Hobbies And Interests
Recipe Card Madness
Write five different questions on several index cards, enough for each person to have one card. Some example questions are "What is your favorite game?" "What is your favorite food?" and "Where are you from?" Have each player fill out a card, but do not write her name on it. Mix the cards up and hand the cards to random people, making sure no one has her own card. Everyone must walk around the room asking questions and mingling until they find the person whose card they have. After everyone finishes, each player must introduce the person on the card to the rest of the class and tell about her questions.
Puzzles
Divide your class into even teams and give each team the same puzzle. Use easy puzzles for smaller children and harder puzzles for older children. When you say, "Go," the teams must work together to put their puzzle together. Meanwhile, they must each learn something about one another. The team who finishes the puzzle first and whose team members can each share a fact about each one of the teammates wins the game.
Name Toss
Have all the students sit in a circle and hand one student a soft foam ball. That student must say her name and one interesting fact about herself. She will toss the play to another player who must do the same. After everyone says their names and facts, they must try to remember the names and facts. Hand the ball to someone in the circle. She must toss the ball to another player, and say that player's name and what fact he said about himself. This game not only breaks the ice, but it will help students remember each other's names.
Switch Circle
Tell all the students to stand in a circle and ask a question like "Do you have a brother?" Any players that have a brother must move to the center of the circle. Select two or three students to tell about their brothers and then have everyone move back to the circle. Ask another question, such as "Have you ever been to Disney World?" All students who have been to Disney World will move to the middle of the circle. Two or three students can share a quick story about their trip. After the students get familiar with the game, allow them to ask the questions.