Energizers and Ice Breakers

4  Jacks / Small Group - Card Game / Energizer

This card game is a huge success with all age groups. Deal out the deck of cards to each of the players in your group.  Keep the cards face down.  Each player will turn over one card at a time and place them in a pile in front of them.  The player turning over the First Jack gives a number from 3 to 5.  The Second Jack will give a location in the area (under the table, in the corner, in the shower, etc.)  The Third Jack gives the direction of what is to be done (jumping jacks, stand on a chair and cluck like a chicken, shout-out “The British are coming, the British are coming!”  The player turning over the Forth Jack has to go do all the above.  It might be 10 push-ups while singing the Barney song under the conference table.  This can be very silly, but so much fun.

10 Boom / Getting to Know You Activity / Posted 1-7-2010

Make a circle of players and select a player to start the activity.  During this activity a player may say 1 or 2 numbers when it is their turn.  The selected leader might say “1, 2.”  The next player can say 3 or 3, 4.  This process continues around the circle until it gets to the 10 player.  After a player says, “9,” everyone says “Boom!”  This let the next player know they where # 10.  When a player is number 10, they need to share something about themselves with the group.  After sharing, this player begins the count at 1 again.  Change the “go to” number from time to time.  The leader might say, “We are counting to 21 this time.”  Another way to do this activity is to have the 10 Boom player pay a forfeit of some kind.  They might have to sing a song, or say a poem or a joke or maybe even have to do 10 jumping jacks.  Let the group decide how they want to play this easy game.

An Item I’m Like Posted 2-3-2010

 Have the group scatter around the area and ask them to find an item they are like.  After a moment or so, bring them back and ask them to mingle around and tell others why they are like the item they selected.  Encourage the participants to think positive during this disclosing activity.  I might look around and find a pencil.  I pick it up and mingle around telling others why I’m like this pencil.  After telling the other player about the item you have, listen to them and let them explain why they are like the item they found.  After a few minutes of exchanging info, ask the group to stop and replace the items where they found them and return to the leader for more fun and games or more instructions.

A to Z Intro / Posted 5-2-10

This is a tremendous mixer that is non-threatening and fun!  The object of this introductory game is to see how many letters of the alphabet you can find using the letters of other player’s names. Each player will start looking for an “A.”  Players mill around asking other players if they have an “A” in their first, middle, or last names.  If a player says, “Yes I do – my name is Michael so you can use the “A” in Michael.”  The player is now looking for a “B.”  All participants mill around the room looking for these letters by asking others if they have the letter they are looking for.  If they do have that letter, then they move to a new person trying to find the next letter in the alphabet.  This continues until someone reaches the letter “z,” or time is called.  Allow all the players to skip 2 letters of the alphabet if needed.  If a player gets stuck and can’t find a certain letter, they can pass it up and move on to the next letter.  More letters can be found if you allow the players to use their parent’s names, sibling’s names, grandparent’s names or even pet names. 

Band of Birds / Posted 11-12-10

Divide into groups of three, each picking a different bird sound such as "coo-coo," "tweet-tweet," or "chirp-chirp."  One person conducts the band to the tune of a common song such as "Mary had a little lamb."  As the conductor points to a group, they chirp or tweet to the tune in progress.  It sounds crazy and young kids love it.  Singing and conducting are equally fun.

Chinese Alphabet / Group / Follow the Leader / Energizer / Spiller Original

When I was a young boy, my best friend’s mother taught me this and told me it was the Chinese alphabet.  Of course, I believed her and for years I thought I was so smart.  As I grew older and had the opportunity to study the Chinese language, I soon realized that my early lesson in Chinese was just a “just for fun” kind of thing.  Anyway, I found a way to use it during my many workshops around the world.  I ask the group to say it with me several times.  I then ask them to say it and do as I do.  This is where the facilitator can get very creative with his/her actions.  I usually use motions like bowing, playing ping pong, taking tiny steps, Karate type movements, etc.  This will make the group laugh, giggle and using the actions will help them retain this neat little activity. 

“H - I, Chicker - I, Chicker - Ricka - Roni, Ping - Pong - Pie - No, Ala - Vala - Vaxy - Voo”

Celebration Circle / Ice Breaker / Introductory Posted 3-2-2010
Equipment:  None
Make a big circle and make sure all the players meet their neighbors.  The leader of the session will call the months of the year either individually or in groups.  If your birth month is called, start walking, skipping, jammin’ around the inside of the circle showing and telling everyone how special your birth month is.  The leader could call, “July, April and March, Go!”  Everyone with birthdays in that month should come into the circle and proclaim their special month.  Make sure all the months are called.

Do and Don’t Dots / Posted 5-2-10

Have your students get in a small group of 5 to 8 and give each group 1 die.  Each player will roll the die in turn.  If a player rolls an even number they will tell the group about themselves starting each sentence with, “I do ____________.”  If a 4 was rolled, they need to tell the group 4 things.  Example: I do like to travel, I do want to go to the movies this week end, I do homework every night, and I do have a dog named Jake.   If a player rolls an odd number they must start each statement with, “I don’t ____________.”  Let’s say they roll a 1.  This player might say, “I don’t like cold weather” and pass the die to the next player.  Play as long as there is interest and then move on.

Eek! / Posted 11-12-10

Send one unsuspecting individual out of the room.  The rest of the group picks out one object in the room.  Tell them that when "it" touches that object, they are to make the loudest, most horrible sound they can make.  Kids love to make their worst screeches and to see the look of astonishment on the hunter's face!

Goddag (Good Day!) / Energizer / Ice Breaker / Sweden

I was taught this unique game from Sweden way back in the late 70s from a group of touring PE teachers.  It is an outstanding way for group members to introduce themselves in a non-threatening and creative way.  Begin by having participants spread out in an open area.  Next, select a way to break this larger group into 2 smaller equal groups.  Instruct one of these groups to extend their right hand out in front of their bodies in a normal handshake position and put their left hand behind their backs. Ask the other group's members to do the reverse: to extend their left hands extend their left hands out in front of their bodies in a handshake position and place their right hands behind their backs.  Explain to the two groups that on the signal "Go," everyone is to mill around the room looking for another person that has the correct hand extended to complete a complimentary handshake (right hand to right hand/left hand to left hand).  Upon meeting, they shake hands with the other person and say, "Goddag!" (Swedish for "Good day") and give their names.  After shaking hands and exchanging their "Goddag" greetings, they switch hands so that the hand that was extended now goes behind their backs and the hand that was behind their back is now extended out in a handshake position.  Each participant searches for another person who has the same hand extended and repeats the greeting.  This continues for a short time or until everyone has had ample time to greet all the others in the room.

Good News Greeting / Energizer / Posted 4-24-2010

 Have your group mingle with each other as they share some good news.  Have them shake hands and then each person share a bit of good news with the other player.  I’d like to share that I am a Great Grandpa as of 12-19-08.  His name is Shaun Thomas.  What’s your good news?