Hobbies And Interests
Stand and Persuade
This icebreaker gets everyone standing and moving quickly. Make a line down the center of the floor with duct tape. Instruct everyone to stand on the line. Next, propose a statement or question that forces people to take sides. Instruct them to stand on the side of the line that corresponds with their opinion. For example, you could say, "Stand on this side of the line if you tend to be more cautious and on the other side if you're more adventurous." Once everyone has chosen sides, allow one spokesperson from each side to deliver a persuasive speech trying to convince people to change their minds and jump the fence.
Clothespin Poll
This icebreaker doesn't require that anyone talk, but it communicates a lot. String a cord across the room, and put a sign at one end that says "Strongly Agree. At the other end, put a sign that says "Strongly Disagree." Mark the center of the cord with a red clothespin. Give each participant a clothespin. Pose several strong statements to the group, and let each person clip his clothespin to the part of the cord that best reflects his opinion. For added effect, color code the clothespins based on a certain criteria, such as age, gender, job title or job team. The polls can reveal fascinating demographic trends.
Picking Symbols
This icebreaker helps people think about the big picture. Gather different objects that could potentially take on symbolic significance. Examples include a flower, a seashell, a broken toy, a candle, a knotted rope or an action figure. Collect at least 10 items and display them for all to see. Divide the participants into groups of three or four. Ask participants to mentally select one of the objects as a symbol representing something specific. For example, a youth leader may ask a group of teens, "Choose a symbol of where you are in your life right now." A business manager may ask employees, "Choose a symbol of where you are in your career right now," or "Choose a symbol to represent how you feel about our company." Have each person take turns explaining his choices to the group.
Yes, No, I Don't Know
Have everyone sit in a circle and give each person three cards that say "Yes," "No" and "I Don't Know." Read a statement, and let each person respond using the cards. Start with a funny statement, such as "If I got free tickets to WrestleMania, I would go." Then move on to statements that relate to your topic, such as "I think our office has a good vacation policy," or "There are a lot of bullies at this school." Ask several people to explain their responses. If you have a small enough group, ask a helper to record the responses so you can refer to them later in your discussion.