possible, enquire about the other person’s drink (remember, they are holding on to it), but not spend too long with any one person. For a bit of fun, ask someone for the time and see if they spill their drink!
When you feel like the heat has started to dissipate from the party, quell the action and ask your group what is odd about this activity. Someone usually will remark that “there is no drink in their hands”, which is your cue to say….let’s remedy that situation – time for a break.
Variations
Imagine you are in a swanky Food Hall. Invite people to mingle as they treat themselves to the extraordinary array of fine foods available on people’s trays.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
Fill Me In
A name reminder game featuring a chaotic combination of movements.
At A Glance
People assume the place of a person standing in the circle whose name they have just called.
What You Need
- A flat, open space.
- Minimum of 10, and up to 30, more if your group has a good level of name-knowingness.
- 10 – 15 minutes.
What To Do
Having formed a circle, the action begins when one person steps into the circle – at the same time announcing the name of someone who is on the other side of the circle to them – and walks toward that person. The first person fills the space of the newly announced person as this second person moves into the centre of the circle and immediately calls out a third person’s name, and the process starts all over again.
In and out, in and out it goes on. At a point you believe the group is ready for more, introduce a second and third person calling out a name across the circle. A series of chaotic and confusing crossings will result. At this time, encourage lots of eye contact and careful movements.
Variations
- Invite the person who has called out a name, to introduce themselves by name to the other, perhaps shake hands, before this other person repeats the process.
- As the movement of people in the centre of the circle gains momentum, invite people to shake the hand and greet (using the name) of someone as they pass them in the middle of the circle.
Taken from ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’
If you know of a cool variation to this exercise, please add a comment…
-
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.
>>> FREE ACTIVITY eBOOK
Enter your name and email address in the form below to receive a FREE 30 page ebook which features ten of the BEST ice-breakers & group games ever!