The Benefits and Uses of Ice Breaker Games

The Benefits and Uses of Ice Breaker Games � These games help to 'break the ice' when a course starts and clears the way for learning to occur by making the learners more comfortable and form as a group in a non-threatening and fun way. � Ice breaker games are an effective way of starting a new school year when students do not know each other. But they can also be used if a group of people know each other well but feel embarrassed because they have to tackle a difficult or new subject together. � They are fun and bring laughter to the process, get the attention and involve people quickly, break down barriers that exist between people and help them to get to know one another quickly � They mainly used to promote: Communication skills, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork

Hot Ball �Everybody stays in a circle and who catches the ‘hot’ ball has to quickly introduce him/herself: name, country, preferences and then throw the ball to somebody else so as to avoid ‘burning’.

Name and gesture �Everybody tells his/her name accompanied by a gesture. �The rest of the group repeats the name and copies the body gesture �Then people have to remember the name behind the gesture

Find your place �People stay in a circle and move to the right or left after a person has been blindfolded. �This person has to find his/her place in the circle with the help of the others. �He/she has to explain how they felt. (Trust building game. )

Helium Stick � Every team member has to keep both index fingers in constant contact with the stick at all times. If even a single team member loses contact, the team has to start over at chest height again. � The stick can only be resting on the index fingers. So team members can’t wrap a finger over the top of the stick or slide fingernails over the stick, etc. (They can’t force the stick down. ) � Every team member must be standing and the starting point is chest height of the tallest person. (You have to give this rule or everyone will drop to their knees and try to cheat right away. ) � The goal is to lower the stick to about one-foot off the ground.

Two circles facing each other �Ten cards are given to write on them: �Name, race, ocupation, family, trait (the most important), favourite activity, health, socioeconomic, home town, religion. �They discuss each aspect by moving one person to the right, facing a different person each time. After discussing they have to rip up one of the cards. Imagining living without that value. In the end they remain with what is most imprtant for them.

Find the person �Who has got the same birth month as you �Who has got the same passion with you �Who has the same favorite color as yours �Who is the same height as you �Who has the same favorite writer as yours

Name game �Every person has to say the story of his/her name �Every person has to find an adjective that starts with the same letter as their name �They have to arrange in alphabetical order without speaking

Balloon game �Blow a ballon and write your name on it �Throw them in the air and play with them for a few minutes. (Music on the background. ) �No ballon should touch the ground �When the music stops everybody should catch a ballon and give it to the owner

Balloon game 2 �Inflate a ballon and write the first and last letter of your name �Put it in a big bag �After they are mixed go and find your own ballon �All balloons have the same colour �Second level: choose one and find the owner

Something unusual about yourself �Each person has to write something less probable about him/herself and hand it in to the facilitator �Then a list will be made with all the information. �People have 5 minutes to interview the others in order to find out who is who. �They are not allowed to ask the question directly

Three overlapping circles �When they have done this explain that each member of the group is assigned one circle. In the area that does not overlap any of the other circles they write at least two unique facts about themselves. �In the overlapping areas they need to write a common fact applying to everyone in the group.