Icebreakers, Energizers, and
Team Building
HIPPY USA National Conference
April 2014
Gweneth Welch
HIPPY USA National Trainer
Jeffco HIPPY Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Why, What and How…..
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Icebreakers can play an important role in helping people
integrate and connect with one another in a group environment.
Enhance your teaching/training by helping to stimulate
cooperation and participation.
Provide positive momentum for small group work through:
Helping a new group get to know one another.
• Helping new members to integrate into a group.
• Helping people feel comfortable together.
• Encouraging cooperation.
• Encouraging listening to others.
• Encouraging working together.
• Encouraging people to break out of their cliques.
• Developing social skills.
• Building a rapport with leaders.
• Creating a good atmosphere for learning and
participation.
Icebreakers and you
A 10 SECOND CHECK LIST!
• Be enthusiastic, whatever happens, be
enthusiastic!
• Choose volunteers carefully and don't cause
embarrassment.
• •If something is not working move quickly on to
the next activity.
• •Timing is important. Don't flog them to death.
• Finish each icebreaker while people are still
enjoying it.
• •Choose icebreakers appropriate for your group.
No group is the same and your understanding of
what will and will not work with your group is a
core work skill.
Strategies for
• When teambuilding, follow the “Challenge by Choice” rule.
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Every individual has the choice to participate at whatever level she/he
feels comfortable.
• Set ground rules!
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These should be discussed and agreed upon by all
participants. They will probably include things such as “Do not interrupt,”
“Respect the values and beliefs of others,” “Listen when others are
speaking,” etc.
• Handle any potential safety issues.
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When using activities that require additional equipment and/ or involve
lifting people off of the ground, please make sure equipment is in good
condition, equipment is handled properly, and individuals have the proper
training and supervision necessary to perform the activity safely.
• Use good judgment.
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It is important to provide the group with the proper balance of challenge
and support so that they stretch themselves and learn, but also do not
become overly frustrated and shut down. Also, when providing additional
challenges for the group such as blindfolding one team member, etc.,
make sure that the individual is comfortable and willing to go this extra
step. Nothing should be done at any time to intentionally place a person in
a position they do not want to be in.
Follow Up
• Process what has just occurred.
• This will allow the group to further identify “lessons
learned” from the activity,
• To better understand group dynamics,
• And, to assess its strengths, weaknesses, and areas
for improvement related to working as a team.
• Some possible processing questions might include:
• Why do you think this was successful?
• How did you feel during this activity?
• What were some processes your group followed that
supported your team’s success? How can these be
transferred to other processes?
• Avoid yes/no questions.
• Remind participants to use “I” statements.
Let’s Play-Getting Acquainted
Getting To Know You, With Fun!
Find four people you don’t know, exchange pleasantries and have them sign your paper.
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Find someone shorter than you are and play ‘Patty Cake, Patty Cake” have them sign their name.
____________________________________________
Find someone taller than you and ask them for the month and day of their birthday – then sing to them as
loud as you can, happy birthday. Have them sign their name.
______________________________________________
Gather four people together – put your arms around each other’s waist and do the “Fight, Fight, Fight” yell.
Lean to the left, lean to the right
Stand Up straight and
Fight, fight, fight
Each person initial here: _________
__________
________
Find a partner and whistle: “I’ve been working on the railroad.”
Sign their name ________________________
Find a partner and have them listen to you say “toy boat” ten times.
Sign their name______________________________
Have someone watch you do five jumping jacks.
Sign their name______________________________
_________
Team Building Activities- Let’s Try!
STACKING CUPS
TALLEST/
Provide each small
LONGEST
group with string,
Teams race to
rubber bands and
build the
solo cups. The idea is
highest tower
for the groups to
using spaghetti
stack the cups
and
without touching
marshmallows.
them with their hands.
Closure Activities
Pie a la Mode
Purpose:
Introducing a topic, getting closure, team building
Number of
5-50
Time:
15 minutes
People:
Materials:
Pie Pictures Cut into fourths (I downloaded a variety of different pie
pictures from the internet or cut colored construction paper into
circles to represent a pie)
Description: 1.
Variations
Have enough pie pieces, one for every participant.
2.
Instruct participants to write down something significant they
are taking away from the presentation.
3.
Ask participants to find others in the room with the same kind
of pie and group together.
4.
Once they have formed a group, each person should take a
minute to share what the significant learning point they
received from the session.
Collect pie pieces when the activity is done, this is a great way for
the presenter to learn what was valuable for the group.
Your turn to share activities
If You Could Be
Purpose: Energizer, getting acquainted, grouping, introducing a topic
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
10-15 minutes
Materials:
If you could be questions
Description:
1. Participants will compare themselves to everything from
cookies to departments.
Rules:
• Explain that you will ask a question with four possible
answers.
• When you have finished asking all four questions,
participants will move to the corners of the room
designated the four choices. (Choose one corner to
represent the area for each choice.)
• Once in their groups, participants can share why they
choose their choice.
Examples of
Questions:
1. If you could be any kind of cookie, what would it be?
Chocolate chip, peanutbutter, sugar, ginger snap
2. If you could be an animal, what would you be? Dog, cat, horse,
bear
3. If you could be CEO of hersey foods, what candy would you
make more of? M&Ms, kit kats, reeses peanut butter cups,
dark chocolate
4. If you could be a character from a HIPPY storybook, who would
you be? Maria, Reggie, Berry, Misty
5. If you could be a dancer, what kind would you be? Ballet, tap,
country, modern
6. If you could be a drink, what would you be? Soda, tea, coffee,
water
It’s Catching
Purpose: To get energized, relax and have fun
Number of
People:
Unlimited, if a large
group, divide into two
groups
Time:
10 minutes
Materials:
None
Description:
1. Have participants sit in a large circle facing each other.
2. In this game everyone will introduce themselves by giving their
name and demonstrating some type of imaginary aliment that
they are going to pass on to everyone.
3. Have the first person say their name clearly and then describe
their physical ailment, demonstrating it to the group.
4. Once the ailment is demonstrated, everyone should mimic the
symptom.
5. Then the person to the left takes a turn using a different
contagious introduction.
6. Continue around the group, each person making an
introduction and succumbing to a new ailment, which is
caught in turn by everyone else and added to all the other
symptoms they are already experiencing.
Ailments could include sneezing, eye twitching, a limp, cough, etc.
Variations
To tailor this exercise to your group, for stress management ask
participants to develop ailments that are physical manifestations
of stress (e.g. drumming fingers, tense shoulders, clenched fists,
facial tics, etc.).
For listening skills, focus on bad listening habits (poor eye contact,
fidgeting, looking bored, interrupting, etc.
Library Cards
Purpose:
To get acquainted, get to know each other
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
5-10 minutes
Materials:
Library card worksheet
Description:
1. Have participants spend a few minutes reflecting on any
books that they have read that influenced their life as a
child, as a teenager, and as an adult.
2. Pass out the ‘Library Card’ worksheet, per person.
3. Instruct participants to fill in the blanks with the titles of
the most influential book during each stage in their life.
4. Once complete, have participants pair and share their
books with a partner.
Variations:
1. Have participants find someone who has read the same
book or a book by the same author.
2. Use songs, trips, tv shows, etc. as the data they complete.
3. Ask for responses from various stages: before becoming a
parent, while expecting, after delivery.
4. Children’s books they enjoy reading with their child.
5. Favorite HIPPY book.
HIPPY Library Card #ABC123
Name:
The most influential book I read as a:
Child:
Teenager:
Adult
Expires:
Line Change
Purpose: Practice observation skills, group cohesion, introductions
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
10 minutes
Materials:
None
Description:
1. Have the group form two lines facing each other.
2. Instruct individuals facing each other carefully look at their
appearance.
3. Both lines turn their backs to each other and change three
things about their appearance.
4. Have everyone turn back around and try to identify what is
different about each other.
5. Rotate the line and repeat.
Match Up
Purpose: To meet other participants, focus on meeting content, form small
groups.
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
10-15 minutes
Materials:
For each group of 4-6 people, one trainer created jigsaw puzzle
prepared in advance and cut into four to six pieces. Could use
puzzle examples of those used in the HIPPY curriculum.
Description:
1. As participants arrive, have them draw a puzzle piece from a
box.
2. After welcoming the group, have the entire group stand up
and walk around the room to find the others who have pieces
of their puzzle.
3. When they find their group, they should introduce themselves.
4. When the puzzle is complete, find a place to sit down with
their group.l
Variations
1. Use HIPPY puzzle examples from the curriculum.
2. Use pictures related to the meeting subject.
Me, Myself and I
Purpose: Getting acquainted, self disclosure
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
15 minutes
Materials:
Human shape, markers, yarn, magazines, etc.
Description:
1. Give each person a human cut out shape.
2. Distribute other materials.
3. Instruct participants to cut out pictures or words from
magazines, use yarn, markers, etc. to represent themselves on
the human cut out shape.
4. After participants are done, pass them around the room and
have participants guess whose each is or
5. Participants can share their creations.
A Pat on the Back
Purpose: Team Building
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
10 minutes
Materials:
Paper, Scissors, Markers, Tape
Description:
1. Have participants trace their hands on a sheet of paper and cut
them out.
2. Have group members mingle and write things on everyone’s
back that tells them something positive.
3. After the group has mingled and written on each other’s hand
cut out, allow for a the group to read the comments written on
their cut out.
ABC’s
Purpose: Energize a long presentation, Closure
Number of People:
12-26
Time:
5-10 minutes
Materials:
None
Description:
1. Ask participants to stand and line up.
2. Have them count off alphabetically.
3. Each person should name a word related to the content of the
gathering that begins that letter of the alphabet.
4. Words cannot be repeated.
5. If a person is not able to say a word within 3 seconds they sit
down.
6. Continue with the group until only one person is left standing.
This can be followed with a small token or applause.
Examples of
Analogies:
1. I.e. The presentation is parent meeting on nutrition, the
person with letter A could say apple, B banana, C carrot, D
diet, etc.
Variations
Divide into small groups and teams list words on chart paper that
begin with every word in the alphabet. First group to complete
the alphabet wins.
This a great activity because it requires no props, materials or
planning.
For really tough letters, ask for help from people sitting, if one of
them can give a word, they get to stand up and play again.
Alliteration Affiliation
Purpose: Getting acquantied
Number of People:
5-25
Time:
10-15 minutes
Materials:
Index Cards
Description:
1. Explain that it is easier to remember people if we attach
significance to their names.
2. Give each person an index card.
3. As participants to create a business with an alliteration that
matches one or both of their first and last names. Instruct
participants to design their business card with their name, the
name of the business and a description.
4. Have them share their businesses with the group. If a large
group you may have them share in smaller groups.
Examples of
Analogies:
1. Use your own name as an example, such as Carol’s
Christmas Candle Shop, or Monique’s Machinery
Warehouse.
Analogies
Purpose: Get acquainted, introductions
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
5-10 minutes
Materials:
None
Description:
1. Ask everyone to introduce themselves using an analogy.
Examples of
Analogies:
1. What piece of fruit best describes your expectations for this
meeting? You could have a bowl of fruit for them to choose
from or they can self-select. Or use type of candy, vegetable,
type of food, etc.
2. What song best describes your mood as we begin this session?
3. Thinking of some of the HIPPY storybook characters, which
one do you feel most connected to?
4. What type of animal do you most feel like today?
Variations
Tailor your analogy to your meeting topic. If it is on nutrition, use
a food analogy. For a training on time management what type of
time telling device-wrist watch, grandfather clock, alarm clock,
kitchen timer, etc. A meeting about early childhood concepts, as
participants which domain do they feel is their strong suit.
Have them find something in their purse or on their body that
best describes them. I.e. Chapstick-because they are soothing. A
comb-they are feeling frazzled and tangled, the comb will tease
out the tangles. Hand sanitizer because they like to keep it clean.
Art About Me
Purpose: Get acquainted, creativity, share personal information
Number of People:
Unlimited
Time:
10-15 minutes
Materials:
1. Construction Paper
2. Markers, crayons, pencils or other appropriate drawing
materials.
Description:
1. Pass out construction paper and drawing materials.
2. Using the list of questions (or one you have created) have
participants draw a symbol that represents their answer.
3. Once everyone is done with their drawing have them find
someone they don’t know and share their picture with them.
4. Encourage them to share why they choose their response.
Variations:
1. Tailor questions to match the audience. I.e. at the end of a
presentation on a subject, have participants draw/create the
topic that was the most impactful to them, or at the end of a
training, what their favorite part was.
2. Have the group try to guess what they drew versus the person
telling them.
3. Have them get into like groups, I.e. all those whose lucky
number is 7 get into a group and share/compare why they
choose the number 7.
Sample Questions
What is your lucky number?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite HIPPY book?
What is one of your hobbies?
Where is your favorite vacation
destination?
If you could have one wish granted,
what would it be?
What is your favorite food?
What is your favorite car?
What kind of music do you like to listen
to?
What was your favorite subject in
school?
Art Portraits
Purpose: To build group cohesion in a fun way
Number of People:
Groups of 4
Time:
10 minutes
Materials:
Large piece of construction paper
Markers
Description:
1. Fold the paper into fourths accordion style
2. Instruct the first person to draw the head and neck of the
person to their right. Include details that make that person
unique. They should hide the drawing so the other members
cannot see it. When finish the will fold it over so that the
other members of the group cannot see their drawing and
then pass it to the person on their right.
3. The next person will draw the shoulders and upper body of the
person to their right, once again including details and hiding it
from the rest of the group. When done, fold it over and pass it
to the right.
4. The third person will draw from the waist to the knees of the
person on their right, following the same guidelines as the
previous two. They will fold it over and pass it to the person on
their right.
5. The last person will draw the calves and feet of the first artist.
The final result is a representation of the group. It doesn’t matter
if any one can draw, that is the fun part.
If they want, they can name their picture and hang it in the room.