Icebreakers & Mixer Activities

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated June 9, 2019

Icebreakers or mixers are a great way to get to know those you may not know in a group. These icebreakers are simple to use and suitable for a wide age range. They require very few props and can easily be used in any setting. These activities can encourage sharing, openness, listening, cooperation, and discussion. 

Fact or Fiction

Ask everyone to write/braille on a piece of paper THREE things about themselves which may not be known to the others in the group. Two are true and one is not. Taking turns, have the members read out the three ‘facts’ about themselves and the rest of the group votes which are true and false. There are always surprises and this is a fun way to get to know each other.

The Interview

Divide the young people into pairs. Ask them to take three minutes to interview each other. Each interviewer has to find 3 interesting facts about their partner. Bring everyone back to together and ask everyone to present the 3 facts about their partner to the rest of the group.

My Name Is

Go around the group and ask each person to state his/her name and attach an adjective that not only describes a dominant characteristic but also starts with the same letter of his name e.g. generous Grahame, dynamic Dave. Write them down and refer to them by this for the rest of the evening.

Conversations

Each person is given a sheet of paper (make sure it is in an accessible medium) with a series of instructions to follow. This is a good mixing game and conversation starter as each person must speak to everyone else. For example:

  • Find out who has made the longest journey.
  • Who has the most unusual hobby?
  • Find the weirdest thing anyone has eaten.
  • Who has had the most embarrassing experience?

The Question Web

You need to have a spool of string or wool for this game. Ask everyone to stand in a circle. Hold on to the end of the string and throw the ball/spool to one of them to catch. They then choose a question from 1-20 to answer (be sure to adapt the questions for your group). Holding the string they then throw it to another member of the group. Eventually, this creates a web as well as learning some interesting things about each other! At the end of the game, discuss how the web is unique and would look different one of the persons was absent. Each person helps make the group unique!

Sample Questions:
  1. If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the future or in history would you visit?
  2. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
  3. If your house was burning down, what three objects would you try and save?
  4. If you could talk to any person now living, who would it be and why?
  5. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
  6. Do you have a pet? If not, what sort of pet would you like?
  7. Name a gift you will never forget?
  8. Name one thing you really like about yourself.
  9. What's your favorite thing to do in the summer?
  10. Who's your favorite cartoon character, and why?
  11. Does your name have a special meaning and or were you named after someone special?
  12. What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
  13. If you are at a friend's or relative's house for dinner and you find a dead insect in your salad, what would you do?
  14. What was the best thing that happened to you this past week?
  15. If you had this week over again what would you do differently?
  16. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God?
  17. What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?
  18. If you could ask Christ to change one problem in the world today, what would you like him to change?
  19. What book, movie or video have you seen/read recently you would recommend? Why?

Desert Island

Announce, 'You've been exiled to a deserted island for a year. In addition to the essentials, you may take one piece of music, one book (which is not the Bible) and one luxury item you can carry with you i.e. not a boat to leave the island! What would you take and why?' Allow a few minutes for the young people to draw up their list of three items, before sharing their choices with the rest of the group. As with most icebreakers and relationship building activities, it's good for the group leaders to join in too!

If

Ask the group to sit in a circle. Write 20 'IF' questions on cards and place them (question down) in the middle of the circle. The first person takes a card, reads it out and gives their answer, comment or explanation. The card is returned to the bottom of the pile before the next person takes their card. This is a simple icebreaker to get young people talking and listening to others in the group. Keep it moving and don't play for too long. Write your own additional 'IF' questions to add to the list.

  1. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
  2. If I gave you $10,000, what would you spend it on?
  3. If you could watch your favorite movie now, what would it be?
  4. If you could talk to anyone in the world, who would it be?
  5. If you could wish one thing to come true this year, what would it be?
  6. If you could live in any period of history, when would it be?
  7. If you could change anything about yourself, what would you change?
  8. If you could be someone else, who would you be?
  9. If you could have any question answered, what would it be?
  10. If you could watch your favorite TV show now, what would it be?
  11. If you could have any kind of pet, what would you have?
  12. If you could do your dream job 10 years from now, what would it be?
  13. If you had to be allergic to something, what would it be?
  14. If you sat down next to Jesus on a bus, what would you talk about?
  15. If money and time were no object, what would you be doing right now?
  16. If you had one day to live over again, what day would you pick?
  17. If you could eat your favorite food now, what would it be?
  18. If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
  19. If you were sent to live on a space station for three months and only allowed to bring three personal items with you, what would they be?
  20. If you could buy a car right now, what would you buy?

Name That Person

Divide into two teams. Give each person a blank piece of card. Ask them to write five little known facts about themselves on their card. Include all leaders in this game too. For example, I have a pet bird, I was born in Chicago, my favorite food is mashed potatoes, my grandmother is called Ada and my favorite color is green. Collect the cards into two team piles. Draw one card from the opposing team pile. Each team tries to name the person in as few clues as possible. Five points if they get it on the first clue, then 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. The team with the most points wins. (Note: if you select the most obscure facts first, it will increase the level of competition and general head scratching!)

Would You Rather

Questions may range from silly trivia to more serious content. On the way, you might find out some interesting things about your young people! Place a line of tape down the center of the room. Ask the group to straddle the tape. When asked 'Would you rather?’ they have to jump to the left or right as indicated by the leader. Don't forget to encourage your adult helpers to join in too! I've included 20 starter questions, just add your own and let the fun begin.

Would you rather..?
  • Visit the doctor or the dentist?
  • Eat broccoli or carrots?
  • Watch TV or listen to music?
  • Own a lizard or a snake?
  • Have a beach holiday or a mountain holiday?
  • Be an apple or a banana?
  • Be invisible or be able to read minds?
  • Be hairy all over or completely bald?
  • Be the most popular or the smartest person you know?
  • Make headlines for saving somebody's life or winning a Nobel Prize?
  • Go without television or fast food for the rest of your life?
  • Be handsome/beautiful and dumb or be ugly and really smart?
  • Always be cold or always be hot?
  • Eliminate hunger and disease or be able to bring lasting world peace?
  • Be stranded on a deserted island alone or with someone you don't like?
  • See the future or change the past?
  • Be three inches taller or three inches shorter?
  • Wrestle a lion or fight a shark?

People Bingo

Great for new groups. Make a 5 by 4 grid on a piece of card and duplicate for everyone in your group. Supply pens, pencils, 20/20 pens or create in braille for braille users and use tactile stickers to mark off boxes. Each box contains one of the statements below. Encourage the group to mix, talk to everyone to try and complete their card. If one of the items listed on the bingo card relates to the person they are talking with, have them sign their name in that box (alternatively, provide students with tactile stickers - each student has a different shape with a key). End the activity after 10 minutes and review some of the interesting facts the group has discovered about each other. Here are a few suggestions, but you can add your own statements appropriate for your group.

  • Has visited the most states
  • Has eaten the weirdest food
  • Plays a team sport
  • Speaks a foreign language
  • Plays a musical instrument
  • Has 2 or more pets
  • Has been to the most foreign countries
  • Likes asparagus  
  • Has 2 or more siblings
  • Loves Chinese food
  • Likes to ski
  • Likes football
  • Likes to get up early
  • Likes Dr. Who
  • Someone over 6ft tall

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