Why are we doing this?

Social activities encourage open communication, team bonding, and collaboration. By engaging in shared experiences, employees develop deeper connections and build trust, leading to improved teamwork and a more supportive work environment. Additionally, these events provide an opportunity for employees to showcase their unique talents and interests outside their job roles, creating a multi-dimensional understanding of their colleagues.

Activity: Summer Break Speed Sharing

Welcome back, students! It's time to reconnect after the summer break and share your exciting experiences with your pathway peers. In this fun and interactive activity, you'll have the chance to get to know each other better while discussing your summer adventures.

Instructions:

1. Set Up: For this activity, we'll be using a modified version of speed dating. We'll form two circles of desks or chairs facing each other. If we have an odd number of students, the teacher will join in as a participant in one of the rounds.

2. Icebreaker Round: We'll start with a warm-up round to break the initial awkwardness. Each student will have 1 minute to introduce themselves to the person in front of them. Share your name, an interesting fact about yourself, and one highlight from your summer break.

3. Speed Sharing Rounds: After the icebreaker, we'll have several rounds where you'll discuss specific prompts or questions related to your summer experiences. Each round will last 2-3 minutes.

   • Round 1: Share your favorite summer memory and why it was special to you.

   • Round 2: Did you learn or try anything new during the summer break? If so, what was it?

   • Round 3: Share a book, movie, or TV show you enjoyed over the summer and why you recommend it.

   • Round 4: Did you visit any new places or travel during the break? Tell your partner about it.

   • Round 5: Share one thing you are excited about for the upcoming academic year.

4. Rotation: After each round, one circle will rotate, giving you the opportunity to talk to different peers. Make sure to keep track of the time and make each round last no more than 3 minutes.

5. Debrief: Once all the rounds are complete, we'll gather for a quick debrief. Feel free to share any interesting stories you heard from your peers or any common experiences you discovered during the activity.

6. Follow-Up: If time allows, we'll have a short class discussion about the benefits of this activity. Remember, it's essential to communicate and get to know one another better as a pathway group.