Up Close and Personal
A Guide to effectively using Icebreakers and Team Builders
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Up close and Personal? What do you mean let’s get up close and Personal? The beginning of the year, especially for new students can be a frightening experience. Meeting new friends and starting a new life begins in our residence halls. It is up to us to build a community that encourages openness, and honesty, and one that will lead to life-long friendships. One of the best ways to guarantee that this will happen is to get the members of your floor to know each other, and to loose some of their inhibitions right away. If you have fun in a group, it is much easier to open up to that group. It is also important to offer opportunities throughout the year for the group to continue to get to know one another. This booklet has been designed to offer you ideas for a continuing series of activities designed to get people to let their guard down, and become an effective community.
A word of warning: do not try too many icebreakers at one time. Most of the icebreakers in this booklet are designed to last five to ten minutes, depending on group size. Most of these can be fun, but if you try to do too many icebreakers at once they get old quickly, just like anything else. Also, be careful in choosing icebreakers for your group to do. Individuals will have different levels of comfort with disclosure to a group and with personal space. The icebreakers in this handout have been divided into three levels, depending on the amount of risk (emotional or physical) involved. At your first few meetings, you should probably only use icebreakers from the first level, and maybe some from the second level. Watch your group, and see how they react. Choose levels throughout the year depending on their reactions. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!! Many of these are silly, and may make you feel like a child again. Sometimes you need that, so don’t be afraid to let go!
Purpose: To “break the ice” for a new group of people, to help people learn first names, and to build inclusion and self-esteem.
Materials needed: None
Description: Have everyone sit in one large circle. Ask first person to say: Example: “I’m Todd.” Ask the second person to say the first person’s name ant then his own: “You’re Todd, I’m Scot.” The third person repeats the sequence: “You’re Todd, You’re Scott, and I’m Karen.” The process continues around the circle until everyone has participated. The last person says everyone’s name. There are many possible variations on this one.
Purpose: To “break the ice” for a new group of people, to help people learn first names, and to build inclusion and self-esteem.
Materials needed: Several balls, or objects that will not hurt too much when thrown.
Description: Group forms a circle. Everyone goes around once and introduces himself or herself. Then the leader says Here (Name of person) Catch! That person says Thanks (Name of Leader), and then calls on another person and keeps the game going. As people get to know others names, and feel confident, introduce more balls.
Purpose: To “break the ice” for a new group of people, to help people learn first names, and to build inclusion and self-esteem.
Materials needed: None
Description: Get into a circle. Say your name and then the name of a fruit that starts with the first letter of your first name. (E.G. Barney…. Banana). If you are creative, you can substitute the fruit theme with country names, animals, kitchen appliances, favorite body parts and even incorporate actions and sounds.
Purpose: To “break the ice” for a new group of people, to help people learn first names, and to build inclusion and self-esteem.
Materials needed: None
Description: Pair up people and have them get to know each other. Share the basic facts: name, origin, color of underwear, etc. Then have them introduce each other to the group.
Purpose: To “break the ice” for a new group of people, to help people learn first names, and to build inclusion and self-esteem.
Materials needed: None
Description: Have people mill around, go up to each other, and say, “Uh, what’s your name?” This one works in other social situations as well.
Level Two: Get To Know Me Games
Purpose: To encourage group to self-disclose information about themselves.
Materials needed: A large sheet of paper for each person, and a box of markers.
Description: On a large sheet of paper, each person draws a map of their life: beginning at birth, including significant life events, ending in the present or future. Each person explains his or her life map to the group.
Purpose: To encourage group to self-disclose information about themselves.
Materials needed: A large sheet of paper for each person, and a box of markers.
Description: On a large sheet of paper, each person draws his or her family tree. Close friends or extended family may be included. Each person discusses his or her family. Each person picks one or two family members to discuss in detail, stating what they have learned from that person, how they are or are not alike.
Purpose: To encourage group to self-disclose information about themselves.
Materials needed: One big bag of M & M’s
Description: Have participants take as many M & M’s as they want. Inform them not to eat at first. After everyone has M & M’s, tell participants that each color represents something different. For each M & M they have, they need to share an experience based on the following categories:
Red = an embarrassing moment. Yellow= a happy moment. Blue= Family
Green=Love Life Orange= a proud moment. Brown= a fearful moment.
Purpose: To allow people to share about themselves and at the same time learn about others.
Materials needed: Pen and paper for each participant, a set of numbers that should be taped on the wall in the room you are utilizing.
Description: Have each person write 10 things about themselves, without putting their name on the sheet of paper. These 10 things should be clues about the individual that might enable the others to guess who it is. When everyone is finished, mix up the papers and then hang them separately under a number on the wall. Each person then has a guess sheet with the number of participants and they proceed to walk around and read the clues and make a guess as to who is who.
Purpose: To encourage individuals to self-disclose information about themselves.
Materials needed: Envelopes with pairs of words written on them, (envelopes should be sealed). The pairs of words are: Radio / MTV, Painting / Photo, Chair / Couch, Door / Window, Kitchen / Living room, Cash / Credit Card, Plant / Flower, Tree Trunk/ Branch, Typewriter / Computer, Cat / Dog, Plane / Boat, Radio / Television, Novel / Comic Book, Etc.
Description: Pass out the envelopes with a pair of words sealed in them. Do not let anyone open his or her envelopes until it is his or her turn to talk. For each turn ask the individual to pick one of the two words to describe himself or herself and then share why they chose that word.
Purpose: To allow people to share things about themselves to others.
Materials needed: A roll of toilet paper, preferable the kind with perforations.
Description: Tell the group that they are going on an overnight camping trip. Pass the roll of toilet paper around and tell them to take as much as they will need for the trip. After the roll is passed around, tell the group that they must say one thing about themselves as to how many pieces of paper they ripped off.
Purpose: To help people be assertive and get to know others.
Materials needed: Enough paper and pencils for everyone.
Description: Participants are paired up. Each gives the other two questions that he or shoe would like answered from the group, about the group. The pairs break up and circulate around the room, asking the questions his or her partner wants to know. After getting answers, the pairs get back together and exchange answers that were gathered.
Purpose: To experience intense communication between the parties involved
Materials needed: Pen or Pencil, blank paper, and several simple pictures
Description: Participants sit back to back (1 on 1). One person has the sketch or the picture and the other person has the pen or pencil and the blank piece of paper. The person with the picture has to describe it to his or her partner, while the partner is trying to draw what is being described. (Time limit for describing the picture and drawing it is two or three minutes.)
Purpose: To help people relate to others and themselves.
Materials needed: any item that you want people to describe themselves as.
Description: Participants talk one on one with three people, for about five minutes each. Have each person pick an object that best describes themselves and the three people they talked with. Go around the group and discuss what was chosen and why.
Purpose: To get a group to know one another and to provide each member a chance to self disclose.
Materials needed: Brown Paper bags.
Description: Distribute one bag to each member of the group before your meeting. Have the individuals fill the bag with three items that symbolize them. Share the objects with the group and why it symbolizes them. Variation: Put all the bags in a pile and draw them out one at a time. Have the group guess which person each bag belongs to.
Purpose: To get a group to know one another and to provide each member a chance to self disclose.
Materials needed: A roll of string or yarn and scissors
Description: Sit in a circle. Have each person cut his or her own length of string or yarn. Each person then introduces him/herself, and then winds the string around their finger, saying one thing about themselves for each wrap until all of the string is used.
Purpose: To challenge a groups perception skills, and to have fun.
Materials needed: None
Description: This game is very simple, but can be very confusing for those not “in” on the secret. Take three or four people aside and explain the game, and then demonstrate for the whole group, then invite the group to try it out. The first person states the name of a city, state, or park. The next person names a place that begins with the last letter of the first place, and so on until the whole group gets it. Here is an example: Ashland
Denver
Reno
Oklahoma
A…. ETC.
Purpose: To establish trust within a group.
Materials needed: One Blindfold
Description: Group forms a circle while one member is blindfolded and spun around until slightly dizzy (don’t get them sick). This person tries to find and identify someone solely by feel (above the neck line please). If she or he is successful, then the identified person is in the blindfold next.
Purpose: To get a group to know one another and to provide each member a chance to self disclose.
Materials needed: Flour, bowl, pan, dime, and knife
Description: Overly fill the bowl with flour. Place pan over bowl and then gently flip the bowl and pan over while holding the two together. Ever so smoothly, lift the bowl off the pan, leaving a mound of flour. (If it cracks, try again). Place a dime on the top of the mound. Have each person give one fact about themselves, and then have them cut the mound. The person who makes the cut that results in the dime falling, has to dig through the flower for the dime with just their mouth. Yummy.
Purpose: To find out interesting facts about the group members.
Materials needed: Enough blank Bingo cards for each person in the group.
Description: Set up a bingo grid, with a piece of trivia in each box (e.g. find someone who owns a pickup truck). Distribute to each member of the group and explain the directions. Everyone mingles, searching for people that fit the trivia clues. Once you have found that person, have them initial the card. The first person that fills a column with signatures wins a prize.
Purpose: To find out interesting facts about the group members.
Materials needed: None
Description: Have people pair up with foreheads together. For about three minutes have person A ask person B the question, “Who are you?”. Person B will respond with something about themselves, like their name, or their interest or goals in life. Person A will keep asking the same question, Person B will keep answering that question with whatever comes to mind. Switch people after a few minutes.
Purpose: To find out interesting facts about the group members.
Materials needed: None
Description: each person will say three statements about her/himself. Two of these statements should be true, while one is false. The object is to figure out which statement is false.
Purpose: To find out interesting facts about the group members.
Materials needed: Enough blank note cards for each person in the group, and pens for everyone.
Description: On cards, have group members write down the name of a famous person that they have been told they look or sound like. Keep responses a secret, put them in a hat, and have each member pick out a card. Finally, go around the group and have them announce the celebrity’s name out loud. The rest of the group must guess who the group member is.
Purpose: To find how perceptive group members really are.
Materials needed: None
Description: Pair up. For exactly one minute, they study each other’s appearance without speaking. They each turn around and make exactly five changes in their appearance. They then turn back around and try to identify the changes in the other person.
Purpose: To find how perceptive group members really are.
Materials needed: Name Labels, Pens.
Description: Place labels on each person’s back with the name of a famous person, cartoon character, etc. The participants must figure out whom they are bay asking “yes” or “no” questions. An added twist can be to make these labels of famous couples, and the last step is to find you “partner”.
Purpose: To find out interesting facts about the group members.
Materials needed: None
Description: Pair up. Each person pulls something out of their wallet, purse, pocket, and tells their partner about it (where they got it, from who, any sentimental value.)
Purpose: To share members first impressions of each other.
Materials needed: Paper, Pens
Description: Have each member of the group write their names at the top of a sheet of paper. Pass these sheets around and have members of the group write their first impressions (no negative stuff please) of each other. These can either be shared immediately or you can compare them to impressions later.
Purpose: To find out interesting facts about the group members.
Materials needed: None
Description: Each person tries to say something unique about her/himself, in the form of: I have…. and you haven’t. For example: I have streaked at a major league baseball game, during the seven-inning stretch, and you haven’t. If someone else in the group has, then that person who though they were unique is ejected from the game.
Purpose: To find out interesting facts about the group members.
Materials needed: None
Description: Have everyone answer questions on:
-Most embarrassing moments -Changing anything in the world or your past
-Favorite Pick-Up lines -Single ability that you wish to acquire
-Best rejections for a date -Wild fantasy / Future goals
Level Three: Trust me…. Just Trust Me.
Purpose: To get participants to see that they can work together to solve a problem.
Materials needed: None
Description: Stand in a circle. Cross hands (across the circle) and grab one hand of two different people. (Everyone should have two different hands, but not the person on either side of them.) Instruct them to, without releasing hands, get the group to form a circle or figure eight.
Purpose: Fun way to get people to take a chance. Be assertive, look out for yourself.
Materials needed: Balloons, string, and scissors.
Description: Each person takes two balloons and ties them to their ankles. At a signal, each person tries to pop other people’s balloons without letting their own get popped. Last person standing with balloons inflated wins.
Purpose: To build community inclusions and to have a hilarious time.
Materials needed: Slips of paper and a pen
Description: In order to divide people into tribe groups, prepare small slips of paper for each person. Depending on the number of groups that people will divide into, choose the names of that many animals. Examples: horse, cow, chicken, pig, sheep, donkey. Write the names of the animals on the slips so that the number of people you want in the “horse” tribe all have a slip labeled “horse” and so on. If you are designating specific people for membership in each tribe, write their names on the outside of their respective slips. Before distributing the slips, tell everyone that they are not to tell anyone else what their slip says. When all are ready, have the community circulate around with eyes closed, making the noise of their animal until they find all the other same animals. After all, have found their groups, have them sit together and discuss the experience.
Suggested Processing Questions: How did you feel wandering around seeking your animal friends? What was it like finding the first one? How did your group stay together? Look at each other now, How do you feel?
Purpose: To get the participants to see that they all can do something cooperatively.
Materials needed: None.
Description: Get in a circle shoulder-to-shoulder. Instruct group to turn to the right and then move one or two steps toward the inside of the circle. Then on the count of three you will sit on the person’s knees behind you. (Entire circle should be supporting each other on their laps.)
Purpose: To get a group working together.
Materials needed: Beach Balls
Description: Have some of the group sit inside another group who are standing. Start at least two balls in the air. Instruct them that they must keep the balls in the air, and that seated people must stay seated. See how long the group can keep the balls in the air.
Purpose: To get a group working together.
Materials needed: A plastic Bucket
Description: Sit in a circle. Start bucket on one person’s foot. It must be passed around the circle by using only your feet. If it is dropped then you start all over again.
Purpose: To help personal relations through a struggle.
Materials needed: None
Description: Split group into pairs. Have the pairs sit on the ground, back to back, with your knees bent and elbows linked. Now stand up together with out unlinking your elbows.
Purpose: To interact with a partner to work out a problem. This is a very good exercise to do with roommates.
Materials needed: None
Description: Two people sit face to face. First, grab each other’s hands across the opening in between the tow of you. Next, still with grasped hands, you want to sit on your partner’s feet, and they want to sit on yours. The object is to try to get from one end of the room to another without letting go of the hands or without removing the feet. (Hint: It is a lot easier if you and your partner rock back and forth)
Purpose: To get a group working together.
Materials needed: A few oranges
Description: Everyone in the group forms a circle. The starting person holds the orange with his or her chin and neck. He or she then passes the orange neck to neck until it goes all the way around the circle. The goal is to not allow the orange to fail.
Purpose: To establish trust within a group.
Materials needed: Enough blindfolds for half of the group
Description: Have everyone find a partner and give one person a blindfold. The other person not wearing the blindfold will direct the “blinded” person around verbally. You are not allowed to touch the person with the blindfold. Remind the person directing to be kind, because in the end, partners switch places.
Purpose: To get a group to have fun, and challenge their listening skills.
Materials needed: None
Description: A classic stand by when you cannot think of anything else. One person is Simon and the group must do what he or she says if Simon says “Simon Says” before the command. If a command is just issued with out saying “Simon Says” and someone in the group dies it then that person is out. The remaining person can become Simon.
Purpose: To test group members dexterity, and patience.
Materials needed: None
Description: The group kneels in a circle on their hands and knees with each person’s hand crossing over the hand of the person next to them. One person thumps his or her hand on the ground. The person with their hand to the left of the hand initially thumped, must thump their hand. Then the next person, and the next, and so on. If someone thumps his or her hand twice, the direction of the thump is reversed. If someone messes up, his or her hand is removed from the game.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group.
Materials needed: None
Description: Have everyone remove his or her shoes. The object is, while staying on your knees, de-sock everyone else before they de-sock you. Play on a nice surface that will not ruin anyone’s knees.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: Blindfolds for everyone
Description: Blindfold everyone, and have them take off their shoes. Place the shoes in a pile and let the participants find their shoes. This could be done as two sets of teams trying to get all of their shoes on first.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: Several Blindfolds
Description: Use a group of people to be obstacles with their bodies for another group to traverse.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: None
Description: Pair up. The leader calls out commands such as Head to Head, Elbow to Knee, etc. The partners must then perform the commands until the leader says, “people to people”, and then everyone must find a new partner.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: None
Description: The leader will call out something like, “Touch someone on the forehead that is wearing an ear ring”. Everyone must follow the command. Now while holding this position, the leader will call out something like, “touch the knee of someone wearing shorts”. You must continue following commands by touching that stated person with any part of your body. When you cannot complete a command, you are out.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: None
Description: Group forms a circle with partners. One person is chosen to be chased, while another is chosen to be the chaser. The chasee must run around the outside of the circle. If he or she hooks onto the arm of one of the pairs, then the person on the opposite side of that pair becomes the new chasee. If the chaser tags the chasee, they switch roles. No one who is liked to another can be tagged, and only two people can be linked together.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: None
Description: Choose one person to be the murderer. Have the group mill around. The murderer then kills people by winking, trying not to be detected by the other people walking around.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: Blindfolds for half the group
Description: The “Jamma Quack” group starts inside the circle of another group. The outside circle holds hands but leaves one break in the circle. The Jamma Quack’s, while blindfolded, must hold their own ankles, and jump backwards trying to find the exit. Once one of the Jamma Quacks finds the exit, they give a predetermined mating call to help their fellow Jamma Quacks to exit as well.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and relax with the group
Materials needed: String, scissors, blindfolds for all.
Description: Blindfold everyone, and have them sit in a circle. Tie a loop of string that is big enough for everyone in the group to hold. Place the loop around the group and have them work together to form shapes. Start with a square, then a triangle, and then a star, and just keep them going.
Purpose: To get members to trust each other.
Materials needed: Blindfolds for half of the group
Description: It is recommended that only an experienced person lead this activity. Make sure group is in a serious mood. Have one person stand on a table or equivalent small ledge. This person has their back faced towards the group, and their arms crossed. The rest of the group must have two rows lined up directly behind the person. These two rows link arms. When ready, the person falling will give a signal, and fall backwards, staying as stiff as possible. Make sure you catch them.
Purpose: To get members to trust the group
Materials needed: Blindfolds for everyone
Description: Blindfold everyone, and have them line up. Have them place their hands on the person in front of them, forming a train. Leader leads them over desired course. (Leader should not be blindfolded). There are many variations, such as pairing them up and have one person lead another.
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and to trust the group
Materials needed: None
Description: The group is told of how they are escaping a sinking ship, and how they all must fit on a single lifeboat. Rescue should arrive in five minutes, but during that time, no body parts are allowed to touch the shark-infested waters. The whole group must balance on the “lifeboat” (a couch, chair, or small log can all be used, depending on the size of the group).
Purpose: To get members to just have fun and to trust the group
Materials needed: Rope / String
Description: Tell the group of how they are a team of Army Rangers, trapped in a prisoner of war camp, and that the only way they can escape is to cross this electric fence. They must get everyone over the fence without touching it. Use a rope about four feet high. Be careful. For a twist, make all experienced members blind, or unable to speak.
Purpose: To build trust within the group
Materials needed: None
Description: A simple trust exercise with the potential of being a powerful experience. Eight to ten people get into a circle facing inward with one person inside the circle. The people on the perimeter should stand as close together as possible. The person in the center stands right in the middle of the circle and is told to make his or her body stiff, and to lean backwards. This person will be caught by the person in whose direction the fall is directed, and in turn will be gently pushed towards another person, perhaps across the circle. The key is gentleness and quiet. Pass the person around the circle and across it. Alter the speed and the depths to which you allow the person to fall before catching them.
