Hobbies And Interests
Getting to Know You Games
Getting to know you games break down some of the barriers between people who may know very little about each other. Form a circle with 15 to 20 people. Start with yourself and say your name, followed by a gesture, such as a clap or jumping on one foot. Point to another person in the circle. He says his name, performs his own gesture, says your name and performs your gesture. Next he will point to another person, who says her name, performs her gesture, says his name, performs his gesture, and says your name and performs your gesture. Continue until everyone introduces themselves. Keep the gestures simple so they are easier to remember.
Culture Games
Help each member of the group learn new things about other peoples lives and cultures by organizing a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt can cover as much ground as you like, therefore this game is best to play with individuals who are old enough to drive. Divide the individuals into groups of five. Give each group a sheet detailing items to look for, or food items to find and eat, that come from different cultures. Ask one member of the group to document his group's findings. The first group to complete the hunt wins. When the hunt is over, ask the group members if they could relate to anything in the game or if they would like to share some facts from their own cultures.
Perspective Games
Perspective games attempt to show how people may view the world differently from each other due to cultural or environmental circumstances. Hand out a worksheet to every person in the group. The worksheet should contain informative statements such as, "I am from the South." In all the worksheet should contain 15 or so similar statements. Tell the group to go around the room and find one person for each statement within 15 minutes. They can have each person's name on their worksheet no more than once. Whoever, has the most filled out on their worksheet within the time frame wins.
Trust Games
Trust games emphasize the need to rely on people within a group to accomplish tasks. Ask each member of the group to pair up with an individual he has not met yet. Both will write down two true facts about themselves and then one lie. When both are finished one will start and will read off all three statements. The other group member must determine which one is a lie. Once both partners complete this exercise, have one will read his partner's three statements to the group and the group must determine which is false. Then the partner will read off his three statements.