• create a positive group atmosphere
• help people to relax
• break down social barriers
• energize & motivate
• help people to think outside the box
• help people to get to know one another

Taken from the Wilderdom Store @ http://wilderdom.com/games/Icebreakers.html

Balloon Activities

Games you can play with balloons to get a group having fun and working together. Includes the hilarious "Fire in the Hole" (balloon on tummy, running at another person, bursting the balloon).

Group Juggle

Throw balls to others in a sequence, using each person's name. Works every time. Can be extended to "Warp Speed" (to see how fast the group can throw balls through a set order to each group member).

Gotchya (Grab the Finger)

Fast-moving 5 min. group activity to get people together and focused. In a circle, right finger on next person's left palm. Try to grab a finger before yours gets grabbed.

Human Knot

In a circle, people put their arms in and hold someone else's hand, then try to unravel the knot without letting go of hands. Involves getting physically close to others, stretching, laughing and problem solving.

2 Truths & a Lie

People write down two truths about themselves and a lie. Then introduce the three "facts" to the rest of the group who tries to guess which one is a lie.

Fear in a Hat

Group members write personal fears anonymously on pieces of paper which are collected. Then each person randomly selects and reads someone else's fear to the group and explains how the person might feel. Fosters interpersonal empathy.

Have You Ever?

Active, fun group activity to explore and celebrate the rich diversity of people's past experiences. Works well with large groups.

Zoom

A group tries to create a unified story from a set of sequential pictures. The pictures are randomly ordered and handed out. Each person has a picture but cannot show it to others. Requires patience, communication, and trying to understand from another's point of view in order to recreate the story's sequence.

Animal Sounds

Participants are blindfolded and assigned an animal. The challenge is to use animal noises in order to meet up with other animals of same species. Releases energy. Loud, fun, chaotic, then gradually order and unity emerge.

All My Neighbors

A fun, moving-around activity that breaks the ice, loosens people up, gets people alert and engaged. Good for a group just beginning to get to know one another.

Screamer

In a circle, people look at ground, then on "heads up" look into someone else's eyes. If 2 people are looking at each other, they scream and are both out. Continue to see who is last - hilarious. [www.firststepstraining.com]

Pairs Tag

In pairs, one is the chaser. With a big group, this allows for lots of hiding behind others - fun and active. [www.firststepstraining.com]

Top 10 Icebreakers for Meetings & Training Seminars

Favorite T-shirt, Personal Bingo, Say Cheese (Polaroid Snaps), Famous People/Cities, Sensuous Sam & Inquiring Ida, Dream Vacation, Favorite Animal, Birthday Partner, Long Lost Relative, Circle of Friends [Janice Lavore, 1997, www.topten.org]

Icebreaker games

Cheeky Cheeky, Dress the Mummy, Gum Art, Gum Game, Ha Hah, Ice Cube Hunt, King Boe Boe's Ring, Messy Twist, Moo Game, Puzzle Piece Search, Rumor, Scavenger Hunt, String Toos, Un-cola Pop Off, What's in Your Bag?, Who am I? [FunAttic.com]

Large Group Icebreakers, Pt I

Alright-OK, Positive Recognitions, We'd Like To Welcome, Get a Grip, Creative Handshake [www.firststepstraining.com]

Games to warmup for drama

Covers many common experiential games with basic descriptions

Icebreakers, warmups, energerizers, motivators

Groupwork exercises for helping people get to know themselves, one another, and the nature of their group.

Improv games collection

Drama-based warm-ups - collection of 350 games

Team-builders, icebreakers

Name, high energy, low energy games, and more. [www.ResidentAssistant.com]

SGX - Simulation/gaming resource exchange

Wide range of experiential game resources, esp. see "Manual simulation/game" and "Structured simulation/game"

Info about icebreakers

Get to know each other & team-building activities [Ohio State University]

Energizers

Energizer to add zest to your program [John Sleigh]

Icebreakers

Extensive, well-organized, easy to navigate [Mike Wills]