ICE Breakers & Mixers

ice·break·er - brA-k-r; noun
Something that breaks the ice on a project or occasion; especially a MIXER

mix·er - mik-s-r; noun
A game, stunt, or dance used at a get-together to give members of the group an opportunity to meet one another in a friendly and informal atmosphere

Ice breakers are a great way to begin a meeting. The most popular are activities that encourage participants to get to know each other personally. The idea is that more than just having fun, the ice breaker will truly help to create group cohesion based on trust and understanding.

· They help to relax participants so they are more receptive to listening and contributing.
· They can serve to build a team atmosphere and to generate enthusiasm.
· They can be fun, amusing, humorous, thoughtful, surprising or just plain silly.
· They break up the "cliques," invite people to form random groups, and help individuals meet others in a non-threatening and fun way.
· They can set a tone for the time a group will be together, encourage people to feel "safe," and hopefully evoke lots of laughter and release tension.

Examples:
· Have participants say 3 things about themselves - 2 true and 1 lie, others guess what the lie is. Break into partners. Then share with entire group.

· Give each person is given a list of 5 to 10 traits that they must find in common with the people around them. Sample items could be: "Find someone that was born in the same month",
"..someone who lives in your state", or "..drives the same model of car". A prize is awarded to the participants with the most in common.

Through CYFERnet, we requested ice breakers be submitted for use at the 2004 conference. Many of those are included in this document. We have also included links to online resources we have located.

As an educator, you know how valuable these activities are to get learners motivated and open to new ideas and learning! Enjoy your teaching and using these !