ICEBREAKERS FOR CLUB MEETINGS

The icebreakers in this document are divided into three categories: General, Science-related, and
Math-related. These icebreakers are meant to last from 10-15 minutes at the start of every club
meeting as a great way to build group cohesiveness. Students can facilitate them too! Many more
can be found at http://www.ehow.com/ice-breaker/.

Additional fun icebreakers are on the “Minute To Win It” site. The materials are common
household items, and the games are quick http://www.nbc.com/minute-to-win-it/how-to/.

GENERAL
The Interview

Pair each student with a student he hasn't met before. Give them about 15 minutes to
conduct interviews with one another and record the results. Include a list of potential
questions and interview topics such as favorite food and hobbies, family heritage and an
exciting or meaningful life experience. After students gather information and have a
chance to talk with one another, give them another 10 minutes to write up a report from
the information. Have the kids read the written reports to the class as a way to introduce
each student. Allow time for students to ask further questions of the newly introduced
student before moving on to the next child's presentation.

Three Truths and One Lie

Play a simple and fun guessing game with your students to increase awareness and share a
little about each other. Pass out notecards to the students and have them write three true
things and one lie about themselves on the cards. Fill out a card for yourself as well. Read
your items out loud to the class in a random order and get them to guess which items are
true and which is the lie. Have each student read his card to the class while others guess
which item is the lie. Students will pay close attention to each other while looking for clues
to decide which item is false. This game can also be combined with “The Interview”
icebreaker.

Name Game

This icebreaker is a fun way to make introductions and keep everyone engaged. Have the
students sit in a circle and introduce themselves. The catch is that the students must say
their name and something that they like that starts with the same letter. For instance, a
student may say, "My name is Rachel and I like reading." The next person introduces
himself and the person next to him. He would say, "My name is Blake and I like basketball.
This is Rachel and she likes reading." Repeat the introductions until you have completed
the circle.

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Whip Around

Have students arrange chairs in a circle. On a scale of 1-5, have students rate how they are
doing. If they want to, they can elaborate as to why, or they can simple give the rating and
move on to the next student.

Search for Someone

This game is ideal for a group whose members don't know one another. At the beginning of
your class or meeting, hand everyone a sheet of paper with three or four categories.
Include things like favorite movie, favorite book, best dance song and favorite food. After
everyone has listed their favorites, students mingle with others to find someone else with
the same favorite. Students must find a different person for each category. This rule keeps
friends from finishing the game without meeting anyone new.

Start the Year Bingo

A nontraditional bingo game can help students break the ice on their first day of school.
Students will have to interact with one another in order to play the game. Have each
student draw a fairly large grid of five squares by five squares on a sheet of binder paper.
The students should then write a phrase in each square, such as "has an older brother or
sister," "likes pizza," or "has been to Europe." The object of the game is for each student to
ask individual classmates what phrases, if any, applies to them. Those classmates should
then sign the square that applies to them. The game concludes when all students have
managed to have a row of squares signed, or one student has every square signed.

Who Am I?

In the classroom, to encourage students to talk to each other, play a game of Who Am I?
The teacher puts a name of a person, animal, etc on the back of each student. This can be
done with a simple self-sticking name tag. The theme, such as Each student is only allowed
to ask two yes or no questions of any other student. This encourages them to mingle and
talk to everyone. From the answers, the student must deduce the name on his back. Play
continues until everyone has figured out their name.

Venn Diagrams

Randomly assign the students into groups of three. Have each group draw a basic Venn
diagram of three overlapping circles. Each circle represents the interests of one of the
students in the group. Each group must fill the diagram with things about themselves that
are alike and different. Those things they all have in common go in the section where all
three circles overlap. Where only two circles overlap students write things that only those
two students have in common. Things about the individual students that are different and
unique go in the parts of the diagram that do not overlap at all. Compare the various Venn
diagrams from one group to the next. Consider making new groups and repeating the
activity.
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What Changed?

In this observation game, everyone lines up in two lines facing each other. After everyone
is paired up, they are given 30 seconds to study everything about the person in front of
them. Then the students in one line turn around and close their eyes. Meanwhile, the
students in the other line change something about themselves. Changes could include
taking off their glasses, reversing their shoes or removing an earring or a barrette. Once
everyone has changed something, the other kids turn around and try to guess what
changed. Then, switch roles and play again.

Birthday Lineup

Inform that group that they cannot talk from this point forward until you give them
permission. Have the group get in a line in silence in order by birthday. Once they
successfully complete this challenge, you can give the following line up tasks: line up by
height, first name, etc.

Human Knot

The human knot is a true test of teamwork and coordination. This game involves close
physicality with one another, so it is best for groups already comfortable with each other.
Have all the participants stand in a circle and stick an arm out in the middle of the circle.
Instruct them to randomly grab another hand and hold it. Then ask them to stick out their
other hand and grab another hand from the circle. The goal is for the group to untie the
knot and form a circle, without ever letting go of each other's hands.

Web Answers

Have all your students sit in the floor in a circle. Sit with the students and hold a ball of yarn
in your hand. Tell the students your name and one interesting fact about yourself, such as
your favorite hobby or your favorite actor. Hold a piece of the yarn and toss the ball of yarn
to one of the students in the circle. He must reveal a favorite or interesting fact about
himself and hold a piece of the yarn before tossing it to someone else. Keep going until
everyone has a chance to reveal an interesting fact. To make sure everyone was paying
attention, ask questions about each classmate. Point at a student and say, "What was his
interesting fact?" The student who can answer the question correctly earns a small prize.

Common Three

Divide the students into groups of three and have them discuss things they have in
common, such as hair or eye color. They must also find unusual things they have in
common like each person has a brother and a sister or each person's mother has red hair.
Tell them they have 15 minutes to find as many common facts as they can. The team who
comes up with the most items in common wins the game.

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Animals

Write four animal names on several pieces of paper, such as a pig, cow, dog and cat. Be
sure you have at least three or four of the same animal. Fold the pieces of paper and mix
them in a bowl. Each student draws one piece of paper (without letting anyone see what it
is) out of the bowl. When you say, "Go," the students crawl around mimicking the sounds
of the animal they drew. The students cannot talk but can make animal sounds as they try
to find the other animals just like them. The first group to have all their animals together
wins the game.

Banana Pass

Have your students get into groups of five or six players and give each team a banana. Each
team lies down on the floor in a single file line, head to toe. The second player's feet is at
the first player's head. The first player in line puts the banana between his feet. He passes
the banana, using only his feet, to the second player in line by lifting his legs off the ground
and over his head toward the second player in line. Once the second player in line has the
banana between his feet, he passes it to the third player. The first team to get the banana
to the last player wins the game.

Big Bubble Name Posters

Bubble name posters can be a creative way for students to tell their classmates more about
themselves. It can also make a great wall display for the classroom. Give each student a
large piece of paper and have them draw their names in big bubble writing so that it fills
the whole page. Students should then fill each letter with information about themselves.
Topics can include family, friends, pets or hobbies. They can even decorate their posters
with small illustrations that say something about who they are. Encourage them to make it
as colorful as possible. When they are complete, display all of the posters on the classroom
wall so that students can find out a little more about their fellow classmates.

Build a Tower

Divide your group into sets of two to four people. Give each set two newspaper sheets, one
foot of tape, five paper clips, one foot of string and a pair of scissors. Give each group 15
minutes to build the tallest tower. Measure each tower to determine who built the tallest
one. You can also have the groups describe their approach to building their tower and what
they learned about working together.

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Fruit Basket

Ask the group to sit in a circular formation of chairs, with one person selected to stand in
the middle. Give each person the name of a different fruit, either by picking them out of a
hat or by allowing each person to select his own fruit. The person in the middle will call out
two fruit names, and then those two people who've been designated those fruits will
scramble to switch places while the person in the middle tries to steal one of the open
spaces. The person without a seat must go stand in the middle of the circle and repeat the
process; this person may also call "Fruit basket!" which requires everyone in the circle to
change seats.

Aluminum Foil Sculptures

Allot one minute for this game. Give each individual a small sheet of aluminum foil. Instruct
the guests that when the clock starts, they will have one minute to create an aluminum
sculpture. When the guests are finished, display the "art" on a table in the front and have
the group vote on the winner. If your group is large, act as judge and choose the top three
sculptures. Decide the winner by a show of hands.

Paper Plate Heads

A great game to put names with faces, this ice breaker is especially suited for groups of 15
or less. Give each individual a paper plate and a marker. Allot one minute and instruct
every individual to draw a self-portrait of her head onto the paper plate. Once the minute
is up, collect the paper plates, collate into random order, and have everyone guess who is
the focus of each self-portrait.

What's in Your Purse/Wallet

Before the event, write out a list of items commonly found in purses, wallets and pockets.
Stand in front of the group and ask for one of these items. For example, you would say, "I
am looking for a ticket stub." The first person to hand you a ticket stub wins a point. Play
the game until the list is finished, and give the first place award to the person with the
most points. For a team-building variation, place individuals into small groups and appoint
a runner in each group who will bring the requested item to the front.

That Rhymes

Arrange the group into rows, either horizontally or vertically. Give each leader a piece of
paper with an easily-rhymed word written on the top, such as bat or bee. Upon hearing the
word go, the first person needs to come up with a word that rhymes with the top word.
Once he finds a word, he passes the paper onto the next person, who needs to do the
same. This continues to the end of the line. The first group to successfully complete the
task wins.

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Who Said That

This game requires work on the part of the host, but it is worth the initial effort. Gather up
a collection of 10 famous quotes keeping to a specific category--for example, presidents,
co-workers or poets. Give each person a piece of paper and ask the group to number the
paper from one through 10. Then read the quotes and allow each individual to guess who
the quote is attributed to. The winner is the person or persons who guess the most right.

Hum That Tune

Even if you're working with a musically-challenged group, "Hum That Tune" is an

entertaining icebreaker game that will leave everyone laughing. Write down several
popular songs or lullabies and put them into a hat. Have a volunteer draw one of the songs
and hum it for the group. Let the rest of the group guess what song it is. Continue going
around in a circle until everyone has hummed a song. You can distribute prizes to the
person who has guessed the most number of songs correctly. Another variation on this
game would be to use movies and have participants quote movie lines.

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SCIENCE-RELATED
Share a Science Fact

Students share a cool science fact that they know about (read or seen in the news).
Students can bring in the newspaper article, magazine, or book where they found it from or
they can just share their fact.

Science Match

Create pairs of cards related to scientific facts. For example, write a science term on one
card and its definition on another card, or write a cause on one card and its corresponding
scientific effect on another. Each participant receives one card. Make sure that both parts
of each pair are handed out. If there is an uneven number of participants, give yourself a
card and join in on the icebreaker. The participants mingle and compare each other’s cards,
looking for their partners. Once the partners are found, each pair shares the information
on their cards.

Science Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of clues that describe several different scientific objects within the room.
Divide the participants into small groups for the scavenger hunt. This icebreaker allows the
groups to learn about teamwork, get to know each other and learn more about scientific
items. Give the groups a set amount of time to complete the scavenger hunt. At the end of
the time period, gather the participants as a group and compare the answers. This also
gives the group a chance to discuss the concept of teamwork and how it relates to the
class.

Summer Science Experience

This science icebreaker is ideal in a classroom situation at the beginning of the school year.
Ask the kids to think about an example of science they experienced over the summer. This
might include a weather encounter, an experiment, cooking or a nature experience. Have
the kids write a short paragraph about how the event relates to science. Let the kids share
their summer science experiences as a fun way to learn more about each other.

Science Jigsaw Puzzles

Locate photographs or images of scientific objects, a natural landscape, minerals, animals,

astronomical objects, important mathematical formula (like E=mc2); almost anything can
be used, so choose objects that might be important or interesting to the group. Glue the
photographs to heavy cardboard then cut them into jigsaw puzzle shapes with a utility or
craft knife. Have your group split into smaller groups that work together to solve the
puzzle. As an added challenge, have the group identify the image after they have
completed the puzzle.

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Build a Tower

Divide your group into sets of two to four people. Give each set two newspaper sheets, one
foot of tape, five paper clips, one foot of string and a pair of scissors. Give each group 15
minutes to build the tallest tower. Measure each tower to determine who built the tallest
one. You can also have the groups describe their approach to building their tower and what
they learned about working together.

Middle and High School students can present a science experiment to the rest of the club

Ideas for experiments can be found at:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/index.html
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/everyday_science/

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MATH-RELATED
Getting-to-Know-You Venn Diagram

A Venn diagram is a set of two or more circles that partially overlap. For a getting-to-know-
you Venn diagram, divide the groups into sets of two to four people. Have them spend a
few minutes learning about each other. Then have each group draw a Venn diagram
consisting of one circle for each person in the group; have the circles all overlap. The group
should list several traits they all share in this overlapping area. Next each person should
record some traits unique to him in the non-overlapping part of one circle.

Memory

A basic game of memory can instill the most team spirit, and get students back into
memorization when it comes to numbers. Separate the class into groups of three or four,
giving each group a piece of paper. Using flash cards, display three numbers, one at a time,
to the class, and them put them face-down in a pile. Pause while each group works
together to write down the numbers that were displayed. Make things more difficult as
you progress, by proceeding to show the class four numbers, then five, all the way up to
15. Keep each group of numbers in order in a separate pile. Collect all papers when the
game is complete, to determine which group got the most correct answers, or go over the
answers as a class.

Geometric Art

Mixing art and geometry is a fun way for students to identify shapes in everyday life, and
combine creativity. Separate students into groups of two or three. Give each group a
poster board, a glue stick and a pile of cut-out geometric shapes. Have them create an
artistic image by pasting the shapes onto the poster board. You can have them create
solely realistic images, or allow abstract creations as well. Upon completion groups can
present their creations to the class, explaining any meaning or imagery that they may
represent.