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Ice Breaker Word Games

Ice breaker games can be used in many different group situations when you are in need of a fun way to get people acquainted with one another. Ice breaker word games encourage people to talk about themselves, build teamwork, listen to one another and get to know one another. These games are ideal for small or large classrooms, youth groups, business retreats and other gatherings where people need something to get them talking.

Telephone
- Telephone emphasizes listening skills.
  
  Telephone is a familiar but fun game that can be used to break the ice. Telephone is best played with the members of the group in a line or a circle. The first person thinks of a sentence or saying, then whispers it to the next person in line. This continues until the phrase reaches the last person. The last person then says it out loud. By this time, it is usually much different than the original. The person who originated the phrase then says that out loud for comparison.This game encourages the members of the group to listen closely to each other.
Two Truths and a Lie
- This game is played by having people to tell two truths and one lie about themselves. The other members of the group then try to guess which statement is the lie. This helps the people in the group get to know one another as they learn interesting facts about the members of the group, while also figuring out who is good at stretching the truth.
Word Toss
- Physical games can help get people energized.
  
  Divide the group into smaller groups of five and give each group a ball. Name a category such as "favorite foods" or "things I like to do in my spare time." Have each person toss the ball to someone else in the group. Each time a person catches the ball, he or she must say a word that relates to the category. This game helps people learn a little bit about one another in a short time.
Word Tag
- Divide the group into teams of four and have each team form a circle. Give the group a category and have them form a sentence about the category. The first person starts by saying only one word to begin the sentence. Play then continues around the circle, with each person adding only one word to the sentence at a time. Play stops when the group forms a complete and coherent sentence. For example, if the category is "Something you like to do in the summertime," the first person could say "I," the second person say "like," the third person say "to," and the fourth person say "swim." This game encourages teamwork, because it can be quite challenging for four people to form a sentence when only being allowed to add one word at a time.

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