Adapted from Engaging Schools
Time: 3-5 minutes
Overview: This activity involves moving around the room and sharing ideas with a partner or small group.
When and Why: “Mix and Mingle” builds community by encouraging participants to interact with each other, and sets the expectation that everyone's thinking and voice are valued.
SEL Focus: This activity builds Relationship Skills (Accurate Self-Perception and Social Engagement), as participants share their ideas and actively listen to divergent perspectives. It also provides a foundation for an impactful debrief around Self-Awareness skills (Identifying Emotions) and Self-Management skills (Self-Discipline) as participants reflect on their contributions, verbal and non-verbal, to the engagement.
Steps:
1. On a card or half-sheet of paper, ask participants to write down a response to a prompt you give related to the topic at hand. (Begin with a low-vulnerability prompt such as, “What did you do for fun yesterday?” or “What have you read or watched recently that you enjoyed?” or something connected to upcoming work like “What’s one thing you know already about [insert your content]?”)
2. When you announce, "Mix and mingle!" and turn on music, participants move around.
3. When the music stops, participants find a partner near them. Help with pairing if needed.
4. Partners share their responses, listen actively to each other, and ask follow-up questions.
5. Start the music again and repeat the sequence with another partner or two, as your time permits.
Debrief by asking one or more of these questions:
• What were some of the things you appreciate about doing this activity?
• What was challenging about it?
• What SEL skills did you use?
Modifications and Variations:
• This same activity serves well as Engaging Strategies, with prompts that relate directly to reviewing or understanding academic content.
• “Mix and Mingle” also works as an Optimistic Closure activity. Provide a prompt that draws from the content, experience, or process of your engagement.