Readers Respond: What's Your Favorite Ice Breaker for Adults?

Responses: 12

By Deb Peterson, About.com Guide

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Share the ice breakers you think belong in every teacher's top ten. What has worked for you, or not? Share What Works for You

Put one name of someone famous on a standard mail or Name label. Put/stick one label on each student's back. Now they have to mingle and interact with each classmate to ask questions about the name on his/her back. Only yes or no questions and answers are permitted. Example: Pope John Paul II. Is it a woman? NO Is he alive? NO Is he American? NO Is he European? YES Is he known for his generosity/good works? YES Is he a religious figure? YES Is he the POPE? Yes. .. but which one? etc.....
—Guest JoAnn

I've found playing Would You Rather is a good adult icebreaker. You can use the classic version for more general audiences and the Twisted, Sick, and Wrong version (warning: it's pretty raunchy sometimes) for a group that is a little bit more edgy. (www.zobmondo.com)
—Guest eladelson

When in groups of about 40 people, put on the music and let them dance around. When you call out a number, e.g., 6, participants are to form groups of 6, or whatever number you call out. Anyone not in a group is out. The game continues until there are 2 people remaining.
—Guest Crystal

Have some Pictures of Motorcycles cut in half and laminated hand them out and ask the class to find the mate and introduce themselves.
—Guest Eric

I just downloaded a great iphone app called TheNameGame (libertymobile.ca). It generates random names using your own personal info - great ice breaker. I tried it at a work bbq & it got everyone (incl spouses) laughing & chatting. :)
—Guest GNat

Marooned You are marooned on a deserted island. What five items would you have brought with you if you knew there was a chance that you might be stranded? These items must fit in your luggage. Next briefly discuss and defend your choices.
—Guest Darlene

Pick up a beach ball from the dollar store and write all sorts of questions all over the ball ex. what would you do with a million dollars? which famous person have you been told you look like? etc etc. Then throw the ball around the room - wherever their right thumb lands, they answer that question.
—Guest Kristen

a list of 20 questions that each party goer has to search among other visitors to find..example: who has 3 or more cats in their house, who is going to the ocean for summer vacation. etc.
—Guest debbie

I liked the candy game, and my students seemed to open up to it as well. I believe if we give people the opportunity to share, they will.
—Guest Nichole

This works for all age groups, but especially for adults, because we seem to have perfected the lie! 1. Divide the class into groups of four. 2. On a scrap of paper, have each student compose two truths about themselves along with one lie that could be true (not outlandish) 3. Then, one by one, each group member shares their truths and one lie, and the other members have to guess which one wasn't true. This sparks a lot of chatter among the groups because the students get to find out two miscellaneous tidbits about others in their class.
—Kelly_Roell

This may not work for every age group, but if most of your class is 35 , you can play the Seinfeld game during introductions (name, why you're taking the class, and Seinfeld character that's most like you.) Also, jokes help. I go to About.com's humor site and browse for new jokes, and they are generally PG enough to tell in class. You can also type "jokes" and your specialty into search.
—Guest Susan

Deb Peterson
Continuing Education Guide