Category: Classroom Icebreaker

25Aug 2020 by Blahman

Virtual icebreakers for Zoom – 2020 pandemic edition

Classroom Icebreaker, Blog
Unfortunately we're living in a challenging time during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Many classes have been moved to online, with videoconferencing software like Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams being used for teaching and learning sessions. While the virus keeps everyone home and people are "social distancing," there is a growing need for more virtual icebreakers to help people socialize and games that can be played while people are online. We've collected (and will keep updating!) our list of online activities and games that are well suited during this difficult time. A good virtual icebreaker should be playable online, free or cheap, and should involve participation from everyone. Many of our 100+ icebreaker games can be adapted for online play, especially our "Get to Know You" type games, but not…
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22Jul 2020 by Blahman

Extreme Rock, Paper, Scissors Game

Active, Classroom Icebreaker, Extra Large Group, Large Group
Battle it out to see who is the rock, paper, scissors champion of the group -- as the losers of each mini-round cheer the remaining winners on! This game works best for ages 12 and up. It's recommended for large or extra large groups of 15+ people. Setup for Extreme Rock, Paper, Scissors No special materials are required to play this game, making it convenient and free to play. How to play Extreme Rock, Paper, Scissors Have each member of the group pair up for the first round of rock, paper, scissors. If there is an odd number, add the odd person out to another pair and have them do a quick knock-out match to form a pair. Alternatively, you can ask for a volunteer to participate as a referee with you. Everyone should be…
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21Jul 2020 by OutlandSam

Picture Whispers Game

Active, Classroom Icebreaker, Extra Large Group, Large Group, Medium Group, Party Games, Stationary
The Picture Whispers game is sort of like Pictionary mixed with the Telephone Game. Picture Whispers actually has some advantages over Pictionary. First, all players get to draw at the same time, and then get to guess at the same time, in phases, which means more game for everyone involved. Second, the game concludes with each player revealing sequentially all stage of drawings and guesses in their notepad, sharing with the group a short, absurd story of misunderstanding, non-sequitur, and debatable artistic merit. This reveal is similar in effect to — and has all the hilarity of — popular group storytelling game Consequences, or this collaborative drawing game. Play Picture Whispers with at least four players, and up to as many as you like, though as the game gets longer for every additional…
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20Jul 2020 by kafash

Line Up Game

Active, Classroom Icebreaker, Extra Large Group, Get-to-know-you, Large Group, Medium Group, Talking Games, Team building
Line Up! is a fun icebreaker that can be useful for camps, workplace bonding, or other large group events. Work together as a team to arrange yourselves in a line based on a quality you have that is not obviously apparent. Examples of qualities to arrange to are alphabetically by middle name, chronologically according to birth date, or house number. Younger children could try something easier, such as arranging by height, because they may not all be able to recite the months of the year. This icebreaker starts as chaos, and ends with order as all participants work together to discover the facts they need and arrange themselves accordingly. Line Up works best in a large open space where participants can move around freely. This is an icebreaker that is…
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16Jul 2020 by kproch26

Frozen T-Shirt Race

Active, Classroom Icebreaker, Large Group, Medium Group, Party Games, Small Group, Talking Games, Team building
The Frozen T-Shirt Race is an ideal icebreaker game to be played outside on a hot summer day, and is a hit amongst younger players. It’s a true ice-breaker game, as the players will work together to literally break the ice on the t-shirt. The game’s objective is simple—you must thaw out, unfold, and wear a frozen t-shirt. Even though this game might sound easy, it’s a challenge to complete. The Frozen T-shirt Game can be played in groups or each player can receive their own shirt. Setting some restrictions on how the t-shirt can be thawed will make the game more competitive, and then you can really see players getting into it! Materials Water Freezer Gallon freezer bags Large t-shirts—the amount depending on the number of players Cooler and…
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09Jul 2020 by kproch26

Trust Course Game

Active, Classroom Icebreaker, Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group, Team building
The Trust Course Game is perfect for individual and group bonding for new students, employees, or members of a group. It requires all players to pay attention to small details and trust each other. The Trust Course can be set up in an office space, but is easier to play outside in a safe location, preferably on grass. Since players are partnered together, groups of all sizes can play. Extra-large groups might be more difficult because the excess noise will distract players from giving or listening to commands. True to its name, this game is meant to build trust and reliance between players. Set-Up Courses can be set-up before the game starting or players can set up their own course. If the game is played outside, use trees, branches, cones,…
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06Jul 2020 by OutlandSam

The Energy Game (Hands of Power)

Active, Classroom Icebreaker, Medium Group, Party Games, Small Group, Stationary, Talking Games, Team building
The Energy Game is a drama class warm-up exercise. One player starts by making a sound and a motion, such as a raising fist and growling, or spreading out their arms and roaring. In turn, each player amplifies the energy of this action, as it gets louder and louder around the group. Play the Energy Game Everyone stands in a circle. The first player makes a sound and a motion. For example, they might put their hand up and say "Umm", or wrap their arms around themselves and shiver, or hide their head and whimper, or shake their finger and sigh. Everyone should be at ease doing whatever action and sound they feel like. This is an opportunity to be creative, but part of the beauty of the game is that…
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05Jul 2020 by OutlandSam

The Bests

Active, Classroom Icebreaker, Extra Large Group, Get-to-know-you, Large Group, Medium Group, Party Games
Perhaps you have seen those TV game shows where two team of friends or family members nominate people in their team to participate in a number of challenges. If you have ever thought it would be fun to try that out, The Bests is the game for you. What sort of skills will you be tested in? How about the longest stare? The quickest at looking up words in a dictionary? The fastest at walking backwards? Yes, this is a quirky game of unusual challenges. From the list of many challenge suggestions below there will be something for everyone, and even if you team loses, the pure silliness of it all will still keep things fun. This makes The Bests equally excellent for a laugh among friends, or to break…
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03Jul 2020 by OutlandSam

Bang / The Gun Name Game

Classroom Icebreaker, Get-to-know-you, Large Group, Medium Group, Stationary, Talking Games
To avoid getting shot, learn and remember names of the people in a group! Bang! or (The Gun Name Game) is a game of name-recall that works perfectly amongst strangers as an introductions game, but is also a game of reactions that can be played in groups of people that already know each other. Younger boys especially will love it, because any time spent pointing fingers as weapons and shouting “Bang!" is time well spent — and perhaps we don’t even have to be all that young! Bang! needs a big group to be played -- ideally more than 12 people. It takes just a few minutes. Rules Everyone arranges themselves in a circle. An organizer, who is not playing, calls out the name of somebody in the circle. For example,…
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30Jun 2020 by OutlandSam

Sequence

Classroom Icebreaker, Medium Group, Small Group, Stationary, Talking Games, Team building
This is a team-building game of communication and pictures. Every member of the group will need to describe the picture they are given, and then as a group they must put the pictures in the correct order. The pictures for this game could come from children's books, or comic books, and you can pick the source to fit the group. For groups of teenagers and young adults, a game involving a Batman or Spider Man story is bound to get an enthusiastic response. Children’s books, like The Tiger Who Came to Tea or Where The Wild Things Are, work well for nostalgic adults, and those who have children of their own. In everyday life we rarely describe pictures -- we just show them! This game will warm up thinking muscles…
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