Ice Breaker - The Name Game

You may have people in your group who hate this ice breaker so much they’ll still remember everyone’s name two years from now! Ha! You can make it harder by requiring everyone to add an adjective to their name that starts with the same letter (e.g. Cranky Carla, Blue-eyed Bob, Zesty Zelda). You get the gist.

Ideal Size

Up to 30. Larger groups have tackled this game, but it becomes increasingly harder, of course.

Use For

Introductions in the classroom or at a meeting. This is a fabulous game for classes involving memory.

Time Needed

Depends entirely on the size of the group and how much trouble people have remembering.

Materials Needed

None.

Instructions

The first person gives his or her name: Cranky Carla. The second person gives the first person’s name and then his own name: Cranky Carla, Blue-eyed Bob. The third person starts at the beginning, reciting each person before her and adding her own: Cranky Carla, Blue-eyed Bob, Zesty Zelda.

Debriefing

If you’re teaching a class that involves memory, debrief by talking about the effectiveness of this game as a memory technique. Were certain names easier to remember than others? Why? Was it the letter? The adjective? A combination?

The Ice Breaker Forum

Share your favorite, or worst!, ice breakers in the Continuing Education Forum.