Human Flower

*This is another activity that I cannot remember its source; works well with most audiences but just beware of participant safety

Target Audience: Appropriate for students in grades 9 through 12

Purpose/Goal:  Not only does this activity require its participants to communicate authentically with one another, but also challenges them to trust one another

Materials: No materials needed

Duration: This activity can range from 5 to 20 minutes before participants are successful

Description:  The facilitator should strategically arrange participants in a circle being mindful of each person’s upper body strength.  Each person will lock arms (this is a must for safety).  Every other person in the circle will either lean in or out on either the ball of the foot or heel.  The interlocking arms will stop the group members from falling and will also (from above) create a flower shape. 

Human Knot

*Another activity I have been using with groups for over 20 years.  This can be found on a variety of icebreaker websites and seem to work for a wide range of audience

Target Audience: Appropriate for students in grades 9 through 12

Purpose/Goal:  The ultimate communication icebreaker that will force participants to learn to be patient, yielding, and collaborative.  

Materials: No materials needed

Duration: Depending on the communication ability of the group, this can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes

Description:  Members hands are joined with others’ hands in a tangled knot and are told they must untangle the group and make a continuous circle.  Note: at times, several conjoined circles may have formed based on the placement of hands.  It is up to the facilitator if the group should start again or if they have achieved their objective. 

What is That?

*I do not remember where I learned this icebreaker but have been using it for over 20 years with different groups. 

Target Audience: Appropriate for students in grades 9 through 12

Purpose/Goal:  This activity quickly forces a group to adapt different modes of communication with one another to achieve an objective.  Issues in communication surface when members become frustrated at their new limitations

Materials: Blindfolds for each participant and a rope or string long enough to ensure the group can fit around it

Duration: This activity can range from 10 to 15 minutes

Description:  After blindfolded, the facilitator will provide instructions to the group that they are to make a series of shapes out of the rope.  Given that group members can no longer use their sight, they must rely on one another to determine whether or not they believe they’ve made the shape.  Let’s hope members remember who they’re standing next to 

Hot Chocolate/Hot Lava

*I was first introduced to this activity in the late 1990’s as a part of a team building activity.  Depending on the preference of the facilitator and/or group, this can be called Hot Chocolate or Hot Lava

Target Audience: Appropriate for students in grades 9 through 12

Purpose/Goal:  Members within the group must make it from one end of the obstacle course to the other by relying on each other and using effective communication

Materials: Scraps of cloth, construction paper, or other flat, stable material  in varying sizes

Duration: This activity can be lengthy depending on the size and communication ability of the group.  It will typically last anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour

Description:  The facilitator will arrange the pieces of material on the group in a haphazard pattern from one end of the room or course to the other.  Each member of the team must then make it from one end to the other using a series of coordinated steps.  No one can move forward until both feet of each participant are on a “marshmallow” or “rock” (depending on the name chosen for the activity).  The team must hold hands across and rely on each other to navigate the course.  Any time a member “falls” into the hot lava or chocolate, the entire team must go back to start and as a consequence the facilitator will remove a marshmallow or rock from the course making it more challenging to get across 

Peanut Butter & Jelly

*I was first introduced to this activity in 2000 at a student leadership summit in Texas; I have since used it with various groups to build communication skills - particularly as it pertains to making assumptions

Target Audience: Appropriate for students in grades 9 through 12

Purpose/Goal:  To challenge participants on the underlying assumptions they make when interacting with others in a fun and entertaining way

Materials: Facilitator may want to dress the part.  Other materials include a jar of peanut butter, jar of jelly, small loaf of bread, plastic knife, plate, and napkins

Duration: This activity can range from 15 to 20 minutes

Description:  One volunteer is asked to sit behind a curtain, wall, or other barrier where they cannot see the facilitator.  The volunteer will proceed to give the facilitator instructions on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but must do so in a language the facilitator understands!  The audience will fight against the urge to throw in their contributions.  The debrief after makes for a great conversation on the nature of communication within the group 

Getting to Know You Icebreakers

Conversation Starting Icebreakers