Icebreakers, Energizers, and Team Building HIPPY USA National Conference April 2014 Gweneth Welch HIPPY USA National Trainer Jeffco HIPPY Program Coordinator gwelch@jeffco.k12.co.us
Why, What and How.. 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. Every individual has the choice to participate at whatever level she/he feels comfortable. Set ground rules! 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. 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. 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 Provide each small group with string, rubber bands and solo cups. The idea is for the groups to stack the cups without touching them with their hands. TALLEST/ LONGEST Teams race to build the highest tower using spaghetti and marshmallows.
Closure Activities Number of People: Pie a la Mode Introducing a topic, getting closure, team building 5-50 Time: 15 minutes 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) 1. 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. Variations 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 Energizer, getting acquainted, grouping, introducing a topic Number of People: Unlimited Time: 10-15 minutes Examples of Questions: If you could be questions 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. 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 To get energized, relax and have fun Number of People: Unlimited, if a large group, divide into two groups Time: 10 minutes None Variations 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. 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 To get acquainted, get to know each other Number of People: Unlimited Time: 5-10 minutes Variations: Library card worksheet 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. 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: Expires: The most influential book I read as a: Child: Teenager: Adult
Line Change Practice observation skills, group cohesion, introductions Number of People: Unlimited Time: 10 minutes None 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 To meet other participants, focus on meeting content, form small groups. Number of People: Unlimited Time: 10-15 minutes Variations 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. 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 1. Use HIPPY puzzle examples from the curriculum. 2. Use pictures related to the meeting subject.
Me, Myself and I Getting acquainted, self disclosure Number of People: Unlimited Time: 15 minutes Human shape, markers, yarn, magazines, etc. 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 Team Building Number of People: Unlimited Time: 10 minutes Paper, Scissors, Markers, Tape 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 Energize a long presentation, Closure Number of People: 12-26 Time: 5-10 minutes Examples of Analogies: Variations None 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. 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. 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 Getting acquantied Number of People: 5-25 Time: 10-15 minutes Examples of Analogies: Index Cards 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. 1. Use your own name as an example, such as Carol s Christmas Candle Shop, or Monique s Machinery Warehouse.
Analogies Get acquainted, introductions Number of People: Unlimited Time: 5-10 minutes Examples of Analogies: Variations None 1. Ask everyone to introduce themselves using an analogy. 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? 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 Get acquainted, creativity, share personal information Number of People: Unlimited Time: 10-15 minutes Variations: 1. Construction Paper 2. Markers, crayons, pencils or other appropriate drawing materials. 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. 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 HIPPY book? Where is your favorite vacation destination? What is your favorite food? What kind of music do you like to listen to? What is your favorite color? What is one of your hobbies? If you could have one wish granted, what would it be? What is your favorite car? What was your favorite subject in school?
Art Portraits To build group cohesion in a fun way Number of People: Groups of 4 Time: 10 minutes Large piece of construction paper Markers 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.